Kelli Brown

#9 KELLI BROWN – DOB 21/2/01

Kelli Brown has re-joined the Wellington Phoenix for the 2023-24 Liberty A-League.

The young forward was a member of the inaugural Phoenix women’s squad but missed out on a contract last season.

Brown has earned back her place in the Nix squad after helping Macarthur Rams FC to the National Premier Leagues (NPL) New South Wales women’s title.

She was part of the history-making New Zealand side that claimed third place at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay in 2018, scoring in the group wins over the hosts and Finland and in the penalty shoot-out victory over Japan in the quarter-finals.

Hailing from the small Waikato village of Ngāhinapōuri, Brown played football for several Hamilton clubs and representatively for WaiBOP.

She was part of the Future Ferns Domestic Programme (FFDP) before signing with the Phoenix women for their maiden season.

Unfortunately, an ankle injury prevented her from featuring in the team’s maiden match and concussion limited her to a total of just six appearances.

> 2022-23 season

Kelli Brown played for Northern Rovers in the 2022 Women’s National League Championship.

Brown finished the 14-game season as Rovers’ top scorer, finding the back of the net 12 times, including five on debut against Central.

She moved across the Tasman in 2023 to join Macarthur Rams for the NPL NSW women’s competition.

Brown was prolific for the Rams who went on to win the title, scoring 30 goals in 31 appearances and finished a close second in the competition’s golden boot standings.

She is hoping she can be a regular goal scorer for the Wellington Phoenix.

“That’s the aim of the game and I don’t see why not,” Brown said.

“Going off the season that I’ve just had hopefully I can bring some goal scoring.

“I’m also looking forward to reconnecting with some of the girls and picking up where we left off. It’ll be good to get back and gel.”