Glory have pulled off a major coup in securing the services of goalkeeper Eliza Campbell for the 2018/19 Westfield W-League season.
The 23-year-old, who made her Matildas debut against China last year, is regarded as one of the best shot-stoppers in the country and is relishing the prospect of helping Bobby Despotovski’s side in their quest for a maiden W-League title.
“The aim is to definitely make finals and then progress from there,” she said, “and I’m confident that we’re going to have a good enough team at Perth to do that.
“I thought coming to Perth would a good change for me. Perth has always seemed like a good place to go to and a good club to play for, so I thought I’d give it a go.”
Campbell is no stranger to making big career moves, having already plied her trade for several years in Norway.
“It was a bit of a culture change going to Norway as an 18-year-old,” she said. “But it was good to go and develop because I was always playing and used to train with the men’s team there which helped me improve.
“Since the W-League season is so short and there’s not much after it, I thought the move to Norway would be better for me in terms of growing and developing.”
Domestically, meanwhile, Newcastle were her first club and her spell with the Jets serves to illustrate the sacrifices many female players have to make in order to pursue their football dreams.
“Before I went to Norway, I was at the Jets and I had to work all the time when I was there because at that time the pay wasn’t too good.
“I had to work in the day and then train at night. My job was at a cafe complex where I started off serving food and then they had me making coffees and wraps after a while. I like to cook, so it was all right!”
Coming more up to date, the ex-Adelaide United player shone when making her Matildas bow at AAMI Park in November 2017 and, unsurprisingly, remembers the occasion fondly.
[Click HERE to see her in spectacular action for the Matildas.]
“Playing against China was a great experience,” she said. “I came on as a substitute and thought I did well. I’d come up through the system having played for the Under-17s and then the 20s as well.
“I always push myself to try and be better and it’s been good working with Lydia [Williams]. She’s a very good and experienced goalkeeper and I’m learning a lot working in the same environment as her.”
Glory W-League Head Coach Bobby Despotovski is delighted to have Campbell on board and believes that she will prove to be a very shrewd acquisition for the club.
“We’re really pleased to have strengthened the squad by bringing Eliza in,” he said. “As well as being an excellent ‘keeper, she’s also a real leader from the back and will be a real asset for us this season.”
Further W-League signing announcements are expected soon.
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