Perth Glory Liberty A-League captain and club legend Natasha Rigby has today announced her retirement from professional football.
Click HERE to watch her full-length retirement announcement video.
The 31-year-old made 117 ALW appearances across eight season with her home-state club and featured in both the 2017 and 2019 Grand Finals.
Having been handed the captain’s armband in 2019, she led the side for five seasons and became just the third player in Glory ALW history to reach the milestone of 100 appearances for the club in November 2023.
The much-loved defender admitted that the decision to hang up her boots had not been an easy one.
“It is with a full heart that I announce my retirement from professional football,” she said.
“The club, the team and the staff have been home for me for a long time and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to live out a dream I never thought possible.
“I am grateful to the club for the opportunity to represent my home city with pride, my coaches for their belief, development and teachings and my incredible team mates, who I absolutely adore and wouldn’t be here without.
“Thank you so much to my wonderful family and friends who have been so supportive throughout my career.
“Finally, to the Members and fans that have supported us along the way, they are our beating heart and I’ll be forever grateful for their support.
“There are a multitude of variables that have led to this decision, however the driving variable is the financial insecurity that comes with being a female footballer and the need for me to focus on building a sustainable and stable future for myself.
“I am very excited to be stepping into a role where I can continue to advocate for Women and Girls in football and promise that I will continue to influence change and push for a more equal future.
“I still have so much love for the game, the club, our staff and my girls and can’t wait to be their biggest cheerleader.”
Glory ALW Head Coach Alex Epakis was unstinting in his praise of the contribution made by Rigby both on and off the field.
“Tash has represented the club and led the ALW team in a manner which is reflective of her unwavering character,” he said.
“She is built on the values and traits of competitiveness, integrity, compassion, loyalty and family and these attributes have shone through the team over the course of her career.
“She has always lead from the front and found a way to bring the best out of different groups of people over the years, particularly during the uncertainty caused in recent seasons by COVID-19 with relocation, hubs and the like.
“Her character has been threaded throughout the DNA of the team and her legacy will no doubt remain within our team.
“Moreover, her connection to the community and ability to inspire teammates, staff and fans both young and old cannot be underestimated.
“Tash is a force within the community and I believe that her connection with our team and club will continue to grow as she moves into her next chapter.
“She has an array of talents and aspects of her life that shine beyond and through football and I am extremely excited to see her continue to have a positive and impactful connection within the game in Western Australia through her new role with Football West.
“She has a bright future and I know she will attack the next stage of her life with the same vigour and passion and I wish her the best.
“Tash has played a significant role in my coaching career to date and our time working together will be something that I will value into the future.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Glory CEO Anthony Radich.
“Tash has been an incredible ambassador not only for Perth Glory and the game of football, but for women’s sport in WA in general,” he said.
“With her commitment and passion on the field and dedication to helping the community off it, she has been an inspiring role model throughout her eight seasons in purple and her contribution to the club cannot be overstated.
“Tash will be hugely missed, both as a player and as a person, but it is heartening to know that she will remain a key figure within women’s football in WA thanks to her exciting new position at Football West.
“On behalf of everyone associated with the club, I would like to sincerely thank her for her incredible service and wish her all the very best for the future.”
Rigby has recently been appointed Manager Female Football and Advocacy at Football West.
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