Ahead of the upcoming 2021 Women’s National League, Graeme Smaill has been announced as Southern United’s Head Coach.  Smaill has been Assistant Coach for the three out of the previous 4 seasons, working under Terry Parle in 2017 and Ignacio Sande in 2019 and 2020. Southern United’s new Head Coach was at the helm of Dunedin Tech for many seasons, winning several league titles and bringing the Kate Sheppard Cup to the region for the first time in 2018. 

Jess Fuller and Tom Stevens have been appointed by Smaill as his Assistant coaches. Smaill is excited to take the reigns, “I am stoked that someone local has been recognised for putting in the work in in Dunedin and that’s really positive for each local coach to show the pathway.” He is hoping to finish top of the league, “We’re aiming for the top spot as otherwise what’s the point? We’ll set our sights as high as possible.” Smaill accepts that his squad lacks the depth of some of the other regions, “We’ve a strong foundation of players and we need to keep our top players in good health.” 

Smaill’s work has already begun, with leadership group meetings with the senior players, “We’re deciding what the culture is and finding an identity for Southern United.” Pre-season training has been brought forward this season and begins on May 12th, “There’s time to focus and to develop on that culture.” 

With regards to his squad, Smaill has invited all of the players involved last season that are still Dunedin based and he has been catching as many Otago Daily Times Women’s Premiership games as possible to try and identify new players. Thus far, Smaill has invited several players to the squad including Tech’s new signings Marga Dias and Nieve Collin and the trio of players from our region selected for the recent NZ u-17s camp, Georgia Kennedy, Saffron Hare and Rebecca Johnstone. “It’s not a closed shop, more players will still be invited in. We really need players that can train at a particular intensity.” Smaill says there is a strong possibility of Shontelle Smith returning to the side, “She’s exactly what Southern United needs, she’s one of best players in the country.” 

Smaill expects most of last season’s squad to return but has lost 4 players in the form of Sammy Morrell, Kate Gilford, Macey Fraser and Erin Roxburgh. Both Kate and Erin have returned to their native Christchurch, Macey is back in the capital and Sammy is continuing her studies at Harvard. Smaill wants there to be an emphasis on making the most of local talent, “We want to use local players and those within the region, we’d consider taking players looking to return to the region if there’s a connection.” 

Senior United player Renee Bacon is delighted with Smaill’s appointment, “It’s exciting to have someone in the role already, we’re fizzed! I think with the players we’ve got in Dunners at the moment, we should be a strong side.” She is especially stoked with the early pre-season start this season and the looming 2023 Women’s World Cup, “It makes it feel different, there’s something else were working for, people will start fizzing about the Women’s World Cup this season.” 

Smaill is pleased by the growth of women’s football within the region in recent years, “It’s been pleasing to see the girls get more respect, 10 years ago there were people scoffing at Women’s football down here but that’s all changed,there’s real support for women from high profile males and from across the clubs.” Like Bacon, he believes the 2023 WWC gives the season an extra dimension, “The Women’s World Cup is absolutely huge, you look at first kicks you see 5 year old girls having a kick and wanting to have fun. To have the World Cup on our doorstep, no one will be able to get away from the buzz.” 

Smaill hopes to see more and more people at this season’s matches, “It’ll be great for our sporting and football community to get behind the girls again this year, we’ll be working our socks off to try and be as competitive as possible. We’ve always had a fighting spirit, we want to have a culture that’s really inclusive and that incorporates the community.” 

Smaill is looking to the future of the club and hopes that players from the U17 squad will be able to join in with squad training at various points, “It will be good to rotate them through and give them an opportunity to play with those they look up to.” 

Article added: Tuesday 27 April 2021