Today is an exciting and historic occasion for southern football, with Southern United FC’s Elise Mamanu-Gray being named in the Football Ferns squad to tour Thailand!

In recent years, we’ve had a number of talented youngsters represent New Zealand at various age group levels, and we have had a select group of players from our region represent their country at the highest level while playing for teams outside the Football South region.

For someone currently playing for a team in our region, however, to get named in a full international squad is very rare indeed – congratulations Elise!

Elise grew up in Dunedin, attending Queens High School Dunedin and playing for the Roslyn Wakari AFC club. While in Dunedin, the talented midfielder was selected in New Zealand Football age group sides, including representing her country at under-20 level in 2010.

More recently, Elise has been playing in Australia, including starring for Melbourne’s Heidelberg United FC in the Women's National Premier League in Australia.

Southern United coach Terry Parle, who had worked extensively with Elise previously in Dunedin, helped to convince Elise to come back and play for his side in this year’s National Women’s League. Captaining the side, the midfielder has starred for our team who have already caused upsets over Auckland and Canterbury and currently sit tied on points with Northern at the top of the league table!

Elise’s selection in the national side is a great indicator of the progress being made in local football, and along with her teammates she’s a wonderful role-model for young footballers in the region.

With the form our team is displaying at present, surely there will be more of our stars knocking on the door of NZ selection as well!