At just 18, Kate Taylor is taking her recent Football Ferns call-up in her stride, despite her shock when she found out.
“It's not something that I thought I'd hear quite so soon,” Taylor told Newshub.
One of the standout players in the Phoenix women’s inaugural season, she has been rewarded with national selection, alongside Phoenix teammate Mackenzie Barry, proving to them that the A-League pathway is a legitimate option.
“I think the girls in the squad that are both in the Phoenix and now the Ferns show that it's working, and connecting football in New Zealand to professional football and the national team.
“It's shown that it's achievable and more realistic, and for girls coming up, whether in the U17s or playing club football, it shows that they can definitely do it,” Taylor told Newshub.
But she admits the 12-month whirlwind has made her independent pretty quickly.
“I've changed as a person too," said Taylor. "Living in Australia, you have to learn how to do things by yourself, which has been good for me.”
She expects her experience as a vice-captain to help her make the jump to the national team.
“It was really cool to be a part of the leadership group, and I think it's helped me build confidence and see who I am as a player.
“Hopefully, it will help me keep up with them a little bit, and I think that's helped on and off the field. I think I've grown as a player as well.”
She is currently off contract for the Phoenix women, but would love to continue her footballing journey in yellow and black.
“I don't think they've signed anyone at the moment, so I'm not quite sure what I'm up to.
“It was a really cool team to be a part of and I'd love to do it again,”
She’d also love to be a part of a Phoenix team under the coaching of Gemma Lewis again.
“I think it's really cool for her and I think she'll really help that Phoenix team again. She definitely wants more and I think she knows she can get more results out of the team."
There’s also a sense they can do something special in their second season in the league.
“As we saw towards the end of the season, we weren't just there to participate or to take part, and I think, as a group, we could have won more. I think we still have a lot to build on.”
