In this episode, recorded in November 2021, Gary Cole speaks with Leah Blayney.
Leah is the Head Coach of the Young Matildas and the Future Matildas, which she combines with teaching at Westfield Sports High.
Her love for the game began in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales with Wentworth Falls Warriors, and then Macarthur Rams U14 Boys, where she was the only girl in the team.
Leah headed to College in the USA and that's where she started her coaching journey. Her playing career saw her play professionally in Australia, USA and Sweden. She also played for the Young Matildas and the Matildas before her playing career was cut short by injury.
She has coached with Football New South Wales and the National Talent Centre (NTC) Program, has been Assistant Coach with West Sydney Wanderers, Assistant Coach of the Matildas, and was also included in the Football Australia Female Coach Mentor Programs. Leah went to the Rio Olympics and the World Cup in France as a scout/analyst.
Leah took over from Gary Van Egmond as Young Matildas Coach in 2019 and took them to the AFC U19 Championship. She is now busy preparing the team after the 2022 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan was cancelled due to Covid. She talks frankly about developing young players and the importance of tournaments and game time for fringe Matildas.
Empowering female coaches as well as players is high on Leah’s to do list.
Please join Gary Cole in this journey into Leah Blayney’s Football Coaching Life.
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