It’s fair to say that, when she made her debut for New Zealand against Samoa in Canberra in April 2003, Hayley Moorwood never envisaged the day would arrive when she would become the most capped international in the history of New Zealand women’s football. Just over eight years later, that day has arrived, and as she took to the field for the Football Ferns against Wales in Saviese, Switzerland, she joined Wendi Henderson in having made 64 appearances for her country in full internationals, a tally which has stood unchallenged since "Weed"’s retirement in March 2008. However, Hayley should have realised this milestone in her stellar career a month ago, in the televised game against Australia. Murphy’s Law decreed otherwise, however - of all times for our dynamic number eight to pick up a rare injury … "It was a little setback", she says of her frustration at the time. "I love playing, and I’d never missed an international game through injury until this happened. It was disappointing to get it during the training session on the day before the second game in Newcastle, that’s for sure. "However, I’ve done my rehabilitation work, and was back in light training on Queen’s Birthday weekend, and in full training during the week which followed. It’s all right now, and I’m fighting fit and raring to go again". Being sidelined for that Australian clash ended a remarkable selection sequence in the careers of both Hayley and Kirsty Yallop, her midfield partner-in-crime from the halcyon days of Lynn-Avon United, the club which has been hugely influential in the development of a number of the current Football Ferns squad. With the exception of one game in 2007, the recent 2-1 loss to the Matildas marked the first time since 2003 that New Zealand’s starting line-up hadn’t featured either Hayley or Kirsty - at least one of them had been on the pitch from the start during that run of 62 internationals. "Wow! That’s a long time", was the reaction of a player who was the Football Ferns captain in over half of those games, but won’t be leading the team onto the field during this Women’s World Cup campaign. "Deep down inside, it’s pretty gut-wrenching when you’re not captain anymore", admits Hayley, "but it doesn’t set me back in any way. I’m still going to do what I do and lead the way that I lead, and usually

that’s by example. "It just happens that Bex (Rebecca Smith) will be wearing the armband, and I think she’ll be great with it - she’s a great captain. Don’t forget she led us well throughout the 2007 Women’s World Cup Finals, and I think she’s got what it takes to lead us through these Finals as well. "She’s what’s best for the team at the moment. All credit to her - she has the qualities of a leader", which, coming from the player who has led the Football Ferns into battle 38 times - more often than any other skipper in the history of our national women’s team, is a glowing endorsement of her successor in the role. While the on-field leadership may have changed, the team’s goals override any such alterations - they are intangible, and all in the squad have contributed to their being so, be they a newcomer such as Erin Nayler, or a hardened campaigner like Hayley. "My personal goals are the team’s goals - progressing through our pool", affirms the 27-year-old midfield general. "As one of the senior players, every time I get on the field, I need to be leading by example. "Individually, keeping my performance standard at a high level is an absolute must. It comes down to personal standards", says Hayley, who has few peers in New Zealand women’s football in this regard - her beep test results alone speak volumes for her self-discipline and willingness to strive to be the best she possibly can be, on and off the park. Her current employers certainly aren’t complaining about their Kiwi star, and nor is she of them. "I’m really enjoying life in the FA Women’s Super League with Chelsea. I think moving to them has been good for what I needed to do. "The team and the girls are great, and the coaching staff are really good as well - I can learn a lot from them. And life in England has been good too. It’s been really nice weather for the past five weeks, right up to my heading home to join up with the team. "It’s been good to be back home for this brief period", smiles Hayley. "Seeing the family and friends again, visiting the old haunts, that sort of thing, has been really pleasing". Every bit as much as finally becoming the most capped player in the history of New Zealand women’s football, of course.