As recently as eight weeks ago, the prospect of Katie Bowen heading to Germany as part of the Football Ferns squad for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup Finals was about as likely as an English Premier League club heading to New Zealand at no cost to NZ Football. But an awful lot has happened in the life of the Lynfield College student since her seventeenth birthday in mid-April, with selection in the squad to tour Australia and China in May the best possible belated birthday present she could have wished for. Then came Katie’s first senior level appearance for her country, as a half-time substitute in the first of two internationals against Australia. It gave her a taste of top-flight international women’s football, and Football Ferns coach John Herdman clearly liked what he saw in those 45 minutes. "She was one of the stand-out players in our first game against Australia. We gave some opportunities to players in a game which we lost 3-0, but she was one of those players who, it’s safe to say, wore the shirt with real pride and dignity. She took the responsibility well, and showed a real maturity in putting on the shirt". Those first impressions were good enough to earn New Zealand’s U-17s captain a place in the Football Ferns’ Women’s World Cup squad, and she is still pinching herself days later. "How do I feel? To be honest, it’s hard to put into words, but it’s unreal. It’s surreal to me, and I’m so excited. I can’t believe it. "I didn’t even think I’d have a chance of making this squad - at the start of the year it wasn’t even an option. I guess it’s a lesson not to write yourself off before you know, really". If you think Katie was stunned by her selection, the reaction of her parents, Dave and Pippa, upon learning from their daughter that she would be part of the squad heading to Germany, bordered on priceless!

"Haha! Let’s just say there were a lot of tears, even from my dad!" reveals the youngest member of this Football Ferns squad. "He’s a man’s man, and he probably won’t be happy with me saying that, but …" Would you like that edited out? "No, you can leave it in, please - I’ll get my own back! Maybe I can blackmail him!" replied Katie with glee, having got one over her proud father via the best possible means. Of the event itself, the two-time U-17 Women’s World Cup finalist hopes her experiences at both those tournaments, particularly in Trinidad & Tobago last year, will stand her in good stead for Germany 2011. "It will certainly be a learning experience for me, that’s for sure. I’m looking forward to being around all the girls who I’ve pretty much idolised for a while now - seeing what they do, how they are at a World Cup, etc., and adding some of those elements into my own approach. "At the same time, even though I’m young, I’m not afraid to speak my mind, and I think that the girls recognise that, and I think it’s good. I don’t feel uncomfortable - I’m happy with it". As she is with the way her future is mapping out before her, particularly after this call-up. "Who knows what’s in store? Hopefully the London Olympics 2012, and, of course, the U-20 Women’s World Cup Finals in Uzbekistan", for which Germany, Italy, Norway and Switzerland became the first teams to qualify late last week. And Katie will be looking to follow in the footsteps of a growing number of her national team-mates by securing a US scholarship. "Hopefully colleges will approach me now that they know I’ve been picked to represent New Zealand at these Women’s World Cup Finals", grins a proud yet mature 17-year-old who is understandably thrilled to have realised her ultimate footballing dream at such a young age.