Youngster Yallop A Young Star On The Rise by Jeremy Ruane The announcement of the Auckland-Manukau representative women's squad to contest the National Women's Soccer League recently capped a remarkable season for the youngest player named, Kirsty Yallop. The precociously talented sixteen-year-old has enjoyed an immense season in the Northern Premier Women's League and Uncle Toby's Women's Knockout Cup with Lynn-Avon United, and has grasped the chance to secure a first-team place for herself at the Ken Maunder Park club with both hands. The Avondale College sixth form student is delighted with her selection in the "A Team". "I'm excited, but at the same time, privileged", said Yallop, who joins team-mates Sara Clapham, Amber Hearn, Michele Keinzley and Zoe Thompson in making their debuts for New Zealand's premier women's soccer-playing province in this season's National Women's Soccer League. Whie this season will mark Yallop's first at senior provincial level, she knows full well the demands of the competition, having played - and captained - the New Zealand Under-17 women's team which took part in last season's inaugural campaign. "I found it was pretty good last year, and it was good for the teams involved as well. Being a member of the youngest team in the competition, though, you could definitely tell which were the stronger sides!!", she said, no doubt recalling the last game of last season's National Women's League, when the "A Team" steamrollered the Under-17s 7-0. "This time, I'm hoping that, as a team, we'll win the league, while personally, I'm hoping to play well and score a few goals". The bubbly teenager has high hopes of making a career in the women's game. "I'm looking to go to the USA on a scholarship in the not-too-distant future, and to that end, former national coach Sandy Davie is making some enquiries on my behalf. "Ultimately, I'd love to play in a professional women's soccer league", says Yallop. Meantime, New Zealand's National Women's Soccer League will prove a more than suitable alternative for a young star with potential aplenty, and any number of years ahead of her in which to refine her talent, and become even better! And for a defender, that's a frightening prospect!!

photo courtesy Grant Stantiall