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2005
2005
Hard Work Pays Off For "Shirley"
by Jeremy Ruane
 Making her international debut as a substitute against the Cook Islands marked an early nineteenth birthday present for Melissa Ray in April 2003, but little did she know that she would have to wait nearly eighteen months for her next New Zealand call-up.When it came, though, it was richly deserved, and stands out as the eternally bubbly twenty-year-old’s greatest moment in football to date. "Starting in the first match against the USA on our recent tour has to be the ultimate for me so far - they’re awesome! They’re so quick and move the ball so fast!" exclaimed the fast-improving defensive star.
"It’s hard enough contemplating that I got back into the New Zealand squad for the biggest games the women have played in ages, and that I actually went there, never mind was part of a Kiwi side taking on the best team in the world".
But Ray did exactly that, due reward for knuckling down and earning her place back, having been dropped from the squad for the Australia Cup tournament in February this year. "That was a hard blow to cope with. What tore me up was when the girls came back and talked about the tour, and I couldn’t relate to what they were saying.
 "It was then that I made a personal vow that I wasn’t going to endure that experience again. So over the course of the year, I’ve worked hard to tone up my body and improve my fitness levels … it’s not been easy, but the rewards have been well worth it, believe me".Those rewards don’t just run to earning her second and third caps against Team USA. Being named MVP in the Uncle Toby’s Women’s Knockout Cup Final, as Lynn-Avon United completed a "three-peat" against arch-rivals Three Kings United, was another highlight in Ray’s year, as was being named both the Coach’s Player and the Players’ Player awards at Lynn-Avon’s prize-giving evening.
Melissa being the ebullient character she is, however, it comes as little surprise to learn that her trip to the States saw her return home with another honour - a new nickname!
 "We call them raspberry and lemonades here, but in America, such drinks are known as ‘Shirley Temples’. Being rather partial to them, I had one or two over the course of most days in the States, and on the last night, I knocked back seven of them! The team, of course, had noticed this, so ‘Shirley’ was born."I can’t remember where my other nickname, ‘Spidey’, came from - it was so long ago. I think it might have stemmed from the tackles I was making at indoor soccer - I had long legs!!"
Ray began playing as a seven-year-old in the Under-8 boys’ team at Avondale United - "I’ll always be a Lynn-Avon girl at heart!" - and along the way to where she is today, has endured just one injury setback, a long-ago ankle reconstruction. That apart, the 2002 Auckland Young Player of the Year has relished her career in the game to date, and wants to play on for as long as she can.
"As well, I want to stay in the New Zealand team, and be part of the squad for the next Women’s World Cup qualifiers, where we hope to overcome Australia and make the 2007 finals in China.
 "The experience in the USA has really strengthened our resolve in that regard. Even though we were underdogs, we were made to feel really important. We took great delight in telling those who didn’t know where New Zealand was where we are, too. "And the atmosphere … huge!! On the pitch in both Portland and Cincinnati, you looked up, and there were people everywhere. They were pretty supportive, too. But from playing in front of 500-odd in the Uncle Toby’s Final to playing in front of 16654 in Portland, and more still in Cincinnati … we’ve had a taste, and want some more!!"
Meantime, it’s back to the harsh reality of the New Zealand game, specifically the National Women’s Soccer League, for Melissa and her international colleagues. That’s anything but a bad thing in the eyes of the Sport and Recreation degree student with designs on becoming a personal trainer, or a strength and conditioning coach.
"The competition is harder, and a lot more intense, with the best players from each area in the country playing alongside each other. The importance of winning is a lot greater, too, given the added prestige of representing your province".
Melissa and her Auckland team-mates are looking to win the competition for a third successive time, a feat which would greatly please the reigning champions’ newly-appointed vice-captain.
"Completing the triple triumph would really top off the year, and mark a really unique feat for Terry McCahill and myself, having achieved ‘three-peats’ in both the Northern Premier Women’s League and Uncle Toby’s Cup with Lynn-Avon this season. Yeah, that would be pretty cool!"
And it should come as no surprise to learn the identity of the drink Melissa will be ordering to celebrate the feat should it happen … you guessed it - a ‘Shirley Temple’!!
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 "Spidey" potting a penalty against Bay Olympic ...
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and the Melissa Ray guide on how not to do press-ups!!
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