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2007
Clarke's Consistency Key To Her World Cup Dream
by Jeremy Ruane
New Zealand women's international Michele Clarke has had something of a chequered career to date when it comes to wearing the colours of her country.
The scorer of two goals on her debut against Samoa in Canberra during the 2003 Oceania Women's World Cup qualifying campaign, she played in all four games during that series, only to be overlooked when New Zealand next took to the field, at the Australia Cup tournament in 2004.
Later that year, she was back in the frame again, her form in the National Women's League securing her Player of the Year honours in that competition, and earning her a recall for the two-match tour of the USA and the one-off international against Japan in May, 2005, her last as Michele Keinzley.
It was a memorable year for the then Lynn-Avon United front-runner, as she struck both goals in the National Women's Knockout Cup Final against Eastern Suburbs to clinch the cup for her team, and Cup Final MVP honours for herself.
But when New Zealand next took to the international stage, for the visit to China in late 2006, there was no sign of the newly married Mrs Clarke. Unperturbed, she fought her way back into contention, and was among those who headed to Australia at the start of 2007, only to be overlooked yet again, this time for the Oceania Women's World Cup qualifying tournament in April.
Frustrated? “It can be frustrating, but I guess it shows good character to be able to break back in all the time. I use it as motivation anyway, to try and prove myself again and get back in there”.
And get back in there Clarke has, both for the Canadian series in June and the just-completed tour of Australia, in which she earned her twelfth cap for her country. This time, the Wairarapa-based speedster is hoping she's in there for the long haul.
“It feels fantastic to be in the squad at the moment. Everyone fits right in - it's really good. It's invaluable being in this environment too, training together.
“As well as my training sessions with Upper Hutt City, I train with Wairarapa United's Capital Premier League squad on Tuesday nights - that gives a higher intensity. Plus those of us not based in Auckland get really good support from John Herdman and Helen Tunstall”.
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 Michele Clarke's Favourites
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It would be the best possible belated birthday present for Michele were she to take the field against Brazil six days after turning 25. And outside football, she's got plenty to look forward to as well.
“At present, I do casual work, so it fits in with my football commitments. Long-term, I'll be joining the police. I've completed the whole recruitment process, and they've put my file on hold until I decide it's the right time to join up. That gives me a lot of freedom”.
As does her love of road biking, although there are times when it gets a bit scary. “I've had a couple of close calls down south, but haven't actually been hit, unlike in 2005”, when Michele was fortunate to avoid injury when side-swiped by a truck-and-trailer unit.
Those were the days when she was living in Kamo, and travelling south each week to help Lynn-Avon win another league and cup double. But after helping the “A Team” reclaim the National Women's League crown at the end of the 2005 campaign, a holiday down south prompted a complete change of scenery.
“We were always planning to move back down towards Wellington, and when my husband-to-be was offered a job down there, the timing couldn't have been better for us”.
Seatoun (in 2006) and Upper Hutt have been the beneficiaries of Michele's footballing talents since her return to the central region, meaning the Capital Football star is well placed to compare two of the country's foremost Premier Women's League competitions.
“Obviously with the number of Auckland-based New Zealand players, the Northern League is always going to be a little higher standard-wise than what's down our way.
“That said, at Upper Hutt, we've got quite a lot of young girls coming through, some of whom are involved in the U17s. Hopefully in time, it will make our league stronger and more competitive”.
Meanwhile, Michele has just one goal in mind. “The key for me is to keep working at my game, and be consistent form-wise. I tend not to look too long-term, just focus on one thing at a time, and at present, my total focus is on this Women's World Cup campaign, which, like everyone else, I'm keen to be a part of”.
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