Matildas mean more to young players than just the World Cup

The impact the Matildas have had on Australian youth goes beyond World Cup glory.

Hundreds of Australia’s youth now have new sporting heroes to look up to, and for Australia’s young women it’s a dream come true to see the nation getting behind the Matildas.

Last Wednesday night’s World Cup match against England became the most viewed event in Australian television history, and young athletes are hoping the momentum behind women’s sports keeps going.

Margaux Ramsay plays football for the state’s regional team as well as the Bunbury Dynamos and watched last Wednesday’s game with her friends.

She and her teammates are already feeling a change in their classrooms and club rooms surrounding women in football.

“There was no recognition for girls,” said Margaux.

Her teammate Gabi Hayres agreed.

“I think it’s empowering knowing that, like, we can grow up and have a whole nation stop to watch us play the sport we love,” she said.

“It’s probably a lot more respect we’ve gained than before.”

The girls are hoping the popularity of the Matildas encourages more players to join, as many of them have had no choice but to play in the boys’ teams.

“I had one other girl on my team,” said Ruby Skane, another teammate.

“We always worked together, like if we had to go in partners, we would always go together.

“The boys wouldn’t really be like ‘hey do you want to go on a team with us’, always the girls were together and the boys were sort of different.”

Hay Park United players also gathered to watch Wednesday night’s match, with many feeling proud that the entire club was getting behind the women’s side.

Junior player Leila Homer, 11, said it felt great having all her club friends and family getting behind the girls.

“Normally it used to be men were like, the best and woman would never take power,” she said.

“But now we’ve shown them that a woman can do anything boys can do, if not better.”

The impact the Matildas have had on the young minds is evident when the young players of Hay Park United were asked what advice they’d give to future players.

“It’s not a dream, it’s only a crazy dream until you say it,” Leila said.

“That’s what Sam Kerr says.”