Canberra United Football Club can today confirm that Heather Garriock will return to the club in a position as both Head Coach and overseeing the pathway for talented female footballers in the ACT & surrounding region.
The 36-year old former Westfield Matilda will enter her third season with the club after joining ahead of the 2017/18 season and will help the Canberra United Academy and the Canberra United Winter program that she introduced in 2018.
Capital Football CEO Phil Brown said the newly created position opened an exciting avenue to help improve the pathways for elite Footballers.
“The pathway for female players is not singular,” Brown said.
“They may come through the NPLW, play in the boys’ NPLY, the Canberra United Academy, or attend supplementary training with the Canberra United Winter program on their path to representing Canberra United in the Westfield W-League, and ultimately the Westfield Matildas.
“To that end Capital Football has created a full-time role that sees the Canberra United Head Coach oversee the pathway for players following into it.”
“We are proud to announce we have appointed Heather Garriock to that role.”
“Heather will not only coach the Canberra United team in the Westfield W-League, she will actively coach, identify and monitor players across the underpinning programs, providing opportunity and support to players with dreams of representing Australia.
Players such as Karly Roestbakken, Laura Hughes and Nicki Flannery thrived in the Canberra United Academy environment, while Lauren Keir made her way to a Canberra United contract through the Winter program with Garriock in 2018.
Garriock said she is looking forward to not only returning at the highest level, but to overseeing the youth in Canberra and the surrounding region too.
“Having coached the younger generation during my playing years it is a passion of mine, and I am excited to take on this role overseeing those players and working with their development,” she said.
“I can’t wait to get down to work in a year-round capacity and provide the best environment possible for our talented young footballers to come through our pathways.”
