Nora Watkins
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nora Watkins | ||
| Date of birth | July 26, 1957[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Wellington, New Zealand[2] | ||
| Date of death | June 21, 2023 (aged 65)[3] | ||
| Place of death | Melbourne, Australia | ||
| International career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1975–1980 | New Zealand | 10 | (2) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1989–1995 | New Zealand (assistant) | ||
| 1995 | New Zealand (caretaker) | ||
Nora Watkins (née Hetherington) (26 July 1957 – 21 June 2023) was a former association football player and manager who represented New Zealand at international level.[2][4]
Club career
Watkins first played football for Upper Hutt before moving to Miramar Rangers with her New Zealand strike partner Marilyn Marshall after her international debut.[5] Watkins played for their first division team until 1983 before she coached the team for five of their next seven seasons.[5] While at Miramar, she won the Wellington Football Association competition four times and the Kelly Cup, fourteen times.[5][2] She continued that success at Petone FC, winning the Central League title in 1994, 1995 and 1996.[2]
International career
Watkins made her Football Ferns debut in their first ever international as they beat Hong Kong 2–0 on 25 August 1975[6] at the inaugural AFC Women's Asian Cup.[7][8] She finished her international career with 10 caps and 2 goal to her credit, including a penalty in New Zealand 2–0 win over Thailand in the 1975 Asian Cup Final.[2][4]
Managerial career
Watkins became the national team assistant coach between 1989 and 1994, including going to the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup in China.[5][2] In 1995, she took charge of the team for a two-match series against Australia, becoming the first woman to hold that position.[5][2]
Personal life
Watkins died in Melbourne, Australia in 2023. The Nora Watkins Memorial Shield was introduced by Capital Football in 2024 for Central League women's competitions. Waterside Karori were named the inaugural holders, having been crowned the 2023 champions. They put their name first on the trophy, defending it, in their first home game against Victoria University 1–0.[9][10]
Honours
Miramar Rangers
- Wellington Football Association: Champions 1975-83, 84–86, 88, 90–91
- Kelly Cup: Winners (14)
Petone FC
- Central League: Champions 1994, 1995, 1996
New Zealand
References
- ^ "Former Football Fern Nora Watkins passes away". New Zealand Football. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Football Ferns mourn former player and coach Nora Watkins". Stuff. 23 June 2023. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Cemetery record". Southern Metropolitan Cemetery. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ a b "Caps 'n' Goals, New Zealand Women's national representatives". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
- ^ a b c d e "Vale: Football loses pioneering women's player and coach Nora Watkins". Friends of Football NZ. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ^ "Roll of Honour". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
- ^ "1975 Asian Cup". NZ Football. Archived from the original on 2 September 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
- ^ "Football Ferns - Line-ups". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
- ^ "Nora Watkins Memorial Shield introduced into Women's Central League". Capital Football. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Waterside Karori first holders of new shield to remember pioneer Nora Watkins". Friends of Football. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.