Northern NSW Football is delighted to announce the recipients of its Female Football Week 2026 awards.
Awards were presented at NNSWF’s annual Female Football Week Networking Event held at Pier Ninety Seven on Friday night.
Almost 70 guests attended the event to recognise and showcase the contribution that women and girls make throughout all levels of the game throughout northern NSW from grassroots football to NPL Women’s NNSW.
Niav Owens was the master of ceremonies for the event which featured guests including CommBank Matildas Assistant Coach Emily Husband, FIFA Referee Casey Reibelt and Women’s Sport Consultant Ann Odong.
NNSWF General Manager Participation & Women’s Football Allana Neeve said the evening was a major success.
“The event provided a wonderful chance for supporters of women’s football who share a passion to connect in one place,” Neeve said.
“Congratulations to all the award recipients for their significant contributions to the football community. They are truly deserving and we appreciate their commitment and dedication.”
2026 NNSWF FEMALE FOOTBALL WEEK AWARD WINNERS AND RUNNERS UP
Winner – Player of the Year
Laine Eldering – Armidale City Westside
Laine has been a dedicated member of Armidale City Westside for five seasons, playing a key role in the growth of the club’s women’s program and the wider regional competition.
Joining during its rebuilding phase, Laine has consistently contributed as a player and leader, showing strong commitment to her own development and that of her teammates.
Laine is a valued mentor and leader off the field supporting coaches, connecting players across age groups and helping guide junior players into senior football. She has played a direct role in several players making their senior debut, fostering an inclusive and supportive club environment.
Runner Up – Player of the Year
Chloe Martin – Charlestown Azzurri
Chloe is a respected and committed member of Charlestown Azzurri, contributing to the club’s first NPL Women’s NNSW grand final victory in 2024 and the 2025 team that won all five major trophies, highlighting her contribution at the highest level.
In 2026 she has shown strong leadership as captain, guiding a depleted squad with determination and maintaining high standards during a challenging year.
She is also a supportive and inclusive leader, mentoring younger players transitioning into first grade and fostering a positive team culture.
Winner – Coach of the Year
Rachel Bax – Wauchope SC
Rachel has been coaching female teams across the Mid North Coast since 2017, playing a key role in developing young players in the region. In 2025 she led a Wauchope SC under-13s girls team to a grand final appearance.
In 2026 Rachel continues to coach at multiple levels, including an under-13s girls team for Wauchope SC and two squads in the Football Mid North Coast Youth Development Academy. As head coach for the female program, she has also helped introduce an under-14s girls team to strengthen development pathways.
She regularly exposes players to elite competition through events such as the Kanga Cup and Gold Coast Invitational, supporting their progression into PYLG.
Runner Up – Coach of the Year
Isla Carstairs and Jasmin Smith – Charlestown Azzurri
Isla and Jasmin are co-coaches at Charlestown Azzurri, leading the under-11s JDL girls with a shared focus on development and enjoyment.
Isla brings kindness, positive energy and a strong emphasis on building confidence through engaging sessions that encourage players to take risks and try new roles. While Jasmin is a passionate and dedicated coach who creates a fun, supportive environment and adapts her sessions to meet the needs of all players.
Together they consistently deliver well planned training sessions and foster a positive, respectful team culture.
Winner – Referee of the Year
Kiara Jobson – Football Far North Coast Referees
Kiara is a highly regarded young official who has shown steadily improving competency over the last couple of years.
She demonstrates strong commitment to refereeing, willingly officiating wherever and at whatever level she is required.
Kiara was also named the Football Far North Coast Referee of the Year for 2025.
Runner Up – Referee of the Year
Amelia Hastie – North Coast Football Referees
Amelia is a junior referee who has already shown outstanding potential, receiving a vote for Referee of the Year last season. She serves on the North Coast Football Referee Advisory Group as the junior representative, helping ensure the needs and perspectives of young referees are considered.
She actively mentors new referees and is committed to supporting their development. She regularly officiates at PYL level and attended the 2025 Champion of Champions Referee Development Camp to further strengthen her skills.
Winner – Volunteer of the Year
Kaycee Conboy – Abermain Rams
Kaycee joined Abermain Rams in 2024 as a team manager and quickly became a key club contributor. After supporting a successful major raffle, she was appointed secretary and took on a wide range of administrative responsibilities, improving the club’s organisation and operations.
She has played a major role in growing female football at the club, helping establish a recruitment program that expanded to five all-girls teams by 2026.
Kaycee also delivered a successful Female Football Week event in 2025 and is leading an expanded 2026 program focused on empowerment and confidence for female players.
Runner Up – Volunteer of the Year
Jasmine Callan – Metford Cobras
Jasmine started playing football a year ago to share the experience with her son and is now club secretary of Metford Cobras. She quickly became central to the club’s operations, helping with everything from match day setup and canteen duties to equipment and parent coordination.
She is widely recognised for her kindness and welcoming nature, helping new families feel included and supported within the club.
Jasmine also created a women’s team from scratch, recruiting players to provide opportunities for beginners and returning players, significantly strengthening participation at the club.
Community Champion Winner
Erin Bruce – Westlakes Wildcats
Erin has made a strong impact on women and girls’ football at Westlakes Wildcats, helping drive inclusion and participation at grassroots level. She played a key role in achieving the club’s one-star Club Changer accreditation, strengthening its community focus.
She has been instrumental in tackling the drop-off in girls’ participation by helping establish Girls Development Squads that prioritise development and accessibility. Erin also creates opportunities through gala days, trials and inter-club programs, ensuring players can continue to grow and stay engaged in football.
Erin further supports coach development and builds connections across the football community, including links with elite players for inspiration. Her work has helped create a more inclusive and supportive environment for female football.
Club of the Year Winner
Edgeworth Junior SC
Edgeworth Junior SC is committed to providing inclusive opportunities for female players, officials and volunteers, with girls’ teams from under-5s through to four All Age Women’s sides. Strong participation across age groups reflects a thriving female football pathway within the club.
The club also supports leadership and development opportunities for girls, encouraging Game Day Leaders and progression into refereeing from age 13. Women make up more than 60 per cent of the committee, contributing to a strong, inclusive club culture.
Edgeworth further celebrates its female players through initiatives like the girls-only opening night of the Edgy Under Lights Coles MiniRoos gala event, giving players a fun and supportive environment to enjoy and showcase their football.
Club of the Year Runner-Up
Stockton Sharks
The Stockton Sharks are committed to the growth of women’s and girls’ football at all levels. In 2026, 39.4 per cent of the club’s 548 registered players are female, with a strong near-even split of 47 per cent girls within the junior ranks.
The club actively promotes inclusion and participation through welcoming environments from Coles MiniRoos through to senior Sharkettes teams, focusing on enjoyment, development and belonging.
Women are also strongly represented across coaching, team management and committee roles, contributing to club decision-making.
Stockton Sharks further supports female growth through coaching, refereeing and leadership pathways, helping to develop the next generation of women in football.