Rose Morton knows all about the opportunities top-level sport can offer a woman — but she is also well aware it falls short in other areas.
And what better time to work on that than as New Zealand prepares to co-host the Fifa Women’s World Cup this year?
Morton, the Southern United captain, has starred through the ranks, debuting in the National Women’s League for Central aged 15, playing for New Zealand secondary schools and representing New Zealand at the under-17 and under-20 world cups.
She moved to Dunedin in 2019, after receiving a performance scholarship at the University of Otago, and has been part ofSouthern United since.
The national league provided a great platform for women’s football, but after being in the environment for a long time, getting paid adequately was still a struggle.
While Morton acknowledged there were positive changes among women’s football in recent years, women were still not paid on par with men.
"Getting more recognition and status as professional footballers as women is a big one," Morton said.
"My biggest one is ensuring that women in professional teams are able to actually live off that professional contract, rather than having to juggle part-time jobs as well as committing to intense and demanding trainings, games and schedules.
"Being properly recognised as full-time professional athletes and being compensated appropriately is something that is getting better but needs improving."
Football had offered her so much throughout her life and the shift she witnessed in the representation of the women’s game through the years was incredible, she said.
Growing up, she did not know who the Football Ferns were, and was disconnected from the sport at a national level.
Exposure for women’s football in the past five years had changed that, she said.
"I’m almost envious that the young girls now are more aware of women’s football and the Football Ferns.
"I wish I had that opportunity when I was young.
"But what matters most is that it’s happening now and it’ll continue to happen, hopefully, until the Football Ferns are a common household name."
It could sneak up quicker than she expected through the Fifa World Cup.
Bringing top national teams to "our back doorstep" allowed young footballers to view a pathway and provided new exposure for people to take it seriously and invest time and money into it.
Last year’s Black Ferns rugby success "lit a spark in all females in sport" and she would love nothing more than to see the football tournament have the same impact.
"As long as people play football and are engaged with it, the better the outcome will be.
"We need more female leaders, even though I acknowledge that there already are so many amazing female leaders in football, and more female heroes that young girls can look up to.
"It’s already starting to happen and the World Cup is coming at the right time for women’s football and sport in general.
"The time for women’s football has finally come and I cannot wait for what opportunities that brings for young females in New Zealand."
