Sydney University Soccer Football Club (SUSFC) is excited to announce that 125-cap Australian Matildas representative Heather Garriock has signed on as the clubs Head Coach for the 2014 Women’s Premier League program.
Garriock, who is still part of the national squad set-up with the Matildas, made her senior national debut as a 16-year old in 1999. The talented striker has played in three Women’s World Cups, two Olympic Games and in leagues in Europe and the US (she was part of the inaugural season of the Women’s Professional Soccer League). In 2009, Garriock won a W-League Premiership and Championship with Sydney FC and most recently she played with Western Sydney in the 2013/14 W-League season.
Despite an incredibly busy playing career, Garriock has also found time over the years to set up a ‘Heather Garriock Football Academy’ and coached the junior and senior football programs at Westfield Sports High School.
Garriock watched from the sideline as Sydney Uni’s women’s premier league side recorded a win and a draw in the first round of matches for the 2014 season and she liked what she saw.
“I’ve always been impressed with the way that Sydney Uni has played their football and this season’s team looks no different,” said Garriock.
“I played (with Marconi) against Sydney Uni last season and I thought that they were the best footballing team in the competition.”
After a couple of training sessions with the girls this week Garriock will officially take charge of the team for the first time this Sunday against Blacktown Spartans and she can’t wait to make her mark on the team.
“Winning is a habit. You need to create that habit and you need to build that environment where you consistently want to win (especially at training). I’m a winner and I want to take that into the club. The girls are very receptive and are every smart and I’m excited. They’re a good bunch of girls.”
Having signed former Socceroos coach Raul Blanco to the head coaching role for the club’s men’s first grade squad in November last year, Director of Soccer John Curran is convinced that Garriock will continue to improve the professionalism and winning culture of the club.
“It is an exciting appointment for the club and I am sure we will all benefit from her arrival,” said Curran.
“Heather has had an outstanding career as a player and I am confident she will continue her successful career as a coach. She has been brought in to help build a winning culture and a winning mentality amongst the team and the club has provided her with the support staff for her to be able to do that.”
Curran says that it’s also great to have a female coach and believes that Garriock will be able to improve both the junior and senior players in the club.
“Heather has 15 years’ worth of experience with the national team. She will be an inspiration for the younger girls and she will be able to further improve the professionalism of the older girls.”
Garriock is confident that that she and her team have the makings of a successful season.
“The collective goal is to win. I’m going to try and win everything.”
