Hannah Wilkinson: The Football Fern Who Inspired a Nation

“I’ve never played in front of a home crowd like that. Nobody has.” The Football Ferns are used to being the away team, rarely playing in New Zealand, but in July at Eden Park, Hannah Wilkinson felt more at home than ever before. As the ball was crossed in towards her, she thought back to a similar pass in a match earlier that year where she missed. “It haunted me… I said that’s not going to happen again.” She was right, and she put the ball in the back of the net.

“You couldn’t even hear yourself think. I disassociated when I scored. It was an out of body experience. I couldn’t hear a single thing.” Her goal was the match winner in New Zealand’s first ever World Cup win - an historic moment. It’s a career highlight, and one that may not have happened had her home country not been named as one of the co-hosts of the tournament. “I did not think I would last with my knee injuries and all the sacrifices. The second we got that I was like well I’m just going to have to make it.”

Two ACL injuries in three years taught Wilkinson the importance of strength in football. She admits her younger self brushed off warnings about strength as well as landing and stopping mechanics. “I just learnt the hardest way possible.” To this day, she does the same exercises she did at the time of those injuries, religiously. 

It’s clear from listening to Wilkinson talk about the Ferns just how connected she feels to the group. “We see them more than our families.” In the lead up to the World Cup, former Fern Kristy Hill worked with the team to connect them back to the country and what it means to play for New Zealand. “I really think that did something to us. It meant so much and brought us together as a player group.” 

The impact that the tournament had is monumental, and Wilkinson appreciates that. “I was going to the airport the other morning and there were old fellas talking about women’s football. Every time I go home people know who I am, which is crazy. It’s changed everything.” The shift has been more powerful than she could’ve imagined.

“You want to leave the place in a better position than where you found it.” The legacy she leaves is something Wilkinson’s thought about extensively. “I think we’ve got a lot of young kids interested in football, which is unbelievable for a country that’s obsessed with netball, rugby and cricket.” There’s a sense of urgency in her voice when she talks about wanting the best for the next generation of Ferns, as well. 

“We just knew we had that potential for so long but we never did it right.” She’s adamant that resources and investment in the team need to continue to improve. Taking advantage of the momentum generated by the World Cup is vital. Away from football, Wilkinson is a talented artist, taking on projects such as murals. She tells me that while she loves art, it’s also a secondary source of income. This is the reality for many female footballers, even in the wake of such a successful tournament. Wilkinson would love for the future generations to be able to focus solely on playing the game that they love.

After spending years in Europe playing in Sweden, Germany and Portugal, Wilkinson has spent the last few seasons in Australia at Melbourne City. At 31, she’s grateful for the opportunities football has provided, but she’s not done just yet. “I guess it’s hard to just throw away your life’s work like that.” When it comes to the Ferns, the current team keeps her motivated to continue. “I really, really love the group right now. It’s very connected and we have such potential.”

Wilkinson doesn’t hide her disappointment about the Ferns’ failure to progress from the group stage of the World Cup. “I don’t lose very well. It takes pieces of my soul every time.” She tells me she’s trying to hold onto the positives, but her mindset as a competitive athlete makes it harder to let it go of defeat. Wilkinson knows that the impact they made extends far beyond the pitch, however. “We can’t let everyone forget it.” 

Through all the highs and lows, however, Wilkinson’s love of the game shines through. Growing up, she tried to emulate the players that were visible to her - male footballers like van Nistelrooy and Beckham. Now, kids can - and do - look up to players like Wilkinson. Recently, while painting a mural at Auckland United, a group of young boys walked past. They started pointing and waving excitedly, having recognised her. “I couldn’t believe my eyes.” Whether she realises it or not, Hannah Wilkinson is inspiring a whole new generation, one goal at a time.

Photos and words by Rachel Bach