Women’s soccer front and centre for Border Raiders

By Oliver Shedden

May 7, 2025

The Border Raiders will once again have a guard of honour for its female players this year at Women’s Day. Photo: File.

Echuca-Moama Border Raiders Soccer Association’s biggest social event for the year, the annual Women’s Day, is back and better than ever.

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The event, which will take place on Saturday, May 10, will see a full slate of Border Raiders teams, both men’s and women’s, in action at Jack Eddy Reserve.

The freshly promoted Bendigo Amateur Soccer League division one women’s team will take on LaTrobe on the main field at 1pm, and the under-14 girls will battle Strathfieldsaye Colts at 3pm.

The Minitillies, made up of players aged 5-11, will play from noon until 1pm on the main field as well.

The three under-12 teams will play on junior fields from 10am until 2pm, and the senior men’s side will kick off against Swan Hill on pitch two at 3pm.

Off the pitch there will be markets, food options, a bar, marquee, face painting, hair braiding and live music starting from 11am around the grounds for spectators to enjoy.

Echuca Moama Border Raiders Soccer Association president Ryan Quirk shared his excitement for the event and his joy in being able to highlight the impact of women’s sport in the region.

“It's about celebrating women in sport and our fantastic women at our club, not just the players but the mums, sisters, aunties, grandmas and committee members,” he said.

“It just so happens to coexist with Mother’s Day on the weekend too, so it has worked out perfectly, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.

“We are absolutely looking forward to the event, we have a sub-committee for the ladies’ day made up almost entirely of women’s team members, such as Amelia Richardson, Lily Smith and Paige Pinson who are really driving it.

“We are encouraging all of our players and their family members and partners to come down and support our women and enjoy the day.”

Quirk also reflected on the growth of women’s sport in Australia over the past few years and the role that grassroots clubs have in continuing to drive that development.

“Women’s sport has come a long way in such a short time, you look at the professionalism of the Women’s A-League, AFLW and our national netball competition,” he said.

“The success of the Matildas recently at the World Cup has influenced a whole new generation of players in not just soccer but all sports.

“For us as a community club in a regional area to put our hand up and champion women’s sport is something that we are very proud of and take seriously, and a day like our ladies’ day is an acknowledgement of the fantastic job not just on the pitch but off the pitch as well.”