Latest news with #BetsyHassett
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Football Fern Betsy Hassett makes international return a family affair
FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON PLEASE [wh] Football Fern Hassett makes international return a family affair Betsy Hassett wasn't expecting a national team call-up so soon after the birth of son Nói, Photo: Colombia Football Federatiion Nine months after the birth of her first child, midfielder Betsy Hassett is surprised to be back in the Football Ferns with the potential to add to her 157 caps for New Zealand. Hassett is one of five changes new head coach Michael Mayne has made for two games against world No. 51 Venezuela in Spain. The first game is at 4am Sunday (NZT). Playing semi-professional club football for Icelandic Premier Division club Stjarnan, a club she has been with since 2020, Hassett said, despite being in contact with Mayne since late last year, she was not expecting a call-up for this tour. All her club games were filmed, so Mayne knew what kind of form she was in, before he brought her into the squad. "I'm physically and mentally back, and I'm ready to go," Hassett, 34, said. Her return means she is joined by son Nói and partner Gummi on this tour. They are staying in an apartment in Spain, around the corner from the team hotel. When Hassett first played for the Football Ferns as a teenager, goalkeeper Jenny Bindon was the only mum in the team. Bindon is now a Football Ferns assistant coach and son Tyler is an All White . "That was a big inspiration for me back then, but I was not even thinking about [motherhood], I was so young back then," Hassett said. Former Ferns goalkeeper Jenny Bindon now has a son in the All Whites. Photo: Photosport Not every Football Ferns mum has found the balance possible. "There's been Hayley Bowden and she came back for maybe one tour, but it was a bit difficult," Hassett said of the midfielder who retired in 2015. "There was not really set-up for babies and family, so she had to give it up," "That's why I'm going to give it a go. Times are changing now, so it's really cool that this is actually a possible thing to do now." Re-joining the Football Ferns has meant getting introduced to the newbies and reacquainted with those players whom Hassett has played many games with. "There's definitely some new faces in the team, now I've been out for just over a year, so really enjoying getting to know a couple of girls I've never even met before," she said. "Then, of course, coming back in and meeting up with the likes of Stotty [Rebekah Stott] and Flea [Annalie Longo] and Ally Green and the older ones that I'm used to playing with has been amazing, and especially for them to just get to meet my little new son." Football Ferns line up to face Colombia. Photo: photosport After playing college football in California, Hassett has played club football around the world in Germany, England, Norway, Netherlands, Iceland and Wellington. The long Icelandic winters take some getting used to as a footballer, when training conditions can be "tough". "It's coming into summer, so it's getting brighter there very quickly. The days are really long and I'm looking forward to the summer, because it can be really long winters there. "It's nice to go away for a little break in the middle of the winter sometimes, just to get away and see some sun. It's actually really nice to have training in the winter, because it's something that makes you feel better. "Get out and run around and see your mates, instead of just being inside and in the dark all day." The Football Ferns' games against Venezuela will be the first time the two sides have faced each other at senior international level. "It's going to be a good challenge," Hassett said. "I think they'll be a really good team, strong team, so we're doing everything we can, and we're looking good and heading into the game so far. "Really excited to see what we can do." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
13-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Veteran midfielder returns to Football Ferns squad
Betsy Hassett of New Zealand during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Photo: PHOTOSPORT One of New Zealand's most experienced players Betsy Hassett returns to the Football Ferns squad for next month's internationals against Venezuela in Spain. The 157-cap midfielder will play for the Ferns for the first time since giving birth in 2024, and will travel to Spain with her son and partner. There are five changes to the squad that toured Taiwan last month. Calgary Wild's Ally Green, Newcastle Jets' Deven Jackson, Wellington Phoenix's Grace Jale, and Melbourne City's Rebekah Stott all return, as interim coach Michael Mayne continues to examine a range of players in the team environment to build depth across the pitch ahead of the next FIFA Women's World Cup cycle. "As with previous windows, the priority for us at this stage of the cycle is building competition in the squad ahead of the next World Cup, so it is good to welcome back some players who weren't in the squad in the last or last few windows. "Following her return to football and her progress, it's great to call Betsy back into the Football Ferns whānau after giving birth to her son last year. "Venezuela will be a good challenge for us at this point in the cycle, so I'm looking forward to working with the team to continue implementing our new playing model and seeing some strong individual performances to promote a dominant team performance in Spain." The full 24-player squad is: Liz Anton (21 caps/0 goals) Kolbotn IL, Norway Kelli Brown (2/0) Perth Glory, Australia Claudia Bunge (33/0) Melbourne Victory, Australia Milly Clegg (13/1) Halifax Tides, Canada Manaia Elliott (1/0) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand Victoria Esson (26/0) Rangers, Scotland Michaela Foster (24/1) Durham FC, England Ally Green (17/2) Calgary Wild, Canada Maya Hahn (2/1) FFC Turbine Potsdam, Germany Jacqui Hand (33/8) Sheffield United, England Betsy Hassett (157/15) Stjarnan FC, Iceland Deven Jackson (1/0) Newcastle Jets, Australia Grace Jale (34/8) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand Claudia Jenkins (0/0) Adelaide United, Australia Katie Kitching (16/5) Sunderland AFC, England Annalie Longo (138/15) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand Meikayla Moore (69/4) Calgary Wild, Canada Ruby Nathan (5/1) Canberra United, Australia Grace Neville (12/0) London City Lionesses, England Emma Pijnenburg (1/0) Feyenoord Rotterdam, Netherlands Alina Santos (0/0) University of Denver, USA Rebekah Stott (106/4) Melbourne City, Australia Kate Taylor (23/2) Dijon FCO, France Grace Wisnewski (3/0) Lexington SC, USA Of players named in Ford Football Ferns squads in the last year, CJ Bott, Katie Bowen, Macey Fraser, Anna Leat, Malia Steinmetz, Jana Radosavljević, Ali Riley, and Indiah-Paige Riley were not available for selection due to injury concerns or return to play considerations. The Ford Football Ferns face Venezuela on Sunday 1 June 2025 at 4am NZT and Wednesday 4 June 2025 at 4am NZT.
