Capalaba FC’s ambitions of a first NPL Women’s Queensland title have been boosted with the signing of former Westfield Matildas representative and Westfield W-League Champion Brooke Spence.
The 32-year-old defender is the latest addition to Archford Kahondo’s side as they look to improve upon last year’s third-placed finish in the Sunshine State.
Spence made a dozen appearances for the Westfield Matildas and was part of the squad that lifted the AFF Women’s Championship trophy in 2008 in Vietnam.
She also was a fixture in the Westfield W-League for Brisbane Roar over the competitions first decade - winning the Premiership-Championship double in 2009.
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Following several seasons away from the game – where she focused on her other sporting love of softball – Spence said she is excited to be back on the football pitch in 2021.
She revealed her former Roar teammate and long-time friend Steph Latham, was the driving force to bringing her back to the game, after her Olympic Games ambitions were scuttled by COVID-19.
“For a few years, Steph has been asking me to come down and have a run and this year I told her I was definitely keen to be part of it,” Spence explained.
“I was in the mix to go to the Olympics in Tokyo with softball, but with no Olympics last year and our selection camp cancelled this year the time was right to return to football.
“I was missing something in terms of competitive sport as a result and it is really good fun to be back. I haven’t played competitive football since season ten of the W-League with the Roar.”
In addition to Latham, Spence will also reunite with former Roar and Matildas teammate Amy Chapman at the Bulldogs this season.
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The team will also benefit from other former Westfield W-Leaguers in attacker Whitney Knight (ex Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City) and defender Natasha Wheeler (ex Roar)
Spence said she believes the squad being assembled at John Fredericks Park can give the title a shake after Semi Final exits in the prior two campaigns.
“There is a good group of players at the club and a few I wanted to reconnect with – there are some good people at the club so it made the decision quite easy,” Spence said.
“Personally, I just want to get out there and enjoy playing football again and contribute positively from the backline.
“As a team, we definitely want to go all the way. I am very competitive and hate losing, and I was encouraged by the team’s performances last year.
“They are on the improve and hopefully as a team we can go one better (than last year) and I can’t wait to be part of that.”
In addition to their NPLW ambitions, the Bulldogs will join their league rivals in the inaugural Kappa Women’s Super Cup starting next month – a new state-wide knock-out cup competition recently launched by Football Queensland.
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