Cheryl Salisbury honoured by NSW Government

Westfield Matildas' legendary former captain Cheryl Salisbury has been recognised by the NSW Government with a naming on one of the new fleet of 10 River Class ferries.  

Salisbury joins some of NSW’s leading artists, authors and athletes to be recognised by Transport for NSW for their contribution in shaping NSW culture. 

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“All of the River Class vessels have been named after notable individuals who have helped shape NSW culture through art, literature and sport, with three authors, three artists and four athletes selected by Transport for NSW,” said Transport for NSW Chief Operations Officer, Howard Collins.

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Salisbury is in esteemed company in the athlete category with former Australian netball captain Liz Ellis, the illustrious basketball great Lauren Jackson, and wheelchair track and road racer Kurt Fearnley, winner of 13 Paralympic medals.

Salisbury’s CV is equally impressive. The Novocastrian is the most capped Australian footballer ever, making 151 appearances in a career spanning from 1997 to 2009.

Westfield Matildas legend Cheryl Salisbury is carried off by teammates following her retirement.


She wore the captain’s armband for six years and scored 38 goals including some history-making ones. Salisbury netted the Westfield Matildas first goal at an Olympic Games at Sydney 2000.

She was also on the end of the 92nd minute equaliser at 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup which saw Australia draw 2-2 with Canada and progress through to the quarter finals for the first time. 

Australia progress to the knockout stages of the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup


Over the course of her 12 year national team career, Salisbury played at four FIFA Women’s World Cups and was twice named in FIFA’s Women’s World XI squad.

Salisbury also went to two Olympic Games and two AFC Women’s Asian Cups including the 2006 edition in Adelaide.

The honours continued off the pitch with Salisbury being inducted into FFA’s Hall of Fame after he retirement in 2009. 

She continued to make history when she was the first woman to win the PFA’s Alex Tobin award in 2017. She was then the first woman footballer to be inducted into Sport Australia’s Hall of Fame.   

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This article was originally published on the CommBank Matildas website.
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