Marsden Years 2000-2004

This award recognises Emma Humphries as an elite football player and professional coach at both national and international levels.

Sport was always a priority for Emma while at school, but her skills were not limited to football; she was valued member of the first XI cricket team for all her school years, played touch rugby and also won a bronze medal in Taekwondo in the National Open Championships in Holland in 2001. Every year she was listed as a most valued player in one code or another. She was awarded the Weston Cup for sportsperson of the year three times. She was co Sports Captain in 2004.

She left school in Year 13 mid year, to take up a sports scholarship at California State University, where she played for their women's football team later moving to the Coastal Carolina University to play for theirs. At university she majored in Psychology. However, during this period she was finding time to play for New Zealand's national teams, and played in the FIFA World Cup in 2007. She was a member of the White Ferns from 2006-2008.

Coaching and the development of women's football has always been a passion for Emma, and having coached many teams at school, and played at an international level, she has gone on to coach teams in New Zealand, England and Canada, and has now returned to Wellington as the Academic Director of the Phoenix. Emma enjoys sharing her experiences with young players and helping them achieve their potential in the tough world of professional football.

Life balance is important to Emma and for her, there needs to be time for family and football. Her partner is also closely involved in football too, and knowing when to switch off from football and concentrate on family is essential. She believes strongly that acceptance of differences and an understanding of identity and happiness should be the norm.

"The work-home balance can be pretty crazy. As long as you're passionate about what you're doing, and you switch off at the right times, you can make it work."