Roslyn Wakari’s Jordyn Walker will be reaching an impressive milestone in Saturday’s Kate Sheppard Cup clash with Dunedin Tech. She will become the third Roslyn player to play in 200 matches for the club, following in the footsteps of club legends Una Madden (268 appearances) and Kushla Glover (310 appearances).  

Jordyn explained that it feels quite surreal to have reached 200 games, “I still feel the same as I started my position has just changed! I started as a right midfielder and I’m now a centre back.” When asked her top memories from 14 years of playing at Roslyn and 19 years of playing in total, Jordyn retorted “It’s not really games or particular moments, I’ve stayed at Roslyn so long, it’s felt like a massive family, there’s a massive sense of belonging within the club and the team. The best thing has been the friendships I’ve taken away from football, lifelong friendships that stick out more than a game, goal or award.” 

As a young footballer, Jordyn looked up to the likes of Kushla Glover and Sam Muirhead, “They’re the main reason I went to Roslyn, my other team folded, and it was time to step into women’s football, Kush and Sam were there and Una Madden too, it seemed logical that was where I would go!” At 14 she began playing in the Roslyn first team, “It was amazing to play alongside them. They went from being idols to really good friends, which is the best thing, my role models are my friends now.” 

The tables have turned and Jordyn is now one of the only players in her twenties at the club, “I love playing with the younger girls, it gives you a new sense of purpose. You look forward to seeing them grow, for example Zara Pratley. She’s half my age, I coached her in the junior grades over the last 2 years and it was amazing to see her get her first goal for Roslyn, the whole sideline went crazy!” 

We also spoke to Jordyn’s Mum and Dad Sheryl and Glen about their daughter’s journey in football, which she began playing at 9 years old. Sheryl is very proud of Jordyn reaching 200 caps, “There is no better feeling than watching your child play the game she loves and gets so much enjoyment out of, even after so many years.” Roslyn have a particularly youthful squad and these players look up to the likes of Jordyn, “Our proudest moment as parents has nothing to do with one particular moment, it has been watching her become the role model she is now to the younger females coming through our club, she has been a part of their football journey, whether it be a kind word, a smile or coaching them.” 

Jordyn batted off jokes that it won’t be long until she reaches 250 appearances. As well as playing for both Roslyn and Southern United, Jordyn has been involved in junior coaching, “I loved my time coaching, just the reward of watching the girls grow, win games, score goals, or even just get used to a position...  it’s way more rewarding than playing myself.” Jordyn’s family have been hugely supportive of her footballing days, “They’ve always been a part of my soccer life, I get my playing abilities from Dad and my coaching abilities from Mum!” 

Over her time at Roslyn, Jordyn reflects that the Dunedin football scene has changed immensely, “It’s more competitive now and there’s more room to grow. It’s a small football community in Dunners and seeing coaches working together to benefit all the local girls in Dunedin is awesome, it’s great to see people coming together regardless of their club, it’s been a massive shift!” 

Catch Jordyn in action this weekend against 2018 Kate Sheppard Cup winners Dunedin Tech at Ellis Park. 

Article added: Thursday 13 May 2021