‘Still a long way to go’: Arsenal’s blockbuster against the A-League Women’s All Stars to showcase the professionalism Australia’s league still seeks

Caitlin Foord started in the A-League almost 15 years ago and is now a global football super star. But she knows, to ensure the next generation of Matildas have the same opportunities, important steps are still required and is hoping her Arsenal team’s arrival can help.

Caitlin Foord played more than 100 games in the A-League and now the Arsenal star and Matildas stalwart is returning home to take on the competition’s best in a world-first women’s exhibition match.

Foord, 29, made her A-League debut with Sydney FC in 2010 and soon won a place in the Matildas squad for the 2011 World Cup.

Now she is a household name, on the cusp of her third Olympics and playing for one of the world’s biggest football clubs.

Growing up, Foord didn’t think it would be possible to make a career out of football.

Foord of Arsenal battles for possession against Leicester City’s C.J. Bott in the Barclays Women's Super League. Picture: Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

She hopes the exhibition match between Arsenal and the A-League Women’s All Stars will show aspiring female players that the dream can become a reality.

“You never think you’re going to play for your club over here in Australia,” Foord said.

“It’s really exciting to be able to do that and showcase that.”

The Women’s Super League in England is leaps ahead of the A-League in terms of professionalism.

WSL players have full-time contracts and are paid enough to allow them to focus 100 per cent of their time and effort on football.

A-League players are on nine-month contracts and many still juggle part-time jobs to help pay the bills.

“We know that there is a still a long way for it to go and get to a place that we want it to get to,” Foord said.

“I think us coming out there and hopefully putting on a good game will showcase that.”

Foord during her return to the A-League with Sydney FC in 2019. Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Foord said the Arsenal women’s team travelling to Australia proved how big the game had become since last year’s World Cup.

“It’s massive,” she said. “You wouldn’t have thought six months ago that this was going to happen for us.

“It shows how fast the game is growing and how quickly it is changing.

“The men have been doing it for a long time now so for us to be able to do it shows where the game is and that we are catching up.”

The A-League Women’s All Stars squad hasn’t been announced but Foord expects to face a number of her Matildas teammates.

Cortnee Vine, Tameka Yallop, Sharn Frier, Alex Chidiac, Emily Gielnik and Chloe Logarzo are a chance to be selected.

Cortnee Vine celebrates after the weekend’s A-League Women’s Semi Final against Central Coast. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

“The girls have been standouts all season,” Foord said. “It’s a good opportunity for them as well to play us.

“I think it is rewarding for them, especially after how the season has gone with the attendance they had at games.”

Foord is most excited that her family will finally get to watch her play live for Arsenal, the club she joined in 2020.

While Arsenal is the only club sending a women’s team to Australia, the game will form part of a huge Global Football Week in Melbourne.

The Ange Postecoglou-coached Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are also heading Down Under to face each other at the MCG on May 22.

Newcastle United will also play the A-League Men’s All Stars as a curtain raiser to the Arsenal and A-League Women’s All Stars game at Marvel Stadium on May 24.

During the week, fans will have the chance to watch all three teams train.

Arsenal will hold an open training session on May 23 at AAMI Park and Tottenham on May 21.

Postecoglou is also expected to speak at a corporate lunch on May 21.

Originally published as ‘Still a long way to go’: Arsenal’s blockbuster against the A-League Women’s All Stars to showcase the professionalism Australia’s league still seeks