Matildas star Kyah Simon’s close ties with Quakers Hill club

KYAH SIMON, who will be representing Australia at the 2015 World Cup in Canada, says her dream of playing for her country, was first nurtured at Quakers Hill Junior Soccer Club.

KYAH SIMON, who will be representing Australia at the 2015 World Cup in Canada, says her dream of playing for her country, was first nurtured at Quakers Hill Junior Soccer Club.

The former Rouse Hill Times Junior Sports Star star hopes to have a starring role at World Cup which begins this week as Australia take on the US, Sweden and Nigeria in the group stage.

The Quakers Hill club has honoured its first Australian representative by presenting the top player each year with the Kyah Simon Golden Boot award.

“I come from a rugby league-playing family and began playing football at the Quakers Hill Juniors where I was one of the two females in the team,” Simon, 23, told the Rouse Hill Times.

“I grew up in Quakers Hill and though we have moved out recently, I plan to keep in touch with the club.

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“Frank Glover was the club president at that time and was great to me and they all looked me very well.

Matildas star Kyah Simon with her family before a recent international friendly against Vietnam.

Kyah Simon at 12.

“I like to go back to the club and help them because they have given me the first opportunity to play rep football. It’s a huge honour they have named the golden boot after me and that will always keep me tied to the club.”

Simon, who scored two goals against Norway to ensure the Matildas progress into the 2011 World Cup quarter-finals, said she can maintain that form.

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“Australia has a more matured side compared to 2011 and I think we can do well, though there are no easy opponents in a World Cup,” Simon said.

Kyah Simon of the Matildas controls the ball during a friendly match against Vietnam at WIN Jubilee Stadium last month. Picture: Matt King/Getty

Frank Glover, 75, former president of the Quakers Hill Junior Soccer Club, said Kyah Simon was a special talent even when she began playing for them, aged eight.

Mr Glover, who has been with the club since 1975, recalled that Simon was even then easily one of the fastest on the park.

“Kyah played with us for around three years from 1999 and had natural footballing skills,” Mr Glover said. “We are very proud of what she has achieved.

“She has attended our club presentations to hand over the golden boot award and her family are also very nice people. We wish Kyah all the best at the World Cup.”

Kyah Simon even played for an all-boys team. Picture: Ann Moran

QUICK FACTS

■ Played for Quakers Hill when she was eight

■ Made her national debut aged 16

■ First Aboriginal to score at a World Cup (Germany, 2011)

■ Her cousins include Rugby union and league stars Kurtly Beale, Jamal Idris and John Simon

■ The World Cup, featuring 24 teams in six groups, is being held from June 6-July 5

Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove with Australian Matildas players, Lisa De Vanna, Kyah Simon and Emily van Egmond at Admiralty House before the Australian team left for Canada. Picture: Getty