Female Football Week Star Profile: Tia Lyons
Remember this name, Tia Lyons, a 19-year-old female football star working wonders developing future Matildas stars at Wagga City Wanderers.
The ambitious C-Licensed coach who works with the Wanderers as well as plays with the club’s senior and reserve grade side has been a long serving advocate for the women’s game which has seen her coach the club’s SAP and Under 13 teams from the age of 14.
Lyons’ coaching journey has been well documented as the young rising star took charge of the Under 13’s Wanderers side in 2019 where she continued to play her own football with the Under 17’s as well as fulfilling her team captaincy duties with that squad before backing up for the team’s reserve and senior team’s all in a day’s work.
It was a rigorous weekly routine that saw Lyons commence her day at 6am and conclude at 8pm such was her commitment to the women’s game and its development in regional NSW.
“She’s an inspiration to all,” Wagga City Wanderers’ senior women’s coach Sam Gray stated to Football NSW.
“Her training sessions for her teams are well organised, containing all core aspects of the FA National Curriculum as well as the Principles of Play that are vital to ensure a great start to football for her players.
“During her first season in coaching in the NPL NSW Women’s competition, Tia coached on Monday’s and Wednesday’s and sometimes Friday’s as well as training with the senior Women’s NPL squad all while going through Year 12 studying and taking exams at school, undertaking her ‘C’ Licence and learning to drive.
“She has also gained recognition as a player in her own right, playing for NSW’ Country Futsal on 4 occasions and being part of the NSW Country Outdoor Trials as well as playing for the Wagga Diocesan School Select Teams and being offered a trial by W-League outfit Canberra United Academy in 2019.
“This must have been exhausting for her, but she never complained and was always one of the players to give the most effort at training, rarely missing a session if any at all.
“A lot of our Under 13 players have progressed to older age groups since our first season in 2019, with coaches that have worked with the girls all commenting on how well prepared for football the players are thanks to the quality of coaching they received from Tia.
“Tia is well respected in our club as a coach, player and an individual who consistently champions female footballers, to the extent that her time is completely absorbed in helping her young charges improve.”
What a star Tia Lyons truly is to the sport of football, well done!
