June 10, 2025 • 13 mins
Local footballing identity Jemma Robertson has recently celebrated an incredible football milestone, bringing up 200 matches for her club Wellington United.
Robertson joined Adam Cooper to discuss her tenure, and what's next for her.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
News Dogs.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
It'd be news dogs, he'd be on the Allsport breakfast.
What a very special milestone was celebrated at the Wellington
United Football Club last week when the club's premiere women's
team had a big win over teh Kotahitanga and the
Kate Shepherd Cup. The milestone being it was Jimma Robertson's
two hundred appearance for the club.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Now.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
This makes jim the most capped female player in club
history and she's the second highest goal scorer now for
the entire Wellington United club ever through her time. Regular
listeners to this show will know Wellington United's dominance and
women's football, but she's overseen six Central League titles with United,
(00:42):
two Cali Cups and a Kate Shepherd Cup national competition
as well. So to look back on her time and
celebrate the milestone, Jimma Robertson is with us now. I'm
wanting to you, Gemma, congratulations on the massive achievement brought
up on the field last Weeken. What did it mean
to you overall reaching two hundred games?
Speaker 1 (01:03):
You know, it's not really something that you know you
set out to achieve when you first start playing club
football and it just kind of snuck up on me,
I guess. I think at the end of last season,
Dave came up to me and he said, you know,
if you hadn't missed so many games this season, you
would have hit two hundred by now, And you know
it was just like wow, Like, one, I didn't really
(01:25):
realize it was so close to happening, and two, like
that's a big number and kind of attestament to the
years I've spent with the club. But you know, I
didn't really wrap my head around what it might mean
for me or what it might mean for the younger
girls who are starting their own journey with club football,
and like, yeah, it's a big achievement and I'm proud
of it, but yeah, it hasn't really landed with me
(01:48):
what what that means yet?
Speaker 2 (01:50):
You know, yeah, exactly. And celebrating with a nice big
win in the case shift a cut that must have
been a good way to cap it all off in
some ways.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Yeah, Yeah, that was pretty cool. I mean we did
last season, so there's always that when you look.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Back on your time, what actually drew you to Wellington
United in the first place and got you involved in
the club.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Well, I think back then for me at least, there
wasn't really a clear transitional pathway into women's football, so
I grew up playing mixed grade and for as long
as I could, I think age maybe thirteen fourteen. But
the club I was at, which was Patoni, they didn't
have a women's team at the time, so I kind
of floated for a bit, played summer league for stopout
(02:34):
and it was at one of those team meetings that
was the first time I was introduced to kind of
the women's Central League, and it was portrayed as this
massive step up. You know, there's no rolling subs, I
think fee for allowed three at a time, ninety minute games.
There was big competition for team selection, but there was
still no real instruction on how to kind of like
(02:57):
get into that. And I think in the end it
was who brought me to Wellington United through my sister.
He was actively scouting for new younger players to join
the team and he found Mikayla through school football. He
managed to convince dad to let her join the team,
which was a feat. I think women's football was always
played on Sundays back then and we went to church,
(03:20):
so yeah, that was took a bit of convincing, But
Mickey played a season with them and then after that
I joined along and yeah, that's I guess how I
landed at the club.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Yeah. I wanted to ask about your sister Mickey as well,
because obviously, you know, you've shared a lot of the
footballing journeys that you've had together, and you're both very
prominent in the local football scene here in Wellington. How
nice has it been having her and I guess the
support of your family along with you right the way.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Yeah, I mean, I guess it's been really special just
sharing much of the beginnings of my football journey with Mickey.
I definitely wouldn't have made it this far without her.
You know, I grew up with a bit of social
anxiety as a kid, and I definitely would have made
as many leaps as I did if she hadn't been,
you know, waiting on the other side, having already leaped herself.
(04:06):
And I think it was it was good because we,
I mean, we know each other so well, so there
was lots of good link up play, easy to read
each other and know, you know, what kind of balls
we want. But it kind of got to the stage
where as cool as it was to play with her.
I definitely stayed in their shadow, but just because of that,
you know, social anxiety, and so when she moved up
(04:27):
to bigger things, there was this moment where, you know,
I had to find out what does football mean to me?
You know? Am I playing because it's something we do together?
Is it because you know my dad played and he
supports us through that, or is it something that I
enjoy and I do it because you know, I love
to play. And it was this moment of personal growth
(04:49):
for me and I think, you know, I became a
better footballer because of it. But yeah, I think family
support was big and leading me to that, because I
don't think I would have got there without, you know,
having Mickey to play with me.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
One of the things that you're credited for, among a
long list of successful traits you have, is your ability
to play right across the field. Now, was that always
a sort of aim of yours to be as versatile
as you could or was it something that just sort
of fell into place and you were called on to
play a number of different roles for the team.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Yeah, I don't think it was ever a plan of mine.
I mean when I started playing football, because I was
quite reserved. You know, kids football being what it is,
they follow the ball, but I always hung back. So
I was put in defense because that was where they
saw me and I played there for several years until
(05:42):
I started a school football, which is when I moved
into more of a midfield role. And then starting in
Wellington United, I think they needed players and so they
stuck me up front and I scored a hat trick
and so they're like, Okay, she's a striker and that's
kind of where that the direction that that went. And so,
(06:06):
you know, just having that experience in all the positions,
it's just like now I'm at a point where what
the team needs is where I play kind of thing,
and that's a cool thing to have. I mean, I
have my preferred position, but it's nice to be able
to take one for the team and just be like,
this is what they need, this is what I'm going
to do for.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Them with us on the line. Here on the Ollsport
Breakfast this morning, Jemma robertson top footballer at Wellington United
here in the Capitol, who last week brought up two
hundred appearances for her club. What an achievement, Jimma we
mentioned at the start of the interview. The many trophies
and titles and all the success that Wellington United has
(06:46):
seen and a lot of it you have been part of.
What do you believe has made this team so successful
over the years.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
I think for this one, big ups to Giche for
getting women's stop at the club to where it is.
So he was the one who, like right from the beginning,
who was out scouting new players, and he was developing
pathways for youths at the club and even outside the
club with the knockouts, and he just helped foster this
environment where you know, players wanted to stay and grow,
(07:17):
you know. And I think the first year we played,
we finished fourth in the league and Gisha had this
goal of you know, he wanted to win, and it
was this big thing where it was like, this is
the goal. And then the next year we got third,
and then the next we got second, and then the
following year we actually won it for the first time.
And then Giche had this new goal where you know,
(07:38):
he wanted to make the Kate Shepherd Cup Semis and
then the finals and then to win it. And I
think Michael was the coach when we did win it,
and you know, she did an amazing job leading the
team to that achievement. But I think that as much
as the success of the team is down to the
players and the managers and the coaching staff at the time,
they can only build on the foundations that have come
(08:00):
for them, and I think the club has giche to
thanks for playing a massive part in that.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Very cool, Very cool. And if you've talked about some
of your successes there some of the titles and competitions
you have won, But is there any game or moment
that stands out for you through your two hundred games?
Speaker 1 (08:18):
You know, I wish I could say the Kate Shipper
Cup final, but I'd had COVID the week before, so
I only got like five minutes game time. But you know,
there's been some pieces of games over the years where
it was like, you know, that was a really nice goal,
or we fought really hard as a team in this moment.
But some standout ones would be probably last season, the
last game of the season versus Corory, top of the
(08:40):
title clash, so we needed to either win or draw
to win the league, and I think we were down
at half time one nil and we fought back for
a draw. One all, so that was a good one.
Or there was a Kate Shipper Cup Semi versus Eastern
Suburbs in Auckland and you know, maybe they were the
better team on the day, but the whole team gave
that everything and we we got the one mil win.
(09:01):
So yeah, I think it's the gritty ones that are
the games that you remember the most. You know, it's
just the ones where the team, you know, you stand
with each other and it's like everyone's willing to put
their body on the line just to you know, get
the job done.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Yeah, fantastic. What about teammates who's sort of someone that
you know, when you eventually look back on your time
overall as football, you'll think, gosh, I vividly remember that
character we had on the field, or they were a
great teammate.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
So I think a shout out to Sarah Older is
necessary here. I've probably played with her the longest at
Wellington United, and if she hadn't been taking a step
back to focus more on footstal this season, she probably
would have beat me to the two hundred. But yeah,
I think there's been so many players over the years
that would be here for a while. If I were
(09:50):
to name them all, but I also wouldn't want to
make a faux pa by forgetting someone important on the list.
But I do want to acknowledge some of the assistant
coaching staff and managers because they're as much my teammates
as the actual players are. So the likes of you know, Sandy, Justine,
Justin Elliott, Nacho Mika, because these are the people who
(10:14):
do a lot of work behind the scenes, but they
have a big impact on the team and the outcomes
for the players, and I think they deserve a bit
of credit for that.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Wonderful wonderful yet takes a lot, doesn't it to build
a successful and great team, And we know that it's
such a commitment playing at top level Gemma under the
trainings and you know, the fitness work and everything that
has to go into it. Do you see yourself to
continuing as long as you can another two hundred possibly?
What's sort of your ambitions with the sport and the club? Well?
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Me, I mean, you know, if I'm being completely transparent,
it wasn't even really in my plans to come back
this season, just because there's a few big life changes
happening this year, and you know, I was reluctant to
commit to something that I couldn't give my whole self too,
because it is a huge commitment and I think in
the end of two hundred games to bring me back,
(11:06):
not so much because of what it would give to
me as an accomplishment, but I saw it as a
way for me to give back to the club and
just to celebrate the years that I've spent with them.
And you know, initially I agreed with Andre that you know,
would take things week by week and just sort of
see what happens in terms of commitment. But I've just
reached the point where, you know, now I'm able to
(11:28):
see this season through and then it's going to be
time to move on.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Very cool, all right, And just finally you alluded to
it at the start, but the growth of women's football,
particularly here in Wellington and where things like the league
was for you and others, not just in Wellington City,
but as you say, for Tony and things all those
years ago and where it's at now. Tell us about
sort of the changes you've seen and sort of you know,
how it's progressed are over seem quite a short space
(11:55):
of time.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Yeah, I think there's been some pretty massive changes. You know,
there's the average age has gone down by far. You know,
when I was starting, it was girls in their twenties
and up. You know, some teams would play and it
was all mums and stuff that were just coming back
to have a kick around. There's there's some teams would
(12:17):
go play and you know, we'd go in for the
halftime break and they'd be out having a smoke break.
So very different in terms of, you know, what the
league is like. And yeah, just just this focus has
shifted to women's football, which is good, especially you know
you've got the women's will cut that came and that was,
(12:39):
you know, a big thing that helped give it a boost.
But yeah, just just certain people behind the scenes are
pushing it and it's good to see because you know,
I didn't have those opportunities as a kid. And you
see you know, the younger girls coming through and they're
gone all these age group things and yeah, it's just big, gross,
(13:02):
big stuff happening and yeah, it's cool to see.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Yeah, great, and hopefully it continues. Hey, well, Jim, it's
been great to chat. Awesome to hear about some of
your memories and your journey, including where it started. And
where it's at now, so I really appreciate you joining us.
Congratulations again and all the very best for the rest
of the season.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
Cool.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Thank you for more from News Talks, ed B Listen
live on air or online, and keep our shows with
you wherever you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio.
News Dogs.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
It'd be news dogs, he'd be on the Allsport breakfast.
What a very special milestone was celebrated at the Wellington
United Football Club last week when the club's premiere women's
team had a big win over teh Kotahitanga and the
Kate Shepherd Cup. The milestone being it was Jimma Robertson's
two hundred appearance for the club.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Now.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
This makes jim the most capped female player in club
history and she's the second highest goal scorer now for
the entire Wellington United club ever through her time. Regular
listeners to this show will know Wellington United's dominance and
women's football, but she's overseen six Central League titles with United,
(00:42):
two Cali Cups and a Kate Shepherd Cup national competition
as well. So to look back on her time and
celebrate the milestone, Jimma Robertson is with us now. I'm
wanting to you, Gemma, congratulations on the massive achievement brought
up on the field last Weeken. What did it mean
to you overall reaching two hundred games?
Speaker 1 (01:03):
You know, it's not really something that you know you
set out to achieve when you first start playing club
football and it just kind of snuck up on me,
I guess. I think at the end of last season,
Dave came up to me and he said, you know,
if you hadn't missed so many games this season, you
would have hit two hundred by now, And you know
it was just like wow, Like, one, I didn't really
(01:25):
realize it was so close to happening, and two, like
that's a big number and kind of attestament to the
years I've spent with the club. But you know, I
didn't really wrap my head around what it might mean
for me or what it might mean for the younger
girls who are starting their own journey with club football,
and like, yeah, it's a big achievement and I'm proud
of it, but yeah, it hasn't really landed with me
(01:48):
what what that means yet?
Speaker 2 (01:50):
You know, yeah, exactly. And celebrating with a nice big
win in the case shift a cut that must have
been a good way to cap it all off in
some ways.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Yeah, Yeah, that was pretty cool. I mean we did
last season, so there's always that when you look.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Back on your time, what actually drew you to Wellington
United in the first place and got you involved in
the club.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Well, I think back then for me at least, there
wasn't really a clear transitional pathway into women's football, so
I grew up playing mixed grade and for as long
as I could, I think age maybe thirteen fourteen. But
the club I was at, which was Patoni, they didn't
have a women's team at the time, so I kind
of floated for a bit, played summer league for stopout
(02:34):
and it was at one of those team meetings that
was the first time I was introduced to kind of
the women's Central League, and it was portrayed as this
massive step up. You know, there's no rolling subs, I
think fee for allowed three at a time, ninety minute games.
There was big competition for team selection, but there was
still no real instruction on how to kind of like
(02:57):
get into that. And I think in the end it
was who brought me to Wellington United through my sister.
He was actively scouting for new younger players to join
the team and he found Mikayla through school football. He
managed to convince dad to let her join the team,
which was a feat. I think women's football was always
played on Sundays back then and we went to church,
(03:20):
so yeah, that was took a bit of convincing, But
Mickey played a season with them and then after that
I joined along and yeah, that's I guess how I
landed at the club.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Yeah. I wanted to ask about your sister Mickey as well,
because obviously, you know, you've shared a lot of the
footballing journeys that you've had together, and you're both very
prominent in the local football scene here in Wellington. How
nice has it been having her and I guess the
support of your family along with you right the way.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Yeah, I mean, I guess it's been really special just
sharing much of the beginnings of my football journey with Mickey.
I definitely wouldn't have made it this far without her.
You know, I grew up with a bit of social
anxiety as a kid, and I definitely would have made
as many leaps as I did if she hadn't been,
you know, waiting on the other side, having already leaped herself.
(04:06):
And I think it was it was good because we,
I mean, we know each other so well, so there
was lots of good link up play, easy to read
each other and know, you know, what kind of balls
we want. But it kind of got to the stage
where as cool as it was to play with her.
I definitely stayed in their shadow, but just because of that,
you know, social anxiety, and so when she moved up
(04:27):
to bigger things, there was this moment where, you know,
I had to find out what does football mean to me?
You know? Am I playing because it's something we do together?
Is it because you know my dad played and he
supports us through that, or is it something that I
enjoy and I do it because you know, I love
to play. And it was this moment of personal growth
(04:49):
for me and I think, you know, I became a
better footballer because of it. But yeah, I think family
support was big and leading me to that, because I
don't think I would have got there without, you know,
having Mickey to play with me.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
One of the things that you're credited for, among a
long list of successful traits you have, is your ability
to play right across the field. Now, was that always
a sort of aim of yours to be as versatile
as you could or was it something that just sort
of fell into place and you were called on to
play a number of different roles for the team.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Yeah, I don't think it was ever a plan of mine.
I mean when I started playing football, because I was
quite reserved. You know, kids football being what it is,
they follow the ball, but I always hung back. So
I was put in defense because that was where they
saw me and I played there for several years until
(05:42):
I started a school football, which is when I moved
into more of a midfield role. And then starting in
Wellington United, I think they needed players and so they
stuck me up front and I scored a hat trick
and so they're like, Okay, she's a striker and that's
kind of where that the direction that that went. And so,
(06:06):
you know, just having that experience in all the positions,
it's just like now I'm at a point where what
the team needs is where I play kind of thing,
and that's a cool thing to have. I mean, I
have my preferred position, but it's nice to be able
to take one for the team and just be like,
this is what they need, this is what I'm going
to do for.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Them with us on the line. Here on the Ollsport
Breakfast this morning, Jemma robertson top footballer at Wellington United
here in the Capitol, who last week brought up two
hundred appearances for her club. What an achievement, Jimma we
mentioned at the start of the interview. The many trophies
and titles and all the success that Wellington United has
(06:46):
seen and a lot of it you have been part of.
What do you believe has made this team so successful
over the years.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
I think for this one, big ups to Giche for
getting women's stop at the club to where it is.
So he was the one who, like right from the beginning,
who was out scouting new players, and he was developing
pathways for youths at the club and even outside the
club with the knockouts, and he just helped foster this
environment where you know, players wanted to stay and grow,
(07:17):
you know. And I think the first year we played,
we finished fourth in the league and Gisha had this
goal of you know, he wanted to win, and it
was this big thing where it was like, this is
the goal. And then the next year we got third,
and then the next we got second, and then the
following year we actually won it for the first time.
And then Giche had this new goal where you know,
(07:38):
he wanted to make the Kate Shepherd Cup Semis and
then the finals and then to win it. And I
think Michael was the coach when we did win it,
and you know, she did an amazing job leading the
team to that achievement. But I think that as much
as the success of the team is down to the
players and the managers and the coaching staff at the time,
they can only build on the foundations that have come
(08:00):
for them, and I think the club has giche to
thanks for playing a massive part in that.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Very cool, Very cool. And if you've talked about some
of your successes there some of the titles and competitions
you have won, But is there any game or moment
that stands out for you through your two hundred games?
Speaker 1 (08:18):
You know, I wish I could say the Kate Shipper
Cup final, but I'd had COVID the week before, so
I only got like five minutes game time. But you know,
there's been some pieces of games over the years where
it was like, you know, that was a really nice goal,
or we fought really hard as a team in this moment.
But some standout ones would be probably last season, the
last game of the season versus Corory, top of the
(08:40):
title clash, so we needed to either win or draw
to win the league, and I think we were down
at half time one nil and we fought back for
a draw. One all, so that was a good one.
Or there was a Kate Shipper Cup Semi versus Eastern
Suburbs in Auckland and you know, maybe they were the
better team on the day, but the whole team gave
that everything and we we got the one mil win.
(09:01):
So yeah, I think it's the gritty ones that are
the games that you remember the most. You know, it's
just the ones where the team, you know, you stand
with each other and it's like everyone's willing to put
their body on the line just to you know, get
the job done.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Yeah, fantastic. What about teammates who's sort of someone that
you know, when you eventually look back on your time
overall as football, you'll think, gosh, I vividly remember that
character we had on the field, or they were a
great teammate.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
So I think a shout out to Sarah Older is
necessary here. I've probably played with her the longest at
Wellington United, and if she hadn't been taking a step
back to focus more on footstal this season, she probably
would have beat me to the two hundred. But yeah,
I think there's been so many players over the years
that would be here for a while. If I were
(09:50):
to name them all, but I also wouldn't want to
make a faux pa by forgetting someone important on the list.
But I do want to acknowledge some of the assistant
coaching staff and managers because they're as much my teammates
as the actual players are. So the likes of you know, Sandy, Justine,
Justin Elliott, Nacho Mika, because these are the people who
(10:14):
do a lot of work behind the scenes, but they
have a big impact on the team and the outcomes
for the players, and I think they deserve a bit
of credit for that.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Wonderful wonderful yet takes a lot, doesn't it to build
a successful and great team, And we know that it's
such a commitment playing at top level Gemma under the
trainings and you know, the fitness work and everything that
has to go into it. Do you see yourself to
continuing as long as you can another two hundred possibly?
What's sort of your ambitions with the sport and the club? Well?
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Me, I mean, you know, if I'm being completely transparent,
it wasn't even really in my plans to come back
this season, just because there's a few big life changes
happening this year, and you know, I was reluctant to
commit to something that I couldn't give my whole self too,
because it is a huge commitment and I think in
the end of two hundred games to bring me back,
(11:06):
not so much because of what it would give to
me as an accomplishment, but I saw it as a
way for me to give back to the club and
just to celebrate the years that I've spent with them.
And you know, initially I agreed with Andre that you know,
would take things week by week and just sort of
see what happens in terms of commitment. But I've just
reached the point where, you know, now I'm able to
(11:28):
see this season through and then it's going to be
time to move on.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Very cool, all right, And just finally you alluded to
it at the start, but the growth of women's football,
particularly here in Wellington and where things like the league
was for you and others, not just in Wellington City,
but as you say, for Tony and things all those
years ago and where it's at now. Tell us about
sort of the changes you've seen and sort of you know,
how it's progressed are over seem quite a short space
(11:55):
of time.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Yeah, I think there's been some pretty massive changes. You know,
there's the average age has gone down by far. You know,
when I was starting, it was girls in their twenties
and up. You know, some teams would play and it
was all mums and stuff that were just coming back
to have a kick around. There's there's some teams would
(12:17):
go play and you know, we'd go in for the
halftime break and they'd be out having a smoke break.
So very different in terms of, you know, what the
league is like. And yeah, just just this focus has
shifted to women's football, which is good, especially you know
you've got the women's will cut that came and that was,
(12:39):
you know, a big thing that helped give it a boost.
But yeah, just just certain people behind the scenes are
pushing it and it's good to see because you know,
I didn't have those opportunities as a kid. And you
see you know, the younger girls coming through and they're
gone all these age group things and yeah, it's just big, gross,
(13:02):
big stuff happening and yeah, it's cool to see.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Yeah, great, and hopefully it continues. Hey, well, Jim, it's
been great to chat. Awesome to hear about some of
your memories and your journey, including where it started. And
where it's at now, so I really appreciate you joining us.
Congratulations again and all the very best for the rest
of the season.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
Cool.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Thank you for more from News Talks, ed B Listen
live on air or online, and keep our shows with
you wherever you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio.
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