November 7, 2025 • 9 mins
Wellington United celebrated a special milestone during their round six National League win over Canterbury United in Christchurch.
The victory was also Sarah Alder's 200th match for the club.
She joined Adam Cooper to discuss the milestone and her longevity at Wellington United.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's the perfect start to your Saturday, The All Sport
Breakfast with Rutherford and Bond, Toyota and King Toyota, your
home of Hybrid U's.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Talk z B sixteen to eightier on the All Sport Breakfast.
Well it's all women's National League Football.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Now.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Wellington United showing some great goal scoring form at this
point of the season. They started Round seven last night
with a seven nil trouncing of Potni that moves A
United to third on the ladder. But it was last
week Davin christ Church when Wellington United had an eight
to one when over Canterbury United. When the club celebrated
a very special milestone. Sarah Alda celebrated two hundred appearances
(00:37):
for the club. She's been a key member of the
top team since twenty thirteen, involved in several major moments
and titles, including the header to secure the Kate Shefferd
Cup crown in twenty twenty one. So I wanted to
chat with Sarah about the milestone. Sarah's with me now.
Good morning to you, Sarah, huge congratulations. Did you know
the big two hundred was on its way? Do you
(00:58):
mean sort of looking out for it or then it'll
come around rather fast.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Well, yeah, I think I had been aware that it
was coming up for a while. I didn't play in
the Central League this season. I took the season off,
and I knew that me and Jimmy Robertson who she
she hit two hundred during the season, I knew we
were kind of around around the same amount of games,
(01:27):
so we were kind of like, who's who's going to
head it first. She managed to get there before me,
but so yeah, since since she she got to two hundred,
I thought I would like to get there, and nationally
came up as an opportunity to play again, so I
thought why not, Like just just wanted to get back
into football and just just a bonus heading that two
(01:49):
hundred as well. So yeah, it was. It was really cool,
cool moment since I've been at the club for so long. Yeah,
pretty pretty crazy to think that back when I started
playing that I would ever get to two hundred the
same club.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Honestly, especially at you know, top level club sport now
where you do see a bit of movement these days,
especially in football, right people jumping from from club to
club or team to team, or people moving it's it's
quite a rarity isn't it.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Yeah, yeah, I would say it is. Yeah. I mean,
you know, played pople well and to Unite my whole
senior career essentially. But yeah, I know most of the
players I think on the team now, they've played for
multiple clubs, yeah, throughout their career. So yeah, i'd say
it is pretty pretty special to be able to have
(02:38):
two hundred with with United, knowing knowing how yeah kind
of women's football is with with players going from club
to club sometimes, and I.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Guess it's also a time Sarah, people do that their
life circumstances change. You know, football is a big commitment,
especially you know, we're in mid November almost and you're
still playing National League. A lot of the players have
played every week since what March, So it's a big
commitment and I guess you've had to probably sacrifice other
things to sort of stay at the top of your
game with football.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Yeah, yeah, I would say so.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
I mean I think I've never really had had like
a feeling of wanting to leave Wellington in general. I
started playing for United when I was still at high
school and then ended up going to Victoria University, so
just kept playing with them and then yeah, I guess
just got a job still in Wellington, so I just
(03:32):
kind of just ended up staying there. And yeah, I
mean it is a big commitment with all the trainings
in the games and then yeah, playing especially with National
League playing from even it's like pre season starting in February,
playing all the way through to No bir but December
does take up a big chunk of your time. So yeah,
I guess. Yeah, the past ten to eleven years of
(03:55):
my life, it has been a lot a lot of football,
So yeah, I guess the having the Central League off
it was really nice just getting some time back. But
I'm really glad I decided to come back to play
to play National League this season. Yes, it's been really
enjoyable for me.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
And you were able to celebrate with a pretty special
wind down in christ Church last weekend one. It's almost
like the team was playing for you to get a
big result.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Yeah, I mean, I don't know. I wouldn't I wouldn't
say that was playing for me. I think we've been
kind of building towards playing a full ninety, especially the
first half. I think we've been struggling, but in the
first forty five, and I think that first forty five
against Canterbury. I don't think we've played better. Yeah, we
(04:41):
haven't played a bitter, bitter half, so yeah, it was
really it was really cool. I would have liked to
have gotten a goal, but you know, things are full
all that way, always fishing when I'm only really getting
up for corners. But no, it was really special, really
fun game, a good good day, nice where they's always
done christ Church and yeah, had some old United players
(05:05):
coming to watch as well, who're done christ Church now Yeah,
and even a Gee and Sandy made the trip down
to krash Urch. I don't think it was for me,
but I'm just going to take it like it was
a honor.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Absolutely, you got to take that. That's very special, you know,
speaking of them past, you know, coaches and influencers in
the club, Wellington United has been consistently a very successful
club through your time over these last few years. Even
while there has been some some coaching changes obviously a
coach Andre One Coach of the Year at the Capitol
Football Awards last weekend, so a new kind of era
(05:38):
at the club, but it is still saying very successful.
What's been behind its success over such a long time.
Do you think.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
That's a good question. I think it's like a few things.
I think just in general the club and the board,
they've already always really backed the team. A. Gichees had
a huge, huge influence either and obviously he's not coaching anymore,
he's still i think the director for him and Sandy
having a big influence. And then I think it's just
(06:10):
the culture that was kind of that kind of grew
from back in twenty twelve, twenty thirteen. We're always quite
a close team, and yeah, I think it's just continued
to grow and as we have new players come and
they just kind of joined join the family. And yeah,
(06:30):
everyone who's come has who they've added, added so much
to the team, even if it is just for one
season or if it's for a longer time. Yeah, I
think it's just just the people who are behind the
club and those who joined the club and everything. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Footsal has been a big part of your footballing career
as well. How's that been to balance? And do you
think you know that just how popular Footsal is the
numbers are absolutely massive. Does that benefit you know just
how strong a wider region like Wellington's football scene is
when you are playing both.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Yeah, I mean I would say so, yeah, So, I
mean balancing footsball and football it's always been a bit difficult.
It's gone a bit better. I think. At the start,
you know, there was a bit of busting heads with
the football community and the football community that they kind
of lap over with football kind of being more in
the summer, that was pre season starting so early. It
(07:26):
always clashed. I think luckily United were always quite happy
for US players who wanted to do both. They just
allowed it to happen, which is which is really good.
But yeah, I think, yeah, football being big in Wellington
with with all the players, I think it does help
football a lot. I think just for the players who
(07:49):
played futsal, being on the ball so much more in futsal,
just the technical skill. But I think you can see
it translate over to football and then also feel like
some it translates football to football as well, just with
the confidence that you grow in both sports. Yeah, I
think like for me, especially if I'm feeling confident playing
(08:10):
football a going to the football season like that carries
over because you know, it's very very similar sports at
the end of the day, and it's also a lot
of the same people you're playing with, especially at United
since there's a big bunch of football players there. So yeah,
it's just like more time playing together, even if it's
a different sport. So it just really helps grow those
(08:32):
connections and relationships.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
And I know there's a few weeks ago of National
League Round robin. You're nice, it is at the top
half of the table. It's pretty congested up the top,
so still very much a chance. How's how what kind
of shapes the team in do you think to push
for reaching that that that final couple of spots at
the end of the campaign.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Yeah, I mean I think I think the team's in
really good shape. Yeah, I mean I know there's I mean,
people are talking about all the math that's needed for
us to hit the top two. For me, I'm all
just thinking about week by week. But yeah, I think
I think we're feeling good. We just know we need
to focus on ourselves, on our play and yeah, just
get the results game by game and then go from there.
(09:11):
Whatever happens with the other team. I mean, we can't
really do much to control that, so yeah, it's just
about focusing on ourselves and what we can do during
our games.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Sarah, it's been great to catch up. A huge congratulations
on a milestone and all the work and contribution you've
made to football and Wellington and I'm sure it's not
going to stop there, so thanks very much for your time,
all the best for the rest of National League and
go well. Thanks for chatting.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Perfect, no worries, Thanks for having me on.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
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 iart Radio.
It's the perfect start to your Saturday, The All Sport
Breakfast with Rutherford and Bond, Toyota and King Toyota, your
home of Hybrid U's.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Talk z B sixteen to eightier on the All Sport Breakfast.
Well it's all women's National League Football.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Now.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Wellington United showing some great goal scoring form at this
point of the season. They started Round seven last night
with a seven nil trouncing of Potni that moves A
United to third on the ladder. But it was last
week Davin christ Church when Wellington United had an eight
to one when over Canterbury United. When the club celebrated
a very special milestone. Sarah Alda celebrated two hundred appearances
(00:37):
for the club. She's been a key member of the
top team since twenty thirteen, involved in several major moments
and titles, including the header to secure the Kate Shefferd
Cup crown in twenty twenty one. So I wanted to
chat with Sarah about the milestone. Sarah's with me now.
Good morning to you, Sarah, huge congratulations. Did you know
the big two hundred was on its way? Do you
(00:58):
mean sort of looking out for it or then it'll
come around rather fast.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Well, yeah, I think I had been aware that it
was coming up for a while. I didn't play in
the Central League this season. I took the season off,
and I knew that me and Jimmy Robertson who she
she hit two hundred during the season, I knew we
were kind of around around the same amount of games,
(01:27):
so we were kind of like, who's who's going to
head it first. She managed to get there before me,
but so yeah, since since she she got to two hundred,
I thought I would like to get there, and nationally
came up as an opportunity to play again, so I
thought why not, Like just just wanted to get back
into football and just just a bonus heading that two
(01:49):
hundred as well. So yeah, it was. It was really cool,
cool moment since I've been at the club for so long. Yeah,
pretty pretty crazy to think that back when I started
playing that I would ever get to two hundred the
same club.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Honestly, especially at you know, top level club sport now
where you do see a bit of movement these days,
especially in football, right people jumping from from club to
club or team to team, or people moving it's it's
quite a rarity isn't it.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Yeah, yeah, I would say it is. Yeah. I mean,
you know, played pople well and to Unite my whole
senior career essentially. But yeah, I know most of the
players I think on the team now, they've played for
multiple clubs, yeah, throughout their career. So yeah, i'd say
it is pretty pretty special to be able to have
(02:38):
two hundred with with United, knowing knowing how yeah kind
of women's football is with with players going from club
to club sometimes, and I.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Guess it's also a time Sarah, people do that their
life circumstances change. You know, football is a big commitment,
especially you know, we're in mid November almost and you're
still playing National League. A lot of the players have
played every week since what March, So it's a big
commitment and I guess you've had to probably sacrifice other
things to sort of stay at the top of your
game with football.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Yeah, yeah, I would say so.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
I mean I think I've never really had had like
a feeling of wanting to leave Wellington in general. I
started playing for United when I was still at high
school and then ended up going to Victoria University, so
just kept playing with them and then yeah, I guess
just got a job still in Wellington, so I just
(03:32):
kind of just ended up staying there. And yeah, I
mean it is a big commitment with all the trainings
in the games and then yeah, playing especially with National
League playing from even it's like pre season starting in February,
playing all the way through to No bir but December
does take up a big chunk of your time. So yeah,
I guess. Yeah, the past ten to eleven years of
(03:55):
my life, it has been a lot a lot of football,
So yeah, I guess the having the Central League off
it was really nice just getting some time back. But
I'm really glad I decided to come back to play
to play National League this season. Yes, it's been really
enjoyable for me.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
And you were able to celebrate with a pretty special
wind down in christ Church last weekend one. It's almost
like the team was playing for you to get a
big result.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Yeah, I mean, I don't know. I wouldn't I wouldn't
say that was playing for me. I think we've been
kind of building towards playing a full ninety, especially the
first half. I think we've been struggling, but in the
first forty five, and I think that first forty five
against Canterbury. I don't think we've played better. Yeah, we
(04:41):
haven't played a bitter, bitter half, so yeah, it was
really it was really cool. I would have liked to
have gotten a goal, but you know, things are full
all that way, always fishing when I'm only really getting
up for corners. But no, it was really special, really
fun game, a good good day, nice where they's always
done christ Church and yeah, had some old United players
(05:05):
coming to watch as well, who're done christ Church now Yeah,
and even a Gee and Sandy made the trip down
to krash Urch. I don't think it was for me,
but I'm just going to take it like it was
a honor.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Absolutely, you got to take that. That's very special, you know,
speaking of them past, you know, coaches and influencers in
the club, Wellington United has been consistently a very successful
club through your time over these last few years. Even
while there has been some some coaching changes obviously a
coach Andre One Coach of the Year at the Capitol
Football Awards last weekend, so a new kind of era
(05:38):
at the club, but it is still saying very successful.
What's been behind its success over such a long time.
Do you think.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
That's a good question. I think it's like a few things.
I think just in general the club and the board,
they've already always really backed the team. A. Gichees had
a huge, huge influence either and obviously he's not coaching anymore,
he's still i think the director for him and Sandy
having a big influence. And then I think it's just
(06:10):
the culture that was kind of that kind of grew
from back in twenty twelve, twenty thirteen. We're always quite
a close team, and yeah, I think it's just continued
to grow and as we have new players come and
they just kind of joined join the family. And yeah,
(06:30):
everyone who's come has who they've added, added so much
to the team, even if it is just for one
season or if it's for a longer time. Yeah, I
think it's just just the people who are behind the
club and those who joined the club and everything. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Footsal has been a big part of your footballing career
as well. How's that been to balance? And do you
think you know that just how popular Footsal is the
numbers are absolutely massive. Does that benefit you know just
how strong a wider region like Wellington's football scene is
when you are playing both.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Yeah, I mean I would say so, yeah, So, I
mean balancing footsball and football it's always been a bit difficult.
It's gone a bit better. I think. At the start,
you know, there was a bit of busting heads with
the football community and the football community that they kind
of lap over with football kind of being more in
the summer, that was pre season starting so early. It
(07:26):
always clashed. I think luckily United were always quite happy
for US players who wanted to do both. They just
allowed it to happen, which is which is really good.
But yeah, I think, yeah, football being big in Wellington
with with all the players, I think it does help
football a lot. I think just for the players who
(07:49):
played futsal, being on the ball so much more in futsal,
just the technical skill. But I think you can see
it translate over to football and then also feel like
some it translates football to football as well, just with
the confidence that you grow in both sports. Yeah, I
think like for me, especially if I'm feeling confident playing
(08:10):
football a going to the football season like that carries
over because you know, it's very very similar sports at
the end of the day, and it's also a lot
of the same people you're playing with, especially at United
since there's a big bunch of football players there. So yeah,
it's just like more time playing together, even if it's
a different sport. So it just really helps grow those
(08:32):
connections and relationships.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
And I know there's a few weeks ago of National
League Round robin. You're nice, it is at the top
half of the table. It's pretty congested up the top,
so still very much a chance. How's how what kind
of shapes the team in do you think to push
for reaching that that that final couple of spots at
the end of the campaign.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Yeah, I mean I think I think the team's in
really good shape. Yeah, I mean I know there's I mean,
people are talking about all the math that's needed for
us to hit the top two. For me, I'm all
just thinking about week by week. But yeah, I think
I think we're feeling good. We just know we need
to focus on ourselves, on our play and yeah, just
get the results game by game and then go from there.
(09:11):
Whatever happens with the other team. I mean, we can't
really do much to control that, so yeah, it's just
about focusing on ourselves and what we can do during
our games.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Sarah, it's been great to catch up. A huge congratulations
on a milestone and all the work and contribution you've
made to football and Wellington and I'm sure it's not
going to stop there, so thanks very much for your time,
all the best for the rest of National League and
go well. Thanks for chatting.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Perfect, no worries, Thanks for having me on.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
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 iart Radio.
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