August 3, 2025 • 4 mins
Football Ferns defender C.J Bott is delighted to sign for her hometown club - the Wellington Phoenix.
The 50-cap New Zealand international is new coach Bev Priestman's first signing.
She joined Piney to discuss her new role.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from newstalks'b.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Including the recruitment of CJ Bott, fifty cap football Ferns
defender who was confirmed as the squad's latest acquisition this
week as well. I spoke to her to find out
how this came about.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
I mean it started off probably a year ago with
a kind of the idea I suppose was floated floated
around and I wasn't so sure, but I think after
having a few conversations with the staff here at the club,
you could really see the ambition, the investment in the team,
and so from that point of view it felt right.
And then obviously from a personal point of view as well,
coming home it's a pretty special special thing for me.
(00:46):
So yeah, it all just kind of fit in really
nicely and felt like the right time.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
He had four seasons at Lester. How do you look
back on that time.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Yeah, my four seasons at Leicester was incredible. Obviously there
are a lot of ups and downs as well, but
it was It was a really incredible experience, really incredible time.
I learned such valuable lessons as a as a footballer,
especially as a defender. Playing in that league and I
really feel like I've gone from strength to strength there
and I've got a lot to bring back to this
(01:13):
club as well.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
How different are you as a footballer from the one
who first left Wellington all those years ago? You know,
to seek your footballing, you know, fortune and fame.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Some people might disagree, but I think I'm a lot
calmer now. I've learned a lot more control and I've
learned a lot more about the game as well. Playing
in a lot of different countries it's been really beneficial,
I guess, to see the game from a lot of
different perspectives. Every country and every team plays a bit different,
so that's been really crucial. And yeah, I've just I
guess I've refined refined since leaving Wellington.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
And this is a bit of a full circle moment.
You grew up in Wellington and you're back here now.
You know, when you were growing up as a young player,
this sort of thing wasn't available, right, There was no
professional women's team in your own country. That's why you
had to go. So does this feel a bit full
circle to you?
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Yeah, it absolutely does. Like you say, there wasn't this
kind of opportunity growing up and to be perfectly honest,
I didn't even think i'd ever be able to be
a professional footballer, So to have the opportunities I've had
overseas is really incredible. But to be able to come
back to a place like Wellington and facilities like we've
got here at the nzcis it's pretty incredible. I feel
very lucky and yeah, just really grateful that we've had
(02:26):
this kind of investment and that this opportunities here now.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
And you'll be playing at Pottydoor Park which is only
a few kilometers from where you grew up, right, So
really it's this is a full circle for you, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
It absolutely is. If you told me when I was
twelve years old that i'd be playing professionally in pottydo Or,
I'd probably laugh at you. So it is really cool,
And yeah, I'm really excited to see my friends and
family in the stands as well.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
And b F Priestman as the head coach. How much
you're looking forward to working with her as your head coach?
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it. I had her
for a short stint when I was in the New
Zealand Under seventeens and that was a really cool time.
And so, yeah, she's got a lot of valuable experience
and I think I'm going to learn a lot under her.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Fifty caps for the football Ferns. How strong are your
international ambitions still?
Speaker 3 (03:07):
They're as strong as I've ever been. I am definitely.
I have my eyes set on that World Cup and
I have every intention of being there.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Because we haven't seen you this year in the football firms,
so I think we saw you quite regularly in twenty
twenty four and obviously before that. So are you ready
to go again at the next time of asking, Yeah,
I think so.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
I mean there's conversations to be had, for sure, and
I can't assume anything, and yeah, there's definitely work to
be done in that space. But like I say, I
have every intention of being back with the team when
that is I'm not too sure yet, but hopefully soon.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
So when you said this work to be done, what
do you mean by that?
Speaker 3 (03:39):
I mean, I've obviously been away from the team for
a little while a little while now, and I can't
assume that I'm going to be back and I have
to earn my spot, and like I say, there's conversations
that need to be had which yeah, I'm definitely ready
for I think.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
And back to this Phoenix side. You look at the
roster that's been assembled, you're the latest addition to it.
Does it feel like an exciting team, one that can
do well in the season ahead.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah. Absolutely, I think they've done really well with the
recruitment and yeah, I'm really excited.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
For the season ahead and the chance, as you said before,
to have your family in some of your oldest friends
watching on from the stands. Is that a buzz as
a footballer, absolutely?
Speaker 3 (04:15):
I think I love playing in front of a crowd
and it's always special having family and friends in the crowd,
and for me, I haven't really been able to have
that unless it's kind of been a World Cup or
home games with the Ferns. So it'll be really different
for me having more than just my partner in the stands.
But I'm so so excited to have them there and
for it to just be down the road for them
(04:35):
as well as extra special.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
How important has he been in all of this?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Oh, he's awesome. He's my biggest fan, he's my biggest supporter,
and yeah, it's pretty special to be able to bring
him home as well.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
That is CJ. Bott Football Fern and now Wellington Phoenix
defender for the next two seasons.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk Said Be weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from newstalks'b.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Including the recruitment of CJ Bott, fifty cap football Ferns
defender who was confirmed as the squad's latest acquisition this
week as well. I spoke to her to find out
how this came about.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
I mean it started off probably a year ago with
a kind of the idea I suppose was floated floated
around and I wasn't so sure, but I think after
having a few conversations with the staff here at the club,
you could really see the ambition, the investment in the team,
and so from that point of view it felt right.
And then obviously from a personal point of view as well,
coming home it's a pretty special special thing for me.
(00:46):
So yeah, it all just kind of fit in really
nicely and felt like the right time.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
He had four seasons at Lester. How do you look
back on that time.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Yeah, my four seasons at Leicester was incredible. Obviously there
are a lot of ups and downs as well, but
it was It was a really incredible experience, really incredible time.
I learned such valuable lessons as a as a footballer,
especially as a defender. Playing in that league and I
really feel like I've gone from strength to strength there
and I've got a lot to bring back to this
(01:13):
club as well.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
How different are you as a footballer from the one
who first left Wellington all those years ago? You know,
to seek your footballing, you know, fortune and fame.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Some people might disagree, but I think I'm a lot
calmer now. I've learned a lot more control and I've
learned a lot more about the game as well. Playing
in a lot of different countries it's been really beneficial,
I guess, to see the game from a lot of
different perspectives. Every country and every team plays a bit different,
so that's been really crucial. And yeah, I've just I
guess I've refined refined since leaving Wellington.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
And this is a bit of a full circle moment.
You grew up in Wellington and you're back here now.
You know, when you were growing up as a young player,
this sort of thing wasn't available, right, There was no
professional women's team in your own country. That's why you
had to go. So does this feel a bit full
circle to you?
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Yeah, it absolutely does. Like you say, there wasn't this
kind of opportunity growing up and to be perfectly honest,
I didn't even think i'd ever be able to be
a professional footballer, So to have the opportunities I've had
overseas is really incredible. But to be able to come
back to a place like Wellington and facilities like we've
got here at the nzcis it's pretty incredible. I feel
very lucky and yeah, just really grateful that we've had
(02:26):
this kind of investment and that this opportunities here now.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
And you'll be playing at Pottydoor Park which is only
a few kilometers from where you grew up, right, So
really it's this is a full circle for you, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
It absolutely is. If you told me when I was
twelve years old that i'd be playing professionally in pottydo Or,
I'd probably laugh at you. So it is really cool,
And yeah, I'm really excited to see my friends and
family in the stands as well.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
And b F Priestman as the head coach. How much
you're looking forward to working with her as your head coach?
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it. I had her
for a short stint when I was in the New
Zealand Under seventeens and that was a really cool time.
And so, yeah, she's got a lot of valuable experience
and I think I'm going to learn a lot under her.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Fifty caps for the football Ferns. How strong are your
international ambitions still?
Speaker 3 (03:07):
They're as strong as I've ever been. I am definitely.
I have my eyes set on that World Cup and
I have every intention of being there.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Because we haven't seen you this year in the football firms,
so I think we saw you quite regularly in twenty
twenty four and obviously before that. So are you ready
to go again at the next time of asking, Yeah,
I think so.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
I mean there's conversations to be had, for sure, and
I can't assume anything, and yeah, there's definitely work to
be done in that space. But like I say, I
have every intention of being back with the team when
that is I'm not too sure yet, but hopefully soon.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
So when you said this work to be done, what
do you mean by that?
Speaker 3 (03:39):
I mean, I've obviously been away from the team for
a little while a little while now, and I can't
assume that I'm going to be back and I have
to earn my spot, and like I say, there's conversations
that need to be had which yeah, I'm definitely ready
for I think.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
And back to this Phoenix side. You look at the
roster that's been assembled, you're the latest addition to it.
Does it feel like an exciting team, one that can
do well in the season ahead.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah. Absolutely, I think they've done really well with the
recruitment and yeah, I'm really excited.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
For the season ahead and the chance, as you said before,
to have your family in some of your oldest friends
watching on from the stands. Is that a buzz as
a footballer, absolutely?
Speaker 3 (04:15):
I think I love playing in front of a crowd
and it's always special having family and friends in the crowd,
and for me, I haven't really been able to have
that unless it's kind of been a World Cup or
home games with the Ferns. So it'll be really different
for me having more than just my partner in the stands.
But I'm so so excited to have them there and
for it to just be down the road for them
(04:35):
as well as extra special.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
How important has he been in all of this?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Oh, he's awesome. He's my biggest fan, he's my biggest supporter,
and yeah, it's pretty special to be able to bring
him home as well.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
That is CJ. Bott Football Fern and now Wellington Phoenix
defender for the next two seasons.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk Said Be weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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