FOOTBALL, FAMILY AND FIFTIETH'S - A CHAT WITH KATIE BARROTT

 

2016 Capital team that qualified for the Grand Final. Katie Barrott sitting front right Photo TJF Photos

Katie Barrott hadn't ever played on a full size football pitch when she was asked to trial for Capital Football. Nine years on she is about to play her 50th game for the representative side, when Capital take on Canterbury United Pride on Saturday (KO 11am, Petone Memorial).

Nine years for 50 games initially doesn't seem like much, but when you consider that Capital only play six to seven games a season it is pretty impressive. If you look at the past records of Capital & Wellington, Katie is the 19th player to reach this milestone, she thinks it won't be long before others join her especially with the league moving to two rounds (this season its back to one due to Covid-19). She feels pretty special, especially when compared to the likes of Maureen Jacobsen (NZ's first professional women's player) and Wendi Henderson, of whom Katie says "...was the first coach that gave me a really professional environment".

Kelly Cup winner

Katie is quite self depreciating, saying that she reckons she was only asked to trial for Capital to make up the numbers, so she was stunned when her Dad sat down at the dinner table and informed her she was to be part of the squad of 24. As stunned as she was, she relished the opportunity and grabbed it with both hands. She found the first couple of years intimidating and scary, but she also felt at home with Capital. 

Katie spent the early part of her life in the USA and followed her Mum in playing softball. She returned to NZ when she was 11 and found she didn't enjoy softball as much. With her Dad being a keen football fan, she decided that she'd give that a go and started playing for Western Suburbs juniors. Since then she has played for Lower Hutt City, Upper Hutt City, Waterside Karori and Wellington United, but it has been the Capital team that has been the constant in her playing career. 

A very team orientated player, she is now captain of the team, which she describes as a real privilege. The team along with family are obviously very important to her. Her father, who will be celebrating his 50th birthday on Saturday, and nan attend every home game, as well as her sister Zoe, who would likely be playing in the team if it wasn't for injury. It shows when she is asked what her highlights have been, playing wise she cites the 2016 season when the team surprised everyone in reaching the grand final, but it was the way her teammates rallied around her last year when her Mum passed away that she initially mentions as a highlight and something she says helped her massively. 

Katie plays in midfield these days, she originally played in defence and names Americans Michelle Akers and Julie Ertz as her favourite players. Playing in those positions means she doesn't get on the scoresheet much, she has 16 career goals and of the three she has scored for Capital she describes them as "a mis-hit penalty and the other two were accidents"

While she is young, at 23 she is one of the older members of the squad and is realistic about the future and is unsure how long she will continue playing for. Over the last season she has had niggling injuries that are staring to take their toll and she is aware of the exceptional talent that is coming through. She is probably more acutely aware of this due to her involvement in coaching, as well as being a Football Development Officer for Capital Football she currently holds a OFC C Licence and is working towards a B Licence, some of the youngsters she has coached such as Helena Errington and Jemma Catherwood are now playing in the same team as her.

Katie is hoping for two more games this season. If Capital beat Canterbury on Saturday there is a chance they could make it into the final, beyond that she is looking forward to having her first proper summer without football or futsal since she was 11.

Whatever the future holds for her, Katie says it will have something to do with football.

KATIE BARROTT

Capital 49 games 3 goals

Lower Hutt City 44 games 3 goals

Upper Hutt City 43 games 1 goal

Waterside Karori 35 games 7 goals

Wellington United 13 games 2 goals

TOTAL : 184 games 16 Goals

HONOURS

National League Runner Up 2016

W-League Winner 2017 (Upper Hutt City), 2020 (Wellington United)

Capital Premier Winner 2018 (Waterside Karori)

Kelly Cup Winner 2017 (Upper Hutt City)

 

Katie and her sister Zoe with the 2020 W-League trophy Photo TJF Photos