Belinda Kitching Explained

Belinda Kitching
Birth Date:15 July 1977
Position:Goalkeeper[1]
Youthclubs1:Coalstars (now part of Ipswich Knights FC)
Years1:1996 –
Clubs1:Coalstars [2]
Years2:1996 –
Clubs2:Queensland Academy of Sport[3]
Years3:2001–2006
Clubs3:Tweed Heads [4]
Years4:2006–2016
Clubs4:United Warriors, Hervey Bay [5]
Nationalyears1:1996–1999 [6]
Nationalteam1:Australia
Nationalcaps1:32
Manageryears1:2002–2006
Managerclubs1:Tweed Heads
Manageryears2:2006–2016
Managerclubs2:United Warriors, Hervey Bay
Manageryears4:2016 – 2019
Managerclubs4:Western Pride FC
Nationalteam-Update:19 June 1999 (before the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup)

Belinda Kitching (born 15 July 1977) is an Australian football coach and former goalkeeper for the Australia women's national soccer team.

Playing career

Kitching played junior football for Coalstars in Ipswich, before progressing to the senior team where she won the Football Brisbane Women's Premier League Player of the Season in 1996.[7] The same year, she was selected for the Queensland Academy of Sport women's football program, where she played in the fledgling national women's competition.

In 1996, Kitching was selected for the Australia women's national soccer team. She was part of the team at the 1998 OFC Women's Championship and started two group games at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.[8]

Kitching played 36 times for the Matildas and recorded 9 clean sheets.[9]

Coaching career

Kitching played for Tweed Heads Women from 2001, before taking over the coaching role a year later. After five years, she moved north to Hervey Bay to become player coach at United Warriors, a post she held until 2016.

In October 2016, Kitching returned to her home town of Ipswich to become senior women's coach of Western Pride FC, having gained her Football Federation Australia B license the previous year.[10]

Personal life

Kitching is the granddaughter of Socceroo George "Fat" Kitching, while her father George Jnr was also a goalkeeper who represented Queensland.[11] [12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Thomas. G. Belated honour a feather in the cap for former Matilda. Fraser Coast Chronicle. APN. 24 January 2017.
  2. Web site: Player of the Year. Football Brisbane. 24 January 2017.
  3. Web site: Georgaras. Peter. 1996/97 Season Round 4 Results. OzFootball.net. 24 January 2017.
  4. Web site: Philips. Tania. Bulwarks of Tweed soccer calling it quits. Tweed Daily News. APN. 24 January 2017.
  5. Web site: McInerney. Matthew. Former Matilda keeps Warriors on track to finals. Fraser Coast Chronicle. APN. 24 January 2017.
  6. Book: OFFICIAL MEDIA GUIDE OF AUSTRALIA AT THE FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP GERMANY 2011. 8 July 2011. Football Federation Australia. Sydney. 53. 24 January 2017.
  7. Web site: Player of the Year. Football Brisbane. 24 January 2017.
  8. Web site: FIFA Women's World Cup USA 1999 – Australia. https://web.archive.org/web/20150702171950/http://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/archive/usa1999/teams/team=1882891/index.html. dead. 2 July 2015. 2007-09-28. FIFA. 1999. FIFA Women's World Cup United States 1999.
  9. Book: OFFICIAL MEDIA GUIDE OF AUSTRALIA AT THE FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP GERMANY 2011. 8 July 2011. Football Federation Australia. Sydney. 55. 24 January 2017.
  10. Web site: McKenzie. Garry. Kitching coup for Ipswich football. The Queensland Times. 9 January 2017.
  11. Web site: Thomas. G. Belated honour a feather in the cap for former Matilda. Fraser Coast Chronicle. APN. 24 January 2017.
  12. News: Grandsons carry on Pride in representing Ipswich . Lems . David . 20 April 2013 . The Queensland Times . 23 February 2017 . News Corp Australia.