Nora Watkins Explained

Nora Watkins
Fullname:	Nora Watkins
Birth Date:	^[1]
Birth Place:	Wellington, New Zealand^[2]
Death Place:	Melbourne, Australia
Nationalyears1:	1975–1980
Nationalcaps1:	10
Nationalgoals1:	2
Manageryears1:	1989–1995
Managerclubs1:	New Zealand

Nora Watkins (née Hetherington) (1957 – 23 June 2023) born in Wellington, New Zealand was a former association football player and manager who represented New Zealand at international level.^[3]

Club career

Watkins first played football for Upper Hutt before moving to Miramar Rangers with her New Zealand strike partner Marilyn Marshall after her international debut.^[4] Watkins played for their first division team until 1983 before she coached the team for five of their next seven seasons.^[4] While at Miramar, she won the Wellington Football Association competition four times and the Kelly Cup, fourteen times.^{[4] [2]} She continued that success at Petone FC, winning the Central League title in 1994, 1995 and 1996.^[2]

International career

Watkins made her Football Ferns debut in their first ever international as they beat Hong Kong 2–0 on 25 August 1975^[5] at the inaugural AFC Women's Asian Cup.^{[6] [7]} She finished her international career with 10 caps and 2 goal to her credit, including a penalty in New Zealand 2–0 win over Thailand in the 1975 Asian Cup Final.^[2]

Managerial career

Watkins became the national team assistant coach between 1989 and 1994, including going to the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup in China.^{[4] [2]} In 1995, she took charge of the team for a two-match series against Australia, becoming the first woman to hold that position.^{[4] [2]}

Personal life

Watkins died in Melbourne, Australia in 2023. The Nora Watkins Memorial Shield was introduced by Capital Football in 2024 for Central League women's competitions. Waterside Karori were named the inaugural holders, having been crowned the 2023 champions. They put their name first on the trophy, defending it, in their first home game against Victoria University 1–0.^{[8] [9]}

Honours

Miramar Rangers

• Wellington Football Association

Champions 1975-83, 84–86, 88, 90–91

• Kelly Cup: Winners (14)

Petone FC

• Central League

Champions 1994, 1995, 1996

New Zealand

• AFC Women's Championship

1975

Notes and References

1. Web site: Former Football Fern Nora Watkins passes away . New Zealand Football . 23 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240606060205/https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/129963 . 6 June 2024.
2. News: Football Ferns mourn former player and coach Nora Watkins . 6 June 2024 . Stuff . 23 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230629203400/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/fifa-womens-world-cup-2023/300912716/fifa-womens-world-cup-football-ferns-mourn-former-player-and-coach-nora-watkins . 29 June 2023.
3. Web site: Caps 'n' Goals, New Zealand Women's national representatives. The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. 11 June 2009.
4. News: Vale: Football loses pioneering women’s player and coach Nora Watkins . 1 October 2023 . Friends of Football NZ . https://web.archive.org/web/20231001022823/https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2023/06/24/vale-football-loses-pioneering-womens-player-and-coach-nora-watkins/ . 1 October 2023.
5. Web site: Roll of Honour. The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. 13 May 2009.
6. Web site: 1975 Asian Cup. NZ Football. 18 May 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070902063841/http://www.nzsoccer.com/page/1975_asian_cup.html . 2 September 2007.
7. Web site: Football Ferns - Line-ups. The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. 13 May 2009.
8. Web site: Nora Watkins Memorial Shield introduced into Women's Central League . Capital Football . 6 June 2024.
9. News: Waterside Karori first holders of new shield to remember pioneer Nora Watkins . 6 June 2024 . Friends of Football . 1 June 2024 . en-NZ.