Last week’s training ended in a rather special way for the girls who play in Oratia United’s U12 Percivals.

The team is named after Football Fern Ria Percival, and on Tuesday night, the players got to meet Ria’s parents and benefit from a generous “pay it forward” moment.

Coach Jonny Knopp says the team had been called the Dragon’s for the last three years, but this year it was time for a name change.

“I thought it would be good to name the team after a New Zealand Women's World Cup player, as there was a noticeable lift in the girls’ game during the FIFA World Cup last season.

“Ria Percival had just announced her retirement from the international game, so after checking with our Manager, Katharine Brown, I reached out to Ria to see if she was okay with us naming the team after her.”

Jonny says Ria was “honoured” to have the team named after her.

“She was really stoked that the Football Ferns had inspired such a big turn out this year for girls’ football.”

Ria’s parents came down to the Percivals’ training to meet the girls and hand over a large poster of Ria and an incredible collection of stylish trainers and Puma football boots that once belonged to Ria and fellow Football Fern Meikayla Moore.

The Percivals have excitedly shared the boots out amongst themselves.

“There's also a very special pair of World Cup boots that I think we'll hand out at the end of the season to whoever wins the Players' Player award,” Jonny says.

“We're very grateful to Ria and her parents for their support.”

Jonny joins Oratia United in looking forward to the impact the FIFA Women’s World Cup is having on girls’ football.

“I think with the Junior and Youth girls’ teams, the women's game will go from strength to strength over the next few years,” Jonny says.

“There were four girls’ teams down at training on Tuesday night – the U9 Cheetahs, the U12 Percivals, the U13 Rebels, and the U14 All Stars. Pretty sure the girls outnumbered the boys on the turf for a while this evening!”

Article added: Monday 17 June 2024