Former Football Ferns goalkeeper Jenny Bindon has been appointed to coach the Auckland FC Women’s Invitational XI when they face eight-time English Women’s Super League champions Chelsea FC at Eden Park on August 8.
Ahead of the Women’s Invitational fixture later this year, we caught up with Head Coach Jenny Bindon.
For Bindon, the appointment carries a deeply personal weight. “So much of my career was spent representing New Zealand from the other side of the world,” she says. “To now have the chance to be involved in a moment like this, on home soil, is really special.”
“There’ll be girls in Auckland watching this game thinking, ‘I want to be out there one day.’ Those moments stay with you. They make professional football feel real and possible.”
Bindon thinks that women’s football in New Zealand is on the right path.
“The trajectory is really exciting. I think the 2023 World Cup was a watershed moment for football in this country not just because of the crowds and the attention, but because people saw what the women’s game can be here.”
“We saw the interest and support that the Wellington Phoenix Women generated from making the Grand Final, and that tells you there’s a genuine professional women’s football culture starting to build in New Zealand. That matters. It gives young players something to aim for, and it shows that the pathway is becoming more visible.”
As Auckland FC’s team will be an Invitational XI, fans may be sceptical about how competitive the game may be, especially against one of the top women’s sides in the world; however, Bindon was adamant that it’ll be a great game.
“Chelsea is a top team, no question, but every match has its own context. They’ll be in pre-season, and we’ll be preparing specifically for the challenge they bring. That gives us something to focus on and something to build towards.”
“We’ll need to be organised, disciplined, and very clear in the way we want to play. It’s one thing to enjoy the experience, but most importantly, we want to showcase what women’s football is all about in New Zealand.”
Alongside the club, Bindon has been heavily involved in filling out the squad. She gave us a sneak peek into how the team has been put together.
“The Talent Development Centre has been a really important starting point. There are some genuinely exciting Kiwi players coming through that programme, and opportunities like this can be powerful for them. Sometimes development is about minutes on the pitch, but sometimes it’s also about being close to a professional environment, seeing the standards, and understanding what the next step really asks of you.”
“Putting on a show and being competitive is important for us, and collecting some of New Zealand’s best female talent helps us to do that, but we also want to best represent what we have here in Auckland and give the local players a chance to shine.”
Bindon understands that this game is a chance for the players to showcase their ability and try to earn a professional opportunity, perhaps beyond Auckland FC.
“Chelsea’s staff will be watching every player on that pitch, not only their own, and there will be other eyes on the game as well. That’s the reality of football now. People are always looking for talent, for character, for players who can step into a bigger moment and not be overwhelmed by it.”
“For our players, that’s powerful. Because sometimes opportunity doesn’t arrive as a long pathway laid out neatly in front of you. Sometimes it arrives in one match, one performance, one moment where someone sees something in you.”
“I want our players to understand that they can be seen, can compete, and can open doors not only for themselves, but for the players coming behind them.”
The Bindon family has a storied history in New Zealand football, with both Jenny and her son Tyler representing Aotearoa internationally.
For Jenny, the opportunity to help these women progress in their careers and potentially play for the Football Ferns is something she takes to heart.
“Football has given my family so much, so this is deeply personal for me. It’s not just a game, I’ve been part of it’s shaped who I am, the life we’ve built, and the way I see opportunity.”
“If I can play even a small part in someone’s journey towards the Football Ferns, or towards a professional career, that would mean an enormous amount to me. Honestly, it would mean more than anything I achieved as a player, because that’s how the game keeps growing, one player, one opportunity, one belief passed on to the next.”
Bindon left us with one last message to share with the fans ahead of the match on August 8.
“Come and be part of it.”
“You don’t often get the chance to watch players like Lucy Bronze and Lauren James at Eden Park. That’s special, and it’s something football people in this country should want to see.”
“But just as importantly, come and watch your own. Come and see New Zealand players who are working, growing, and pushing towards real futures in the game.”
Get your tickets now and be part of a special moment for women’s football in New Zealand.
For Group Ticket bookings, email Ticketek at PremiumP@ticketek.co.nz
