It was on social media this week where former head of football in the ACT, Heather Reid, paid tribute to Ashleigh Sykes by harking back to the first round of the W-League back in 2008.
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It was the first game of a new-look competition and Canberra United travelled to Newcastle to take on the Jets.
“I also remember the first W-League game … and the young gun twins from Dubbo making their debut,” she tweeted.
“Ash will join a special cohort with 100 caps for same club.”
It’s pretty surreal and doesn’t seem that long ago I was running out against Newcastle for the first game of the W-League.
- Ash Sykes on reaching 100 games for Canberra
Sykes will join only a handful of players with 100 caps in the W-League on Sunday when she runs out for United against Sydney FC.
Sykes is one of only two foundation players still at United after starting her journey alongside her twin sister Nicole almost a decade ago.
In those days she was still travelling from Dubbo to play in the W-League but these days she’s feared as one of the leading strikers in the country.
“It’s pretty surreal and doesn’t seem that long ago I was running out against Newcastle for the first game of the W-League,” Sykes told Canberra United’s website.
“One hundred games later, it’s pretty special.”
It’s been a stellar career for Sykes and shows no signs of slowing up.
She’s been a W-League title winner, a Golden Boot winner, a Matildas representative and, in more recent times, Sykes has won a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) premiership with the Portland Thorns in the USA.
The 25-year-old remains one of United’s most dangerous players, she will be key against Sydney FC on Sunday, and added it’s a side which is close to her heart.
“And to do it all for the same club. A club that I love and have played for from the start,” she added.
“It’s an honour and a privilege to pull on that jersey every week and go out there each time and do my best.”
United lost its first game of the season, going down 2-1 at Melbourne Victory, but the new-look side heads into this weekend’s game in a positive mood.
A number of fresh faces, including Matildas young gun and Cowra product Ellie Carpenter, have linked up with the side for the tenth season of the W-League.
Carpenter, a right-sided defender, officially loved to the nation’s capital only last weekend after being on duty with the Young Matildas but is set to make her debut in green in Sunday’s clash with Sydney FC.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
