At her peak she was one of the most dynamic and dangerous players in women’s football but Dubbo’s Ashleigh Sykes confessed 10 years of playing at the highest level took its toll.
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The former Dubbo Devil announced her shock retirement from professional football at the age of 26 on Friday morning.
While stating “everyone” tried to talk her out of it, playing at the highest level for a decade – starting when she still made the trip from Dubbo to play for Canberra United each week – left her feeling drained.
"I don't feel 26, I'm starting to feel a lot older,” she laughed at the press conference.
I guess it is kind of young for retirement but I just decided it was time.
- Ashleigh Sykes
"I guess it is kind of young for retirement but I just decided it was time.
"It's a big commitment to play at a high level and I've really, really enjoyed my time playing at this level. I'm probably more excited about things outside of football than playing football now so I thought now is a good time to step away before it becomes a chore.
"I just towards the end of last year realised that I'd done probably more than I'd ever expected in the game as a kid growing up.
"I lost a little bit of drive behind playing the game and decided it was probably time to start exploring other exciting opportunities outside of football."
Friday’s announcement brings down the curtain on a stellar career.
Sykes won two W-League titles with Canberra United while in 2015/16 she was awarded the Julie Dolan Medal for the best player in the competition.
She also scored five goals in 19 appearance for Australia, playing for the Matildas at the 2015 FIFA World Cup, while Sykes was also part of the all-conquering Portland Thorns side which took out the NWSL title in America this year.
Sykes only started focusing on football when she was 12.
Both her and her twin sister Nicole linked up with Canberra United at just 16 years of age but remained living at home with their family, travelling to compete in the inaugural season of the W-League while completing their HSC at Dubbo Christian School.
“When I was young Mum and Dad got us into any sport, the main ones were tennis and Little As,” Sykes told the Daily Liberal last year.
“From there our coach's husband asked us to play soccer and that's how we transitioned.
“I went from a little girl running around Ballimore on a Friday night and running around the farm with Nic to getting a call-up to the Matildas just a couple of years ago.”
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.
