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The things that made me… Belinda Wilson

May 15, 2016 By SOCRATES Leave a Comment Filed Under: The things that made me

National Head Coach Wilson... incognito.
National Head Coach Wilson… incognito.

Belinda Wilson spent her early sporting years kicking footballs and knocking around in Byron Bay’s pristine surfing spots. After a junior representative career with Football Far North Coast she was lured to Europe to extend her knowledge and skill as both coach and player. After a number of years teaching elite junior players in Norway she returned to Australia and her home town but was soon lured North to coach pro footballers in Queensland’s capital.

Belinda joined Brisbane Roar FC in 2011 as Head Coach and took the club’s Westfield W-League team to the Premiership in her first season (Season 5 2011/12). In 2015, under Belinda, no less than seven Roar players were selected in the Westfield Matildas squad that reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup in Canada. Four players were involved with the Matilda’s team who recently qualified for 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Belinda also served as the U17 Women’s National Team Head Coach in 2012-13 and has been involved as a lead instructor in numerous FIFA women’s football development courses around the world. She has also conducted Technical Reports for FIFA at the 2007 and 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cups and 2008 Beijing Olympics.

One of Australian soccer’s most respected coaches and player development authorities today, Belinda continues to coach Brisbane Roar W-League and looks forward to further representative and professional coaching challenges in the future.

MY MUM, ROZ BRADBURY

My Mum was an important influence. She encouraged me to be selfless, to be humble, to work hard, to acknowledge the people around me who support me and to believe that you can achieve anything you put your mind to so that one day you will reach it.

Roar stars celebrate a goal in 2015.
Roar stars celebrate a goal in 2015.

AN EARLY COACHING INFLUENCE, LORAINNE WILLIAMSON

Lorainne Williamson introduced Water Polo to some great friends and me. We learned together what team sports and committing to a team meant. Her approach to training was nurturing and challenging which for me created a great way to learn and love the game.

 

NIRVANA… ESPECIALLY “SMELLS LIKE TEAM SPIRIT”

The Nirvana song, “Smells Like Team Spirit”, is a big influence for me! Every time I hear that song it reminds me of when I first heard it. I was hanging with my Uncle (who was struck by lightning and killed on the football pitch when he was only twenty-four) at an underground club in Hull in England with some of his mates when that song came on. He was 19 or 20 and I was only 16. That brilliant song just blew us away. It was an awesome night and one I will never forget. Rest in peace, Andrew, and thank you for introducing me to some great music.

SURFING

Surfing is such an important influence. The freedom of the sport allows me to clear my mind. Jumping into the ocean and washing away the day’s stress is a simple way for me to refocus… and have a huge amount of fun at the same time!

MOSCOW SUMMER OLYMPICS

The 1980 Olympic Games was huge.  I watched it and wanted to represent Australia straight away. I went outside and raced anyone and everyone down Shirley Street in Byron Bay who would take me on. The Bay was not that busy back then so it was safe enough for a bunch of kids to scream down one of the main streets in town!

 

Belinda starts the season early with pre-season training for Roar on her home beach at Byron Bay.
Belinda starts the season early with pre-season training for Roar on her home beach at Byron Bay.

SOCRATES

Short, fat, slow, uncoordinated and clumsy, ancient Athenian Socrates had very few of the physical quality required of the elite athlete. He did have, on the other hand, a better than average brain between his ears and a mouth that could talk opposing players, referees and coaches half into their graves. Socrates, as a sport analyst, is what the world needs and misses. He is an opinionated so-and-so that actually thinks deeply about sport and adventuring and likes nothing better than provoking others into deep thought. Socrates is the antithesis of the sporting jock or the West Sydney soccer supporter.

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