Head coach Dean Heffernan admits he didn’t have to think twice before handing the captaincy to club stalwart Erica Halloway for the Westfield W-League season.
Halloway will lead the Red & Black when the Wanderers open their campaign against Adelaide United at Marconi Stadium tonight.
“It wasn’t a hard decision, she has been at the club such a long time,” said Heffernan.
“She is a top person, gets all the girls together and that helps with the type of environment we are trying to build here. She understands the culture here.
“She is an ultimate professional on and off the field so it was quite an easy choice.”
The 35-year-old Halloway has been a mainstay of the Wanderers W-League side and is now in her fifth year with the club.
The Dubbo-born midfielder has been such an integral part of the team and was named Westfield W-League Player of the Year in the 2015/16 season.
Halloway said she is honoured to be handed such an important role.
“I am stoked, so honoured, so happy,” said Halloway.
“I couldn’t be happier. What a great bunch of girls to lead.
“They (the coaching staff) pulled me aside for a little meeting before training to tell me the news.
“I have been here five years and captained and co-captained some of those times but this year there is something special about this group.
“We have made some great signings, we have got the wonderful facilities, the new stadium and so much to look forward to this year.
“Hopefully I will be the first captain to lead us to the finals.”
Halloway praised the club’s recruitment policy this season saying it has provided a wonderful dynamic revolving around experience and youth.
“We have some great up and coming kids who are eager to play in the professional league and some fantastic internationals with a lot of hype around them, ” she added.
“Some off the internationals are coming off the back of a championship win and we hope they can carry that through here.
“Then there are the older girls who have not played here before but have been around awhile. They have loads of experience.
“Together it is not about one person leading because we have a few leaders in the group.”
