We’re delighted to announce our first WorldStrides Soccer Ambassador: Australian football legend Julie Dolan. Julie has had a profound impact on Australian football throughout her career. She captained the Matildas in their inaugural A-international game against New Zealand in 1979 and went on to play 18 A-internationals from 1979 to 1988.
In 2018, Julie was honoured with a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her “significant service to football as an administrator, player, and coach, and as an ambassador for elite player development and junior participation.” She has also been named the International Federation of Football History and Statistics Oceania Player of the Century and received the Queen Elizabeth II Australian Sports Medal.
In 2023, Julie accompanied us on our first soccer training trip to the UK with fellow Australian football teachers and coaches. Now, as a WorldStrides Soccer Ambassador, she is dedicated to promoting the transformative impact of international soccer experiences for young players.
We asked Julie some questions—sit down with us and get to know her!
What are some of your career highlights as a professional soccer player?
When reflecting on the highlights, there are a number that make me very proud and they are the privilege of leading national teams with such great players, the rise and rise of women’s football on the back of successive generations of players and supporters/support staff doing whatever needed to be done to advance the game. Another is the establishment of the Julie Dolan medal in 1988 and in 2016, football became the first major Australian sport to honour myself and Johnny Warren with their awards night named the Dolan Warren Awards. Representing Australian football as an Ambassador at the Women’s World Cup in 2023 was also a highlight.
Did you experience any obstacles in excelling in the sport as a female?
The lack of recognition was probably the main obstacle as being an elite woman athlete in the 70’s and 80’s required everything it does today, training and playing 6 days out of 7, putting in extra sessions alone to get better and better. But, we weren’t on anyone’s radar, no media, no publicity so getting funds was difficult and forced us more of less to raise our own funds. This made travelling abroad to attend tournaments very difficult.
Do you think it is easier today for females to progress to elite levels in soccer?
Yes, there are countless more opportunities for female football players today.
What advantages do young female soccer players have today that may not have been so readily available when you were starting your career?
There are well-organised competitions (across most age groups) as well as dedicated pathways for those aspiring to further their football careers. With the increased acceptance of women athletes in society as a whole, there is also a lot more opportunity to get support, funding, receive grants and make a career out of playing football. If not a professional career playing football, there are many opportunities to become involved in their sport of choice, possibly as a referee, coach, journalist, administrator and the list goes on.
In your opinion, how important is it for today’s youth to play a sport?
Sport gives so much. The benefits of participating in sport go beyond learning physical skills, and covering other areas of life, whether in the classroom at school or with other non-sporting hobbies. Sport helps people develop better ways to cope with the highs and lows of life. Winning teaches us to be fair, yet competitive and promotes a growth mindset. Losing helps in a lot of ways to help us become more mature, overcome disappointment, cope with unpleasant experiences and become resilient.
Tell us about your experiences of touring overseas as a player and the benefits of learning new skills from international clubs.
My experiences from touring abroad enabled me to gain exposure to, and learn from, different playing styles and competition levels and opened up opportunities for a more expansive sports career. I learnt to navigate unfamiliar situations and develop a great deal of independence and I believe these skills have helped me when presented with the challenges of life that are a part of all of our lives.
In your opinion, what are the benefits of young Australian Soccer players joining an international soccer tour?
As above, international sports tours provide exposure to different playing styles and techniques and can impact the personal growth of young athletes. These tours are also great for building character, and camaraderie and taking home memories that will last a lifetime.
After experiencing a WorldStrides UK soccer teacher trip, what are your top three highlights/takeaways from the trip?
- Superbly organised and included everything relevant to my sport.
- Friendship and camaraderie
- Lifetime memories
We’re thrilled to have Julie Dolan join us as a WorldStrides Soccer Ambassador. Her remarkable career, dedication to the sport, and passion for empowering young players are truly inspiring. We look forward to seeing the impact Julie will make as she continues to inspire the next generation of soccer stars.
