Australian Football community extends well wishes to expectant mother Katrina Gorry

The Australian football community today congratulated Westfield Matildas and Brisbane Roar midfielder Katrina Gorry following the news she is expecting her first child later this year.

Gorry, who has made 78 appearances for the Westfield Matildas and 119 appearances in the Westfield W-League, today confirmed her pregnancy and intention to pause competitive football.

����Ӱ�� Chief Executive Officer, James Johnson, expressed his delight at the news and stated ����Ӱ��’s commitment to providing support to Gorry during and post pregnancy.

“On behalf the ����Ӱ�� family, we are thrilled with the news that Katrina will soon be adding another member to our football family,” said Johnson.

“This is an exciting time in a new phase in Katrina’s life and ����Ӱ�� is providing support and assistance to ensure that she is able to effectively navigate this critical transition with peace of mind. We are confident that our backing will provide Katrina with the opportunity to put herself in the best position to strive towards representing her country at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023TM on home soil.

“In accordance with Principle X of the XI Principles for the future of Australian football (XI Principles), ����Ӱ�� is steadfast in providing a supportive environment for national team players, and this commitment extends to those who want to take this momentous and joyous step in their lives.

“We are Australia’s biggest participation sport, and with that we have the platform to influence and help shift societal perceptions. We want football to be the number one sport of choice for women and girls in our country by creating an environment, from elite to community levels, which is inclusive and supportive of their participation. Ensuring that our players have choices and flexibility in relation to life decisions is critical to providing positive modelling for our community and retaining women and girls in the game longer as we work towards a 50/50 gender participation split by 2027 and Australia becoming the centre of women’s football in the Asia-Pacific region.”

Gorry, 28, expressed her joy at being an expectant mother and appreciation for ����Ӱ��’s support.

“I am very excited and happy for everyone's well wishes and positive messages," she said.

“As a player it is very comforting to hear about what has been put in place to ensure my mental, physical and emotional care as my pregnancy progresses. With this backing now I will have the ability to make decisions that are best for me and my future family.”

����Ӱ��’s Head of Women's Football, Women's World Cup Legacy & Inclusion and former Westfield Matilda, Sarah Walsh, welcomed the news.

“I’m elated for Katrina,” said Walsh. “From being present at her first Westfield Matildas cap in 2012, I have been fortunate to see her grow into a fantastic footballer in the green and gold. I am equally looking forward to see how she embraces this new and thrilling chapter in her life.”

“During her time with the Westfield Matildas, Katrina has helped them become one of Australia’s most loved teams and, just as importantly, positive forces in Australian society.

“In collaboration with the PFA, we have enacted a world-leading CBA where we enshrined the principles of gender equality, and fundamental to those principles is equal opportunity and access to football. We want to be a leading women’s code – on and off the pitch – and a key part of that is supporting players through their pregnancy, fostering or adoption of a child while supporting their in-competition parental commitments.”

A member of Brisbane Roar since 2012, Gorry has assisted the Roar in claiming two Westfield W-League Premierships. Brisbane Roar CEO David Pourre expressed the club’s joy for a valued team member.

“This is wonderful news for Katrina and her family,” said Pourre. “Brisbane Roar has been privileged to see Katrina develop as not only an exceptional footballer, but an outstanding member of our Westfield W-League squad over a great number of years.”

“The Club was very thankful to have her on loan this season, to come back home and compete for her hometown club in yet another Westfield W-League campaign at Brisbane Roar.

“On behalf of everyone at Brisbane Roar, we would like to congratulate Katrina on this wonderful news and wish her all the best in this new chapter of her life.”