We are delighted to announce that Holly Payne will rejoin the WaiBOP Football team in 2024, in a role designed to develop a women and girls’ strategy for the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region.

Developing a women and girls’ strategy follows on from the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and will identify a clear strategic direction with a vision and purpose for women and girls in the WaiBOP Football region.

The work by Holly is an opportunity to bring together ideas on where we want to take women and girls in football and futsal in our region. In early 2024, there will be opportunities to engage with Holly to share ideas and give feedback in the form of roadshows, forums, and workshops. The aim of the strategy is to bring everyone together to provide a plan with an aligned direction for all football in the women and girls’ space.

Holly has a wealth of experience across many facets of women and girls’ football both on and off the field. A former New Zealand age group player, Holly grew up playing football for Claudelands Rovers. The Waikato Bay of Plenty region is her home, where she grew up and started her career, initially as the Women’s Development Officer for WaiBOP Football. Holly then moved to NZ Football, where she was Women’s Development Manager for almost five years.

Some of Holly’s achievements include starting the first ever girls only leagues in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, launching NZ Football’s ground-breaking Female Coach Scholarship Programme, and she played a pivotal role in the bid to co-host the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Holly says she is looking forward to being back working with WaiBOP Football.

“It’s great to be coming back into football after spending a few years away. I now have two young boys with my husband Josh, which has further helped me grow and develop as a person and bring a different perspective to how I approach things.

“I'm excited that WaiBOP Football has identified women and girls’ football as a strategic priority and growth area. Developing a Women and Girls’ Strategy is timely, with the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup shining a light on women and girls’ football in our region, as well as the refresh of the Whole of Football Plan coming out soon."