100 UP FOR SARAH ALDER
100 UP FOR SARAH ALDER
Monday 1 April 2019
Wellington United Diamond's game against Petone in the Kelly Cup Bowl on Saturday saw Sarah Alder make her 100th appearance for the club in a comfortable 2-0 win. We have playing records for our family of clubs since 1968 and Sarah joins the likes of Jeff Strom, Malcolm Dunford, Billy Harris & John Barry and around 40 others who have made a century of appearances. Sarah is only the second women to achieve this feat, the other being current Women's club captain Sandy Cumpstone.
Sarah started playing football when she was just 6 years old, when a friend asked if she would play in his team. She played in juniors at Waterside Karori and Onslow before joining Wellington United in 2012. Having several friends already at the club and knowing the coach, Guillermo Schiltenwolf helped make her decision, while the year on year progress and improvement and the general family vibe of the club has kept her here.
Diamonds coach, Guille says "Seeing a player like Sarah reaching her 100th game for the club makes me absolutely happy and proud. She is one of the 6-7 players that trusted on us back in 2012, she is one of the main pillars of this team. She understand what a family is, what it does really means. What it means to be loyal to our family thank you Sarah for everything you have done and keep doing for the team-for another 100 games"
Sarah originally was a striker but in 2016 Guille moved her into the Left Back position and she set about making it her own. It was the season she says she really felt she came into her own in the team. It is also the season she cites as one of her main highlights as the Diamonds won the Women's Central League for the first time ever. Another highlight was last season's Kate Sheppard Cup quarter final win over Wairarapa United, which they won 3-1 after going down 1-0 and got the club into the semi-final, the furthest they had ever been in that competition. Unfortunately she was unable to play in the semi-final due to being in Kazakhstan representing NZ Universities in her other passion, Futsal.
While many footballers also play Futsal, Sarah has excelled at both, particularly Futsal, being named Capital Football player of the year for Futsal in 2018 and also winning international honours with the MZ Universities and the Futsal Ferns.
Sarah, who has scored 34 goals in her 100 appearances, embodies the team and family atmosphere of the club and is reluctant to single out individual's when asked who are the best she has played with, eventually naming Michaela Robertson, Francesca Grange and new arrival Emma Main among the best and Football Fern Sarah Gregorius as one of the toughest opponents she has faced in her 100 games.
Congratulations on 100 games Sarah, and here's to the next 100
ENDS
Sarah Alder
100 Appearances, 34 goals
HONOURS
Women's Central League \ W-League 2016, 2018
Kelly Cup 2018
REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS
Capital Football National League
New Zealand Futsal Ferns
New Zealand Universities Futsal
Words WUAFC Media
Photo : Weston Design
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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52.1% Human-centred experience and communication
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15.2% Critical thinking
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30.1% Resilience and adaptability
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2.6% Other - I will share below!
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Cheery Bargains
Cheery Bargains
Come on in to Red Cross shop Kilbirnie to pick up some bargains to celebrate the year of the horse!
Our bargains are located at 27 Rongotai Road Kilbirnie, the shop is open 7 days, 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm Sunday.
We hope to see you here soon!
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