Maddi Ollington has joined the RH3 Football Academy staff as Women’s Development Officer for the Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

Ollington (25) has played at the highest level of domestic football, having captained the WaiBOP side in the women’s National League (2019-20) and she’s the current captain of Hamilton Wanderers who play in the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premiership.

Academy founder Ricki Herbert said: “Maddi will work with our partner clubs in the WaiBOP region to make sure we’re delivering the best possible environment and programmes for our female players.”

He said Ollington’s knowledge of football and personal experiences as a player would help shape the programmes for girls and young women.

“She’s a natural leader, and I think young players will feel inspired by her.”

Growing up in Reporoa, Ollington took up multiple sports — equestrian, athletics, cross country, cricket and netball — but football soon won her over.

A member of the WaiBOP Federation champion Rotorua United side as a teenager, Ollington joined Hamilton Wanderers for the next step, playing women’s Northern League.

She moved to the United States to play college football in New Jersey and returned to New Zealand where she joined the police, and returned to Wanderers for her football.