Stingrays play through heartbreak

Sarah Leach
July 31, 2011

A HEARTBROKEN Illawarra Stingrays side will travel to Sydney to play Manly in the NSW Women's Premier League today, playing for the first time without striker Ashleigh Connor.

Connor, who died in a car accident last week, was given a tearful farewell by her teammates at her funeral on Thursday. The outcome of today's match against sixth-placed Manly is secondary, according to Stingrays president Rob McKie.

''If we play well, we play well; if we play mediocre, we play mediocre,'' he said. ''We're not expecting miracles. Ash's family is the most important thing at the moment.''

Connor, 21, had been a promising player in women's football ranks. A NSWIS member, Connor played for the Australian national team, the Matildas, in the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup qualifiers in 2007. Connor also played for the Macarthur Rams and Marconi Stallions. In 2009 she played for the Central Coast Mariners in the W-League.

''She had an opportunity to be helpful with our club and for young players coming through,'' McKie said. ''She was a person who had the utmost respect from everyone. She wasn't a big talker, but a big talker on the field.''

Connor's tragic passing has completely thrown the team and despite being league leaders, captain Michelle Carney said winning this year had become almost unimportant. ''I don't know how we'll go [on Sunday], we want to get through this year and do it for Ash,'' Carney said.

''She was such a great target striker, our attacking players played off her.

''She had everything - she was a nice, humble, cheeky, funny girl … it will be so different without her.''

While the Illawarra Stingrays are still completing the finer details of an official memorial for Connor, the No.9 jersey which she wore has been permanently retracted at the club and the team has been re-allocated playing strips that have ''Ashleigh Connor #9'' scripted on the chest of each jersey.

''Close to our hearts, so she will always be with us,'' Carney said.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/stingrays-play-through-heartbreak-20110730-1i5c8.html#ixzz1Tb6qniy7