Western Australian footballing great Collette McCallum has called time on her decorated career after pulling on the boots for the final time in a 1-1 draw against Scotland in Falkirk last Friday.
The Matildas concluded their European tour and farewelled the retiring midfielder who has held a long association with WAIS, as a scholarship holder on the Individual Athlete Support Program.
The Matildas struck first with a goal from an unfamiliar source, defender Laura Alleway, who scored her first international goal after 26 minutes only for Jane Ross to equalise for the hosts just before the hour mark.
While unable to send McCallum off with a fairytale finish in her last game, in the country of her birth, the Matildas showed they are progressing in the right direction ahead of June’s FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 in Canada.
Matildas’ Head Coach Alen Stajcic paid a fitting tribute to McCallum, who bows out of the game after 81 ‘A’ international appearances and 11 goals for her country.
“Collette is a brilliant person on and off the field and in my opinion one of the top few Matildas of all time,” Stajcic said.
“She is a tremendous footballer so we’re all extremely happy for her and proud of her career and we wish her all the best for the future.”
The Western Australian Institute of Sport echoes Stajcic’s sentiments, and thanks Collette for all of her service to Western Australian and Australian sport.
-with FFA
