Kyah Simon

Kyah Pam Simon (born 25 June 1991) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a striker for Central Coast Mariners of the A-League Women. In 2011, Simon became the first Indigenous Australian player to score a goal in a FIFA Women's World Cup.

Kyah Simon
Simon playing at the 2017 Algarve Cup
Personal information
Full name Kyah Pam Simon[1]
Date of birth (1991-06-25) 25 June 1991
Place of birth Blacktown, Australia
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Central Coast Mariners
Number 17
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Central Coast Mariners 9 (5)
2009–2013 Sydney FC 41 (23)
2012–2013 Boston Breakers 30 (16)
2013–2014 Western Sydney Wanderers 0 (0)
2014–2017 Sydney FC 27 (12)
2015–2016 Boston Breakers 23 (3)
2017–2020 Melbourne City 31 (10)
2018–2019 Houston Dash 25 (4)
2020–2021 PSV 7 (2)
2021–2023 Tottenham Hotspur 14 (3)
2023– Central Coast Mariners 0 (0)
International career‡
2008–2009 Australia U-20 15 (10)
2007– Australia 111 (29)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 August 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 April 2022

Simon has played for Sydney FC, Central Coast Mariners, Western Sydney Wanderers, and Melbourne City in the Australian W-League, as well as Boston Breakers and Houston Dash in the American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Early life and education

Kyah Pam Simon,[1] who is of Aboriginal Australian descent,[2] was born on 25 June 1991[1] in the western suburbs of Sydney in New South Wales, one of four children. Her mother, Pam, is of the Anaiwan people, while her father, Gordon, is of the Biripi and Kamilaroi peoples. The family moved to Quakers Hill when she was a year old and she attended school at Pacific Hills Christian School, with her siblings. She only later realised what enormous sacrifices her parents had made for their children to attend private school, and to support her career.[3] She later attended Hills Sports High School, where Alen Stajcic (later coach of the Matildas) was head coach.[4]

Growing up amongst a family of rugby league players, Simon was introduced to soccer by her neighbors,[3] and began playing for the Quakers Hill under-8s and fell in love with the game. As a youth, she played for the Hills Brumbies before moving across to Penrith Nepean United. At age 15, she broke her leg just on the verge of earning a scholarship with the NSW Institute of Sport, but that did not deter her from pursuing her dream. She made her national debut for the Australia women's national soccer team the following year at age 16.[5][6]

Club career
Simon playing for the Central Coast Mariners

Central Coast Mariners

Simon made her debut for the Central Coast Mariners against Melbourne Victory on Saturday, 25 October 2008. Simon then made her scoring debut during Round 3 against Canberra United, scoring a double to assist the Mariners to a 2–1 win away from home.

Sydney FC

Simon joined Sydney FC for the 2009 W-League Season, playing in the first round against former club the Central Coast Mariners.[7][8]

She was the top scorer in the 2010–11 W-League with 11 goals in 12 games. She also earned Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Players Player of the Year honours.[9]

Boston Breakers

In April 2012, Simon signed with the Boston Breakers for the first and only season of the Women's Premier Soccer League Elite (WPSL Elite). She finished the season as the team's leading scorer with 12 goals and 26 points. She also ranked second in the league in the same categories. Simon logged 1,052 minutes with the Breakers and finished with two assists.[6]

In 2013, Simon signed as a free agent with the Breakers for the inaugural season of the National Women's Soccer League.[10][11]

Western Sydney Wanderers

In September 2013, Simon signed with Western Sydney Wanderers.[12]

Return to Sydney FC

After being injured for most of the 2013–14 season and hardly playing, Simon returned to Sydney FC for the 2014 season.[13]

Return to Boston Breakers

On 30 June 2015, after leading the Australia women's national soccer team to a quarter-final of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, the Boston Breakers announced the signing of Simon, returning her to the National Women's Soccer League.[14]

In January 2017, citing a need to "get my mind and body back to 100 percent health and fitness, and be ready for the next season",[15] it was announced that Simon would not return to the Boston Breakers for the 2017 season. The Breakers retain the rights to her contract for the 2017 season.[16]

Melbourne City

On 6 October 2017, Simon returned to Australia, joining Melbourne City.[17]

Houston Dash

After the Breakers folded ahead of the 2018 NWSL season, the NWSL held a dispersal draft to distribute Breakers players across the league. Her rights were selected 6th overall by Houston.[18] On 28 February, the Dash announced they signed Simon to a contract.[19] She made her debut for the Dash on 28 April against the North Carolina Courage in a 2–0 loss. Simon scored her first goal of the season in a 1–1 draw against the Portland Thorns FC on 9 May.[20] Following the 2019 NWSL season, the Dash and Kyah came to a mutual agreement to depart the club, placing her on the re-entry wire.[21]

International career
Simon slides for the ball during a match against Germany at the 2016 Olympics

Simon made her debut for the Matildas in August 2007, at the age of 16, in a match against Hong Kong. She scored her first goal in a win over Brazil in the 2008 Peace Cup. In 2010, she scored the winning penalty for Australia to win the 2010 Asian Cup.[6]

Simon appeared at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, where she scored both of Australia's goals in a 2–1 win over Norway to ensure qualification for the quarter finals. She was the first male or female Indigenous Australian player to score a goal in a World Cup tournament.[6][22]

During the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup round of 16 match against higher ranked Brazil, Simon slotted in the winning goal on a rebound after an initial attempt by Lisa De Vanna bounced off the Brazilian goalkeeper Luciana. The Matildas qualified for a historic quarter-final match after the 1–0 win against Brazil, however were knocked out by Japan in the quarterfinal. Simon played each of Australia's 5 matches and scored 3 goals, including both goals in a 2–0 win against Nigeria in group stage.

During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Simon became the ninth Matilda and first Indigenous Australian player to reach 100 caps.[23] The Matildas qualified for the quarter-finals and beat Great Britain before being eliminated in the semi-final with Sweden. In the playoff for the Bronze medal they were beaten by the USA.[24]

Other activities

Simon has learnt about the hardships and discrimination endured by her grandparents' families, which gave her new appreciation for what her family has given her. She has said "...every time I pull on the Matildas jersey, it's for my family. As I see it, the jersey is as much theirs as mine". She tells of how her family, who could not afford the airfare, drove over 4,500 km (2,800 mi) from Calgary to Moncton in Canada to see her play (and score) in the final round-of-16 game for the World Cup, taking two-and-a-half days each way.[3]

She is proud of her Aboriginal heritage, and appreciates social media for the role it plays in helping to "change that conversation [about what it means to be Aboriginal] and open people's eyes to get different perspectives". Simon was instrumental in the Matildas' decision to display the Aboriginal flag in the team photo for their first game of the Tokyo Olympics, as a uniquely Australian gesture, rather than taking the knee in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.[2] She has joined Football Australia's inaugural National Indigenous Advisory Group[25] to help foster engagement between the game and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.[2]

Television and film

In 2013, Simon was featured in an hour-long episode of ESPN's Aussies Abroad entitled, The Matildas, which profiled four Australian national team players (Simon, Lisa De Vanna, Samantha Kerr, and Caitlin Foord) and their experience playing internationally.[26][27]

Simon was also one of the subjects, the other being Lydia Williams, of a football documentary titled No Apologies by filmmaker Ashley Morrison. This documentary tells the story of the two Aboriginal female footballers and their journey to the Women's World Cup in Germany in 2011.[28]

Magazines

In June 2011, Simon was on the cover of the Australian FourFourTwo Magazine along with fellow Matilda's Melissa Barbieri, Sam Kerr, Thea Slatyer and Sarah Walsh.[29]

Career statistics
Kyah Simon playing against Japan in Tokyo, June 2012

International appearances
As of 10 April 2018
Australia national team
YearAppsGoals
200710
2008111
200900
2010101
2011115
201274
201330
201400
2015185
2016125
201762
201891
201900
202052
Total9324

International goals

Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first.

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
119 June 2008Suwon Sports Complex, Suwon, South Korea Brazil1–01–02008 Peace Queen Cup
26 March 2010Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane, Australia North Korea3–23–2Friendly
312 May 2011Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford, Australia New Zealand2–03–0Friendly
420 June 2011Jahnstadion, Göttingen, Germany Mexico3–23–2Friendly
56 July 2011BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany Norway1–12–12011 FIFA Women's World Cup
62–1
73 September 2011Jinan Olympic Sports Center Stadium, Jinan, China Thailand1–05–12012 Olympics qualifying
813 September 2012Carroll Stadium, Indianapolis, United States Haiti3–04–0Friendly
920 November 2012Bao'an Stadium, Shenzhen, China Chinese Taipei3–07–02013 EAFF Women's East Asian Cup preliminary round 2
106–0
1122 November 2011Bao'an Stadium, Shenzhen, China Hong Kong2–04–02013 EAFF Women's East Asian Cup preliminary round 2
1219 May 2015Valentine Sports Park, Sydney, Australia Vietnam3–04–0Friendly
1312 June 2015Winnipeg Stadium, Winnipeg, Canada Nigeria1–02–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup
142–0
1521 June 2015Moncton Stadium, Moncton, Canada Brazil1–01–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup
1629 November 2015Incheon Sungui Stadium, Incheon, South Korea South Korea1–01–0Friendly
172 March 2016Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan Vietnam2–09–02016 Olympics qualifying
184–0
195–0
204 March 2016Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan South Korea1–02–02016 Olympics qualifying
219 August 2016Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil Zimbabwe4–06–12016 Summer Olympics
228 March 2017Albufeira Municipal Stadium, Albufeira, Portugal Denmark1–01–12017 Algarve Cup
2326 November 2017GMHBA Stadium, Geelong, Australia China1–15–1Friendly
2410 April 2018Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan Vietnam1–08–02018 AFC Women's Asian Cup
2510 February 2020Campbelltown Stadium, Campbelltown, Sydney, Australia Thailand3–06–02020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
266–0
2721 January 2022Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai, India Indonesia14–018–02022 AFC Women's Asian Cup
2816–0

Honours

Club
Sydney FC
Melbourne City

Country
Australia

Individual

See also

References
  1. "FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011 – List of Players: Australia" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 17 June 2011. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 November 2019. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  2. Lewis, Samantha (25 November 2021). "How Indigenous Matildas star Kyah Simon is using her voice to fight racism". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  3. Simon, Kyah (2018). "'The things that were left unsaid'". AthletesVoice. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  4. Houghton, Nick (30 June 2015). "Matildas pair Alen Stajcic and Kyah Simon inspire next crop of stars at Hills Sports High Seven Hills". Blacktown Advocate. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  5. "This Sporting Life: Kyah Simon". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  6. "Kyah Simon". Boston Breakers. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  7. "Mariners take down Sydney". Australian FourFourTwo. Haymarket Media. 5 October 2009.
  8. "Breakers sign Australian forward Kyah Simon". Boston Breakers. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  9. "Kyah Simon". No Apologies.
  10. "Kyah Simon is returning to the Boston Breakers". NWSL News. Archived from the original on 11 December 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  11. "Simon studying Stateside". Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 25 July 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  12. Odong, Ann (24 September 2013). "Kyah Simon wanders home to Western Sydney". The Women's Game.
  13. "Westfield W-League Squad Bolstered As New Shirt Sponsor Gained". Football Federation Australia. 29 August 2014.
  14. "Boston Breakers sign Australian forward Kyah Simon; This will be Simon's second stint with the Breakers". nwslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015.
  15. "Taking the year off; Breakers' Kyah Simon returning to Australia". www.newenglandsoccernews.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  16. "Equalizer Soccer – Monday Roundup: Alex Morgan confirms strike still possibility". The Equalizer. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  17. "Melbourne City FC signs Matildas star Kyah Simon". Melbourne City. 6 October 2017.
  18. "Full dispersal draft results". NWSL. 20 January 2018.
  19. "Houston Dash sign Australian International Kyah Simon". 28 February 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  20. "Kyah Simon". 3 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  21. Levine, Matthew (4 November 2019). "NWSL Announces 19 Players Available on Re-Entry Wire". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  22. "Kyah enjoying Matildas run". The World Game. Special Broadcasting Service. AFP. 8 July 2011.
  23. "More to come from Kyah Simon as she reaches 100 caps". The Matildas. 8 August 2021.
  24. "Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo 2021". The Roar. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  25. Cloos, Teisha (10 November 2021). "Football Australia Establishes National Indigenous Advisory Group". National Indigenous Times. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  26. "The Matildas". ESPN. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  27. "Aussies Abroad: The Matildas". YouTube.com. ESPN. 23 October 2013. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  28. "Home page". No Apologies. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013.
  29. "Kyah: Now I've Got Your Attention..." Australian FourFourTwo. Haymarket Media. Archived from the original on 16 August 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2013.

Further reading
  • Grainey, Timothy (2012), Beyond Bend It Like Beckham: The Global Phenomenon of Women's Soccer, University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 0803240368
  • Stay, Shane (2019), The Women's World Cup 2019 Book: Everything You Need to Know About the Soccer World Cup, Books on Demand, ISBN 1782551921
  • Theivam, Keiran and Jeff Kassouf (2019), The Making of the Women's World Cup: Defining stories from a sport's coming of age, Little, ISBN 1472143310
  • Various (2019), Stand Up for the Future, Penguin Random House, ISBN 0143794396
  • Williams, Jean (2007), A Beautiful Game: International Perspectives on Women's Football , A&C Black, ISBN 1845206754
  • Williams, Lydia (2019), Saved!, Allen & Unwin, ISBN 9781760871628
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