Brisbane Roar has given another opportunity to an emerging Queensland talent by signing goalkeeper Mia Bailey to her first W-League deal for the upcoming season.
The Cairns-born Junior Matilda becomes the 11th confirmed member of Garrath McPherson’s squad and second shot-stopper alongside fellow Future Matildas player Georgie Worth.
“It’s so surreal. It’s a been a dream since I started playing football when I was five years old,” said Bailey, who is completing her final year of high school.
“I’ve just been working hard. I moved to Brisbane when I was 14. I’ve done some training sessions with a couple of girls up in Cairns and to see how happy football makes them makes me work even harder.
“The Junior Matildas and Future Matildas processes are quite similar to the W-League. Garrath has been my coach since Under-15s in the QAS and I know a few of the players in the squad. I train with Georgie in the Future Matildas and she’s been an inspiration to me – it’s really good to work with someone who works hard and pushes you.
“I just want to thank my mum and family from Cairns and all my past coaches for supporting me.”
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McPherson said 17-year-old Bailey was another example of the pathway that exists into Roar’s senior W-League setup.
“Mia is an incredibly talented goalkeeper who has been in our FQ/QAS program for a number of years and benefited from the elite training environment it provides,” the Head Coach said.
“It’s exciting to see more and more players stepping out of the program and into the senior Brisbane Roar side.
“Mia is a very driven young person who can be a role model for other aspiring young goalkeepers in Queensland.”
Goalkeeper Coach Brody Sams added: “Mia’s opportunity has come about as a result of her attitude and application day in and day out.
“It will be great to see how Mia approaches her first season at the highest level of football in this country.”
