Brisbane Roar is delighted to welcome midfielder Ayesha Norrie back to the Club as its ninth confirmed W-League squad member for the 2021/22 campaign.
The Queenslander returns to the Roar for a fifth season in orange, bringing almost 50 games worth of top-flight experience into Garrath McPherson’s side.
“I’m pretty stoked about it,” Norrie said. “It’s my hometown, so it’s good to get back to where it started.
“With the majority of Matildas away at the moment it’s going to be a different league, but I think that’s a positive thing as well.
“For the young ones coming through and myself coming back, it will be a challenge to step up.”
Norrie made her original Roar debut as a 16-year-old in November 2013, playing alongside the likes of Clare Polkinghorne, Katrina Gorry, Tameka Yallop and Kim Carroll.
She started for Brisbane in that season’s Grand Final and was also part of the team that won the Premiership in 2017/18.
“When I was younger, playing with those big names was definitely a highlight,” the former Young Matilda said.
“It was a daunting time starting so young, but they took me under their wing and prepared me for the W-League.”
With six NPL Queensland goals for Gold Coast United this term, Roar Head Coach Garrath McPherson said Norrie had been a “standout performer” in the local competition.
“It’s wonderful to have Ayesha back in orange for the upcoming W-League season,” McPherson said.
“Ayesha is a Queensland NTC graduate whose quality has been recognised by her involvement in junior and youth national team environments.
“She has a winning mentality that will allow her to compete against any opponent she comes up against and has shown all season an ability to score goals from midfield.
“Ayesha is another example of the pathway to the W-League that our state competition provides and I encourage the community to get along to an NPL Women’s game to see her in action.”
