In 1981, President of De Grey Football League, Colin Matheson, had six children. His youngest daughter Tough Cookie Theresa played football in the boys’ under 9 junior competition.

The Matheson family were very proud of her footy skills:

“For nine-year-old Theresa Matheson of Port Hedland, being a girl is no handicap when it comes to playing football with boys her own age.

In fact most of the boys in the under-9 junior competition don’t like playing against Theresa because more often than not she outplays them.

And on Sunday at a wind-up held by her club Rovers Footy Club, Theresa was presented with a trophy for most improved player.

Theresa believes much of her interest in football comes from her father Colin Matheson, President of the De Grey and West Pilbara League.

When she decided to play with Rovers in the junior competition, she did not meet any opposition from the players or coach Ken Roach.

“I just wanted to see what it was like to play football,” she said.

1981 Theresa Matheson… a formidable female footy force

Theresa Matheson, born in Port Hedland 11 August 1972, and died suddenly in Perth on 25 July 2022.