Football Federation SA is pleased to announce 2013/14 Westfield W-League Goal Keeper of the Year Melissa Barbieri has re-signed with the Lady Reds for the 2014/15 Season.

Barbieri re-joins the Lady Reds after a stand out 2013/14 season in the Westfield W-League and an off-season spent at her local club in Victoria, Box Hill.

The former Matildas Captain who was one of Coach Ross Aloisi’s major signings in his maiden year in the Westfield W-League said that the Lady Reds were the only choice for her.

“After the loyalty shown to me last season, when I was given a chance when no one else would take me on, I vowed that I would only ever play for the Lady Reds from there on in.”

A vow that Barbieri made in her speech after accepting the 2013/14 Westfield W-League Goal Keeper of the Year award at the Football Federation Australia awards, which she reflects was a surprise to take home.

“After some set backs, it was a nice reward. I didn’t expect it at all, you never expect awards. As soon as you expect it you really haven’t done your job properly, you are there for the team not yourself. It was a nice reward for the hard work put in and I was glad I could win something for Ross, for the girls and for the support they had shown me through out the season.”

Barbieri is looking forward to the season ahead and working again with Aloisi who brought the keeper into the Lady Reds side after time out to have her baby Holly. The season objectives already clear to the team leader.

“I am looking forward to working with Ross. He taught me so much last season, not only about the game but myself and hopefully I can grow a bit more this season.”

“It is always finals and winning as many games as we can that we aim for. We will also be focussing on supporting the younger generation of players that are coming through, so that we can leave a legacy with them.

“I want to thank everybody who has shown their support for the Lady Reds and jumped on board. From what we achieved last season I hope that we can play ten times better again to show them how much we appreciate it.”

Aloisi quite simply is proud and happy to have ‘Bubs’ back.

“To have the best goal keeper in my opinion in the country, who is still the only captain of the Matilda’s to have won an Asian Championship play for us again, with her leadership on and off the pitch is fantastic.

“Last season was her career best form and she gave us so much. When she won the award for goal keeper of the year, she did say she was a Lady Red for life and to have her back is brilliant.”

Lady Reds Membership