Charli Dunn departs WSAFC for US Soccer Scholarship

Long time Springs family member Charli Dunn will this week embark on a journey of a lifetime as she takes up a well-deserved football scholarship in the USA.

Charli has been at the club for 13 memorable years. Her first game for Springs was in April 2012, aged 5 years & 1 month playing for The Marlins and Charli has played in every age group since, joining our Women’s Premier Team in 2024, playing 47 games in the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premiership.

Charli has also more recently earned recognition on the world stage, representing New Zealand at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in 2024.

Charli has also given back to the club in many ways, including coaching in our Academy, Fantails, Holiday Programmes and Skill Centres, as well as 4 years working helping various community and social teams. Charli was always keen to help to pass on her knowledge and skills to the next generation of WSAFC players who will follow in her footsteps. Charli has had a such positive impact on so many others around the club and she will be missed by everyone she has played, coached and worked alongside.

As Charli heads of to Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in the NCAA Division 1 Conference USA, many from around the club have offered their words of support, including Women’s Premier Team Captain Tiana Hill.

“It has been inspirational watching Charli grow in confidence, composure and leadership in the prems space over the last few years. She is a player who you can trust to have your back on and off the field. Charli is an incredibly talented player with a bright future ahead. We will miss her beyond words but wish her nothing but the best for this new adventure.”

Head of Junior and Youth Football, Andy Vernon, is looking forward to following her next steps in the USA and representing New Zealand.  

“Charli started playing football at Springs long before I met her but clearly remember her as an U9 player playing with lots of energy and standing out in a team alongside boys. She has always been driven and motivated to train and play to get better. She asks questions of coaches and wants to learn more around dealing with situations that arise in game; this tests a coach which is fantastic. She’s an awesome role model for younger girls who have a similar passion for playing and dreams beyond Springs.”

Tracy Cunnington, Junior Chair, is equally as excited to see Charli take her next steps following her 13 years with the club so far.

“From watching Charli as a junior player, it was always obvious that she was going to be a football superstar. We've seen her progress through our youth system, playing in mixed teams, to making her Women's first team debut at 16yrs old and earning herself 47 caps. At 18yrs old she's already represented New Zealand at the OFC U16s World Cup Qualifiers in 2023 and at the Women's FIFA u17s World Cup 2024. She's now swapping the famous WSAFC green and white hoops for her new USA college football shirt and we wish her all the very best. We will miss seeing Charli around Seddon Fields, but she knows the door will always be open for her here at Western Springs and her Springs whanau be following her USA college journey”

Words of support have also come in from many outside of the club, including Gerard Gerriga, once of our WSAFC Men’s Premier Team players and previous Club Academy Coach alongside Charli.

“I couldn’t be prouder of Charli as she begins this amazing new chapter in the USA. Coaching her over the years has been an absolute privilege. She’s not only an incredibly talented player with leadership and drive, but also a truly special person, always showing up with a smile, a positive attitude, and a deep love for the game. Charli gives everything she has, every single day, and inspires those around her to do the same. She’s the kind of player every coach dreams of having. I’ll miss her deeply, but I know she’s ready for this next step, and I truly believe she’s going to achieve great things”

From everyone at WSAFC, we wish you all the very best and are very proud of your achievements, good luck, Charli!