Wellington Phoenix academy players, staff and volunteers were amongst those honoured at the club’s awards night at Fraser Park on Tuesday.
New Zealand age-group internationals Alyssha Eglinton and Xuan Loke were named the academy players of the year.
Eglinton had a massive 2024, playing 29 matches for the women’s reserves last year, including the team’s memorable Kate Sheppard Cup run.
The skilful midfielder also captained New Zealand at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic, where she was player of the match against the hosts, and finished the year by leading the Phoenix to victory at the annual Western Springs under-17 competition.
Loke captained the men’s reserves team and was one of their most consistent performers in both the Central League and National League Championship that followed in 2024.
A fullback capable of playing on both flanks, he represented New Zealand at the OFC U-19 Championship in Samoa in July and had the honour of captaining his country against Papua New Guinea.
Heads of female and male youth development Jessica Fuller and Luke Tongue were the recipients of the academy’s staff members of the year award.
Fuller is the coach of the U-16 girls side as well as assisting women’s reserves head coach Callum Holmes.
Tongue is the assistant coach of the men’s reserves while also being in charge of the U-15 boys side.
Both are the driving force behind the academy’s camps.
And videographer Ben Irving was named the academy’s volunteer of the year.
Irving has helped boost the profile of the women’s and men’s reserves team by producing engaging social media content.
Main image: Alyssha Eglinton (left) and Xuan Loke (right) pose for a photo with academy director Emma Humphries after winning the academy women’s and men’s player of the year awards. Photo: Cam McIntosh/Photomac.