Special honour for Ria Percival

Ria Percival has been recognised in the New Zealand New Year’s Honours list.

The New Zealand international and her captain, Ali Riley, have been made ’Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit’ for services to football.

Capped an incredible 166 times by the ’Football Ferns’, Ria earned her first call up age 17 in 2006. She played in her first World Cup a year later and has now represented her country in five World Cups, the most recent the most special of all, a World Cup on home soil in the summer of 2023. Ria played all three matches as the Ferns beat Norway for their first-ever win in the tournament, but bowed out at the group stage.

That doesn’t tell the whole story though. Fourteen months before that World Cup opener in July, Ria’s career was on the line after suffering a serious knee injury playing for the Ferns against Australia in April, 2022. She fought her way back, returned to training at Spurs in March and then stepped back out in the WSL on 29 April.

Speaking to us after hearing about the award, Ria said: "It’s a great honour. I’m humbled to get this recognition. It means a lot to me and my family. The last 17 years in the national team has seen many ups and downs, but looking back now and taking it all in, it’s a pretty incredible moment in my career. It says a lot about the Ferns, and the Ferns who came before us, the players who gave us the opportunity to do what we’re doing today and have paved the way for so many of us in New Zealand. So, I thank them and this is for them and the team. For me, it’s a great way to start the New Year and we’ll now see what happens next. I’m humbled, honoured and proud of the achievements that myself and the team have made and keep making. Hopefully, there is a bright future ahead"

Signed by Spurs in 2019, Ria has made over 50 appearances for us in all competitions and nine in our new-look side under Robert Vilahamn this season.

From a family of Spurs fans, Ria told us back in July what it meant to pull on the famous lilywhite shirt. "It makes me think of my grandad, Reg, he’s still around, although he’s not been too well of late. He’s a massive Spurs fan, always tells me stories about when he used to live right next to White Hart Lane, sneak in and watch the games. He’s been battling a lot over the last few years and coming here, putting the shirt on, I think of him, my uncles… my uncle took me to a Spurs game once when I was back in the UK. It’s those little moments and memories. I’ve achieved something that will make them all feel proud"