Born in Western Australia, Janette Spencer is a woman of immense vision, a leader, mentor and 100% driven to improve women’s soccer in Western Australia. She leads with passion and intelligence and inspires others around her to do the same. There was huge strides in the growth of women’s soccer in WA in the years Janette stepped into the leadership role at WAWSA (1990-2004). Eight of these with Janette as President of the WA Women’s Soccer Association (later rebranded as Women’s Soccer WA and abbreviated to WSWA). Programmes to increase participation, acquire a home ground, introduce girls leagues and talent identification were all part of Janette’s vision during the WAWSA era.
Playing Honours
- Janette was an inaugural member of the WAIT women’s Soccer Team (Western Australian Institute Technology, 1981) that joined forces with Karawara, circa 1983 which later renamed, Curtin Soccer (1985) and Curtin University Football Club.
- Played from 1981-2000, 2 decades, with the same club and collected 1 senior state WA women’s team tracksuit in 1987 whilst playing under the banner of Curtin.
- Awarded Life Membership to Curtin in 1998.
- 21 years at Subiaco, being awarded a Life Membership and ending her WA portfolio in 2021 after a move to Melbourne.
- Whilst playing for Subiaco masters teams, won multiple medals with the Perth Strikers WA Masters competing at Australian, Pan Pacific and World Tournaments.
- Janette is currently playing and coaching the South Melbourne Women’s Soccer Club over 35’s 7-a-side and enjoying playing alongside her daughter and niece.
- Janette is also an active advocate for the development of Walking Football.
- An amazing legacy of playing spanning 5 decades.
At an administrative level, Janette has an equally extensive bio:
- Janette began her volunteer sports administration journey at Curtin University (WAIT) as Secretary of the club. At state level, Janette commenced as Secretary of Women’s Soccer WA (WSWA) in 1989 and became President 1990-1994, 2002-2004, until the merger of all soccer entities in 2004 under the Soccer Administration of WA umbrella.
- Janette was part of the merger of all codes into the Western Australian Soccer Association, which became Football West in 2005, leading the Advisory group through the transition and eventually joining the new Football West Board (2008-2016).
- WSWA proved to be one of the most financially sound associations at the point of the merger and the only soccer association in WA to have acquired its own home ground on a lifetime lease at Gibbney Reserve in the City of Bayswater, in 1992. Gibbney hosted the 1993 National Women’s Soccer Championships
- Janette has been active as a participant on a number of working committees since leaving WSWA, including – Board Member of Football West, serving 2 terms over the 8 years 2008-2016 and Football Australia’s Women’s Football Council, commencing in 2017.
- Awarded Curtin University Half Blues award for her service to sport in 1997, Life Membership to WSWA in 1996, an Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and recognised with Football West Life Membership in 2011
- Inducted into the Football Hall of Fame WA’s Hall of Recognition in 2016.
Photo and information supplied by Janette Spencer
