Anna Leat signs with West Ham United Women

East Coast Bays AFC’s very own Anna Leat signs with West Ham United Women. 

At the young age of 20, Anna already has an extensive playing career and many accolades to her name.  

Back in 2012, at age 11, she started in playing for East Coast Bays in our 13th Grade Girls Team, within a year Anna was challenging herself by playing in the mixed grades, in 2015 she won the Golden Glove at an Auckland Football Tournament and here her journey beyond club began. 

Anna has represented Northern Football Federation from 2014, playing 18 matches with 9 clean sheets. Anna Leat was a part of the NZ U17s squad who won a Bronze Medal at the World Cup. During this World Cup Anna saved a penalty against Japan and then scored the winner in the penalty shootout which took NZ to the semi-finals. This moment saw her win the Halberg award in 2018, for NZ Favourite Sporting Moment. To put the cherry on top she also won player of the match in this game. Anna Leat made the NZ U20s and at only 16 debuted for the NZ National Squad against Thailand, recently she had an appearance at the Olympic Games starting against the USA. 

All through Anna’s National career she has stayed connected to Bays, whether it be playing, coaching, or giving back. Just this year Anna was named in our Chatham Cup squad for our NRFL Division 1 team, being the first female to be named in the competition. Anna attended our Girls and Womens day at the beginning of this year and has coached across our Player Development Centres, Holiday Programmes and helped many of our up and coming Goal Keepers.

Anna’s talent has been recognised within NZ, making Regional and National squads as well as being nominated for the Halberg Emerging Talent Award in both 2017 and 2018. For Anna to now be recognised Internationally by West Ham United is phenomenal. At such a young age Anna has a long and bright future ahead of her that everyone at Bays cannot wait to see unfold on the International stage. 

We wish you great success in the UK Anna and hope you stay in touch.