Cheryl Elvey
When opportunities to represent Victoria were few and far between in the formative years of organised Women’s football, it is remarkable to think that a woman from Bendigo would get noticed, let alone wear the state jersey at eight National Championships.
Born in 1958, Cheryl Elvey learned her football playing against her three brothers and only became aware of the game at an organised level when she began her tertiary study. A first-year student with the Bendigo College of Advanced Education (BCAE), Elvey represented the college in the local Bendigo Women’s Soccer Association. With affiliation to the Victorian Women’s Soccer Association in 1977, state coach Albert Martin watched Elvey in action in her second season, inviting her to State team training in Melbourne. After one session, Martin was convinced he had an outstanding player in his squad.
Elvey won the League and League Cup with BCAE, along with the Leading Goalscorer award in 1977 and travelled to Perth for the National Championships at season’s close. Her form was impressive and she scored a brace against the hosts in Victoria’s final match of the tournament. A move to Melbourne with Greensborough in 1978 saw Elvey take her football to new levels.
Elvey competed in the next five National Championships, and was a regular scorer in each edition, earning Australian All-Star selections in 1980 and 1981 respectively. Despite the recognition, she failed to make the touring squad to New Zealand in 1981, an Australian cap proving elusive, as it was for several Victorians at the time. Elvey represented Victoria for the eighth time on home turf in 1985, scoring another goal in what proved to be her final
appearance for the navy blue.
While Elvey failed to secure a National Championship trophy during her representative career, she enjoyed immense success with Greensborough, winning seven successive Championships and two Player of the Year awards during her time with the club.
As one of the Bendigo regions enduring pioneers, Cheryl Elvey starred with Victoria, impressing in a team full of national team representatives and state legends.