Jude Pettitt

Personal Details Date of Birth: 16 August, 1962 Place of Birth: Perth, Western Australia Height: Position: Striker Club Summary Club Games Goals Ascot (junior-1980) Ferndale (1980-1985) Morley Windmills (1986-1989) Dandedong (1989-1992) Stirling Reds (1993-1994) Perth Italia (1995-1999) Sorrento (2001) Floreat Athena (2002) Subiaco (2003-2006) Total International Summary Games Goals Australia 'A' (1979-1984) 3 0 Australia 'B' (1978-1984) 15 ?

Career Brief

Jude Pettitt was one of the stars of the early days of Australian women's football. In a remarkable senior career that spanned four decades, Pettitt played at sixteen national championships - a dozen for Western Australia and a further four with Victoria - and was a key member of the Australia's first national women's teams.

Pettitt played juniors at Ascot where her goal scoring talents saw her quickly promoted to the senior set-up. A State team call-up for the 1977 national championship was followed soon after by a place in the Western Australia squad which competed at the Merdeka Cup in Malaysia - the first time an Australian representative women's team had played abroad.

Pettitt was only 16 when she played a starring role in the State team winning gold at the national championship in September 1978. A month later she was one of seven Perth girls selected to represent Australia at the World Women's Invitational Tournament in Taiwan, a precursor to the modern day Women's World Cup.

The Matilda's first ventured into the 'A' international arena in October 1979 against New Zealand with Pettitt featuring twice in the three-game series. Pettitt opened a new chapter in her career by joining Ferndale in 1980, and it was while with that club that she was selected in the Australia squad which visited Hawaii for a series of games against local clubs and the state team in early 1983.

Next selected by Australia for the Xian International Tournament of October 1984, Pettitt played against clubs sides from the United States of America and host nation China along with the Japan national team. Her final Matildas’ appearance was during a stopover in Taiwan on the way home from that event, against the Texas University State.

Pettitt returned to club football with Ferndale, where she was voted the league's Fairest and Best player, and Morley Windmills. A stint at Victorian club Dandedong saw her gain State selection in each of her four seasons before heading back to the west and player-coach roles with Stirling Reds, Perth Italia, Sorrento, Floreat Athena and Subiaco.

Australian Women's Soccer recognised Pettitt's pioneering role in the sport by presenting her with a '20 Years of Service Gold Medal' in 1992. Eight years later she was awarded an Australian Sports Medal by the Federal Government, while in 2004 Women's Soccer WA bestowed Life Membership on the one-time Matilda.

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This page was last updated on the 1st July, 2011