She had spent her childhood playing footy in the backyard with her siblings ‘taking screamers up each other’s backs’ and finally, an opportunity to play the game was on offer.
It seems to be fact that durability in sport is attributed to some defined factors – good health, remaining injury-free, high skill level, passion for the game, diligent preparation, and being part of a positive culture.
At the age of 44, on Saturday 26 July 2014, Catherine Mulvihill ran out onto Richmond Oval to play her 300th SA Women’s Football League game.
She became the first South Australian woman to reach the milestone.
Remarkably, at age 21, she had been there from the beginning, in 1991, joining in response to an ad for female players in the Messenger Newspaper.
She had spent her childhood playing footy in the backyard with her siblings ‘taking screamers up each other’s backs’ and finally, here was an opportunity to play.
Decades later, Catherine Mulvihill is a respected name in the football community, evidenced by her winning the 2001 Carmel Laube Medal for the Players’ Player.
For many athletes, being voted by one’s peers as the best of the best reaches the top of the mountain.
That light-hearted, ever-smiling face and generous nature clearly belied a hugely competitive instinct for the ball, which was backed by accomplished skill.
The league decided to name its Division 2 MVP the Catherine Mulvihill Medal to signify the breadth and depth of her contribution to women’s football in SA.
