In a Matildas’ 1998 tour of North Korea, the players were bemused by the playing of loud music every night. That music signaled the local people to step outside their homes, and all dance the same dance, after which they went back inside.
Kristyn Swaffer was unusually tall for a footballer, standing at 176cm or 5’9”, but notably a reliable defender.
Also, unlike many other footballers of her time, Kristyn Swaffer was born in Australia. Many of her peers had been born and raised within a ‘footballing culture’ either in the UK or Europe.
But there was never uncertainty about the sport in which she would excel. In primary school, she asked her father if she could play ‘football’, and thinking she was referring to Aussie Rules, he said ‘Yes’.
He received an enormous shock when she brought home a ‘soccer’ ball with which to practice.
Such was her early achievement in the game that she was named in the Australian Schoolgirls team, and then the Australian U16 team at the age of 13.
A clear trajectory from an emerging, talented junior continued into her senior career, as she made her FIFA World Cup debut in 1999 in the United States, joining fellow South Australian Sharon Black.
It was a huge experience in many ways. The 1999 World Cup was the first to field sixteen teams, an increase from twelve, and featured an all-female roster of referees and match officials for the first time.
The final between the US and China was attended by 90,185 people, setting an international record for spectators at a women’s sporting event.
Australia played its third group match, against China, at the Giants Stadium in New Jersey in front of 30,000 spectators.
It was a huge experience for Swaffer, Black and the other Australians, still relatively new to international competition. Based on all results and goal differences, Australia finished a creditable 11th.
An enlightening cultural experience came when the Matildas toured North Korea in 1998. Apart from ironclad security shadowing the team’s every move, the players were bemused by the playing of loud music after dinner every night. That music signalled the local population to step outside their homes and all dance the same dance, after which they went back inside. (FSA Women’s WC Legacy interview).
In all, Kristyn Swaffer played 30 games for the Australian senior team.
In South Australia, she was much heralded – elected vice-captain of the first Adelaide United W-League team. Furthermore, she was chosen as the SA Women’s Soccer Association Player of the Year a remarkable five times and leading goal scorer twice.
She also won the SAWSA State Player of the Year in 1995. Not surprisingly, she was selected in the association’s All-Star team four times.
Kristyn Swaffer was inducted into the Football SA Hall of Fame in 2011 for outstanding performance. From 2020-21, Kristyn joined the FSA Board of Directors.
