Perth Glory captain Natasha Rigby has announced her retirement from professional football, after 117 appearances across eight seasons in the Liberty A-League.
Rigby, 31, is one of only three Glory players to have reached the 100-game mark in Liberty A-League history and has captained the club since 2019, and played in two Grand finals at the club.
The energetic full-back captained Glory for five seasons but after starting every game for the club in 2023-24, has called time on her career to focus on an exciting new role as Female Football and Advocacy Manager at Football West.
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Upon announcing her retirement, Rigby said that although she may have the strength to play on, the opportunity to take on her new role at Football West and seeking financial security for her future through off-field endeavours were driving factors in her decision to hang up the boots.
“It is with a full heart that I announce my retirement from professional football,” Rigby said.
“The club, the team and the staff have been home for me for a long time and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to live out a dream I never thought possible.
“I am grateful to the club for the opportunity to represent my home city with pride, my coaches for their belief, development and teachings and my incredible team-mates, who I absolutely adore and wouldn’t be here without.
“Finally, to the members and fans that have supported us along the way, they are our beating heart and I’ll be forever grateful for their support.
“There are a multitude of variables that have led to this decision, however the driving variable is the financial insecurity that comes with being a female footballer and the need for me to focus on building a sustainable and stable future for myself.
“I am very excited to be stepping into a role where I can continue to advocate for women and girls in football and promise that I will continue to influence change and push for a more equal future.
“I still have so much love for the game, the club, our staff and my girls and can’t wait to be their biggest cheerleader.”
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Rigby’s Liberty A-League career began by chance in 2016, when she was selected in a Western Australia state squad to take on Perth Glory in a pre-season friendly.
Her life in Margaret River, nearly three hours south of Perth, was forever changed as her performance in the friendly led then-Glory head coach Bobby Despotovski to hand Rigby a contract at the club.
Eight seasons later, Rigby retires with 117 Glory appearances to her name – 79 as captain.
Glory coach Alex Epakis lauded Rigby for her impact at the club across her eight-season tenure.
“Tash has represented the club and led the ALW team in a manner which is reflective of her unwavering character,” he said.
“She is built on the values and traits of competitiveness, integrity, compassion, loyalty and family and these attributes have shone through the team over the course of her career.
“She has always led from the front and found a way to bring the best out of different groups of people over the years, particularly during the uncertainty caused in recent seasons by COVID-19 with relocation, hubs and the like.
“Her character has been threaded throughout the DNA of the team and her legacy will no doubt remain within our team. Moreover, her connection to the community and ability to inspire teammates, staff and fans, both young and old, cannot be underestimated.
“Tash is a force within the community and I believe that her connection with our team and club will continue to grow as she moves into her next chapter.
“She has an array of talents and aspects of her life that shine beyond and through football and I am extremely excited to see her continue to have a positive and impactful connection within the game in Western Australia through her new role with Football West.
“She has a bright future, I know she will attack the next stage of her life with the same vigour and passion and I wish her the best.
“Tash has played a significant role in my coaching career to date and our time working together will be something that I will value into the future.”
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