To describe Ellie Wilson as just a footballer would be far from accurate. The Melbourne City defender’s impact on the sport extends far beyond the playing field. From her university studies impacting how her ACL treatment was handled to giving back to the community she represented, Wilson has run the gamut in her career so far. In an exclusive interview with Beyond The Pitch, Wilson discusses her unconventional pathway to becoming a footballer, the difficulties players face playing in the Women’s A League and her aspirations for her post football career.
Wilson’s career began at Reading and she played at clubs such as Bristol City, London Bees, Wolves and Sheffield United. She made the move to Melbourne Victory in 2024 and then transferred to their rivals Melbourne City at the start of the 25/26 season. Melbourne City currently sit in 1st place in the Women’s A-League but it has been a difficult season for Wilson. After recently returning from a concussion, Wilson has now suffered an ankle injury.
Wilson’s pathway to becoming a footballer was far from traditional. She remembered:
“Football was never on my radar when I was younger, I actually did horse riding. I was at an afterschool club which was run by Coach Shelly who worked for Reading. I was asked which team I play for and was invited for a trial.
I did the trial and I was awful. It took me four years of trials and playing for a girls team before I was signed. By this point my passion for the game had developed within that time. Constantly being told no gave me more reason to try and I fell in love with that process.”
Whilst developing her burgeoning football career, Wilson also looked for ways for her academic career to benefit her time on the pitch. She studied Sport and Exercise Science at Buckinghamshire New University and then went on to complete a MSc in Musculoskeletal Sport Science and Health at Loughborough University. Through her studies, Wilson gained a unique perspective when going through treatment for injuries. She explained:
“I remember when I was at college and was applying for the degree I was aware that anything I learned I could apply to myself as an athlete.
I definitely applied those skills when I was in the UK, not being in the environment young girls have now or an elite academy where you have everything from a young age. I found it really valuable to develop the knowledge myself and try to become more knowledgeable in those areas.
Even from my ACL surgery, I was having discussions with my own surgeon. Typically you might use a patellar tendon for the reconstruction.
But we couldn’t do that in my case. Then we were going to use the hamstring graft, but I wasn’t happy with that idea. So I suggested to my surgeon that we could use my quad tendon instead. After some back and forth and looking into the research together, we ended up using that graft.
We were going to use the hamstring but I wasn’t happy with it. I suggested to my surgeon to use the quad instead and after some back and forth we ended up using that for the graft. I thought that was so cool that I was even able to have that chat and be a part of my own recovery in that way.”
Wilson’s contributions to football have not been limited to just being on the pitch. Whilst playing for Sheffield United, she won the community player of the year. For Wilson, her community work was vital whilst she was recovering from an ACL injury. She said:
“I think it really helped me keep on track and kept me involved in the game. Because of the injury, I didn’t see myself as an athlete because I couldn’t do my job. It’s a tough place to be mentally.
When I’d do player appearances with young kids, they don’t see that. They see you as a star and someone that they idolise. It was so refreshing and that helped motivate me the same way I was motivating them by just being present.
It’s something that I am genuinely passionate about. It’s easy to get tunnel vision and just think about football but what else is there outside of it? For me, it’s studying and education and being part of a wider community than just your own journey.”
Her experiences of both playing in the UK and Australia have given her an in-depth understanding of the fan cultures and how they differ from each other:
“There are certain fixtures here that have a lot more energy in the stadiums and fans. I’ve noticed that Aussie Rules is the biggest sport here which barely even exist back home.
Football (soccer) here doesn’t get the same sort of attendance as the UK, and that’s the same across both the A-League men’s and women’s games and that’s a challenge for the people at the top to address.
That is the biggest thing I miss from playing back home is that do or die passion. When I was playing for Sheffield United and for Wolves, they are big clubs with big followings. If you don’t win or the men’s side don’t win, you feel it in the city. That support is ingrained from birth and that’s something which is less so in Australia.”
The support she has received from Melbourne City has been second to none but issues surrounding wages and contract lengths for players in Australia still loom large for players like Wilson:
“I’ve been at two top clubs. I feel very respected, very equal and very part of the club. There is no discrepancy between the women’s and the men’s team which is really nice.
But in terms of wages it is a huge issue. We’re given the same level of resources as the men but not in regard to being paid appropriately. It’s well documented that A-League women’s players are typically on 8 month, 35 week contract which don’t support us during the off season.
There are massive concerns for players. Am I going to have to work? Where am I going to live? Can I maintain the attitude of a professional player while worrying about affording bills?
I understand why top players leave because it’s just not financially viable.”
Despite her qualifications, Wilson is aiming for a different career path following the conclusion of her playing career:
“I really want to get into the media space and present and do punditory. I did a bit when I was at Sheffield United and for the men’s team when they were promoted to the Premier League. I really enjoyed it and would love to do more.”
