Wagga soccer icon Sally Shipard, a former Matilda, has been chosen for the renaming of the former and controversial Michael Slater Oval. Photo: Canberra United Facebook.
Michael Slater Oval has now officially been renamed in honour of Sally Shipard, the former Matilda who represented Australia in soccer at two World Cups.
Since May 2024, the former Michael Slater Oval has been nameless after Wagga Wagga City Council elected to remove the original title due to the former Test cricketer’s ongoing legal battles and history of domestic violence-related offences.
Now, more than 18 months later, the popular junior cricket and soccer ground will officially be titled Sally Shipard Oval.
Born in Tumut before moving to Wagga Wagga, Shipard played 59 games for the Matildas from 2004 to 2011, as a central midfielder. She scored four goals in her career, and was a pivotal player in the Matildas’ championship-winning team at the 2010 Women’s Asia Cup.
Shipard was also captain of the Australian Under-20s team from 2004 to 2006, and represented Canberra United in the W-League, where she played from 2009 to 2014.
The oval-naming decision was made at Wagga City Council’s 15 December meeting. Councillor Amelia Parkins explained why it took so long to rename the oval, but assured the council had made the right call.
“I was so pleased that council was unanimous in deciding that Sally was the person we should honour,” she said.
“We were all of the same opinion, which was that we wanted to go out into the community and get feedback on what the name should be.
“Sally Shipard Oval was quite comprehensively the most popular of all of the names that were suggested.”
Michael Slater Oval remained nameless for more than 18 months following graffiti that removed the troubled former cricket prodigy from signage. Photo: Supplied.
Cr Parkins acknowledged it was contrary to policy to name the oval after someone who was still alive, but said it was important to recognise female athletes.
“While it is contrary to the policy, which tries not to name things after people who are still alive, the reason we were all happy with Sally Shipard was that we really don’t have anything sporting-wise named after women,” she said.
“If we were going to stick with naming it after people who were dead, then there wouldn’t be any female sportspeople getting recognition.
“The fact that that oval is used very heavily by junior soccer, I think it’s really appropriate that a soccer player and a female take over.”
Cr Parkins said she was excited to turn the page on the oval and now celebrate a true sporting role model.
“The Matildas have made such an impact on grassroots football, and the fact that Sally Shipard was instrumental in that, and we have an opportunity to celebrate her, is amazing,” she said. ”I’m really proud that we’ve come to that decision.
“I am pleased that we’ve landed where we have, and we can just move on and celebrate Sally for the wonderful things she’s done.
“She’s such a role model not just in sport, but she’s a great advocate for mental health, and I think she’s going to be a really great ambassador for the sport and for Wagga.”
