McMillan to join academy staff in 2025
Ella McMillan will juggle her fledgling football career with a new role at the Wellington Phoenix academy next year.
The first year professional has been appointed the academy’s youth female sport scientist.
“It’s going to be hectic but I’m really looking forward to it,” McMillan said.
“It’ll be good to be able to focus entirely on these two key aspects of my life and help the next generation step into the space that I’m in at the moment.
“I know the ins and outs of the club from a player perspective and I’m hoping to be able to use that knowledge to be able to help them become the best players possible.”
McMillan, who signed a two-year scholarship deal with the Nix in August, recently completed her Bachelor of Sport, Exercise and Health degree at Auckland University of Technology, majoring in sport and exercise science.
As part of her studies this year she completed a 350 hour placement at the Phoenix academy, working alongside head of female sport science Issy Coombes.
“Issy’s amazing and so good at her job. To be able to work alongside her and learn off her is really exciting.
“I’ve had her as my sport scientist for so many years now. We go back to when I was living in Hamilton before I even moved down to join the academy.
“A female sport scientist is not something you come across every day so super grateful for Issy and all of the help she’s given me through my Phoenix journey, but also the New Zealand Football side of things as well.
“She’s helped me grow so much as an individual and I want to be able to do that with other players as well. To be able to learn off her will be really beneficial for me.”
Ben Maunsell has been appointed the head of male academy sport science.
Maunsell is joining the Phoenix from Auckland United, where he’s been their head of strength and conditioning. He has also interned at Auckland FC.
Raff Moro and Rob King will work alongside Maunsell on the male side of the academy’s sport science team.
Meanwhile, familiar faces have been appointed to head the academy physiotherapy and performance analysis departments.
Grayson Harwood is returning to the Head of Academy Physiotherapy role in 2025 after four years away.
Harwood was the head physio for the academy and men’s reserves from 2016 to 2020 before most recently working with Cricket Wellington.
He will be assisted by Sam Wilkins and Kasey Leary.
Alex Richardson has been appointed the academy’s head of performance analysis.
He has been an analyst at the academy since early 2022 and will also coach the under-15 boys team in 2025.
Joining Richardson in the academy’s analysis team will be Johnny Thompson and Sam Casey-Popovich. Thompson is the performance analyst and data lead and Casey-Popovich is the assistant performance analyst.
Their appointments come after the club announced earlier this month that Emma Humphries was taking over as academy director in 2025.
2025 Wellington Phoenix academy staff Academy director – Emma HumphriesHead of pro development – Chris GreenacreHead of female academy – Callum HolmesHead of coaching – Josh NeffHead of player pathways – Brad BicknellHead of male junior youth development – Luke TongueHead of female youth development – Jess FullerHead of goalkeeping – Ed HardingHead of performance analysis – Alex RichardsonPerformance analyst & data lead – Johnny ThompsonAssistant performance analyst – Sam Casey-PopovichHead of female sport science – Issy CoombesHead of male sport science – Ben MaunsellSenior youth male sport scientist – Raff MoroJunior youth male sport scientist – Rob KingYouth female sport scientist – Ella McMillanHead of physiotherapy – Grayson HarwoodAssistant physiotherapist – Sam WilkinsAssistant physiotherapist – Kasey LearyOperations manager – Eilish Graves
Main image: Ella McMillan celebrates scoring a goal for the Wellington Phoenix women’s reserves in the 2024 National League. Photo: Ryan Imray/Imray’s Snaps.
