Never meet your heroes, or so the saying goes. But as with any rule, there are exceptions.

And as Ford Football Fern #185 Grace Jale walked across the stage at Eden Park last week to receive her World Cup shirt and brooch, two of hers were waiting for her: Mum Mary Jane, and Aotearoa New Zealand’s record goalscorer, Ford Football Fern #117 Amber Hearn.

With the team keen to take the opportunity to recognise their team whakapapa through the shirt presentations for the historic home FIFA Women’s World Cup, for Grace there was only one former player that she wanted: Hearn.

“When I first made the team, she was this big scary character who's a bloody superstar and untouchable; one of the bigger names and I would just admire her from afar,” she remembers.

Grace was first called up to the national team back in 2015, aged just 16, to the Ferns’ two-game series in Brazil. Hearn was in her prime, netting the deciding goal in an historic 1-0 win for the Ferns in Sao Paulo and sealing a first Kiwi win against Brazil.  

“She’s definitely an inspiration of mine.”

Hearn, who scored 54 goals for New Zealand, remained a mentor for the young forward even after her retirement from the Ferns in 2019. She guided Grace through some of the tougher parts of the journey to becoming an international footballer, such as her ankle injuries that led to reconstructive surgery.

“When I had time off coming back from surgeries, I did some coaching gigs with her with Youth Town, and got to know her on a more personal level as well.”

“She helped me believe in myself too, because having her say that she thinks I'm a good player or thinks I can be a good player, that's what I need. Coming from a legend like her it’s really reassuring.”

Being backed by one of your heroes really lifts you up

That time off coincided with the awarding of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 hosting rights to New Zealand and Australia, and “was the kick in the butt that I needed,” says Grace.

“It was like, okay: do or die now. If you're gonna really chase these dreams, you're gonna have to believe in yourself and push yourself and reach the potential that everyone said I had when I was younger.

“The more I thought about it, the more I talked to people that saw the potential in me, I opened my eyes to it finally and decided to really give it a go.”

She returned to football in the Kate Sheppard Cup for Eastern Suburbs and sealed it like all good forwards do, with a goal. Scooped up by Wellington Phoenix in their inaugural A-League Women’s season shortly after, she then established herself as one of the league’s top forwards, and secured a recall to the national team with a flurry of end of season goals. She’s been a mainstay in the squad ever since.

Fast forward 14 months, and there’s only one squad selection that matters. Grace opted to learn whether she was chosen via email – and spent most of the day trying not to check them.

“I was super anxious about it. Nothing is certain. So I chose email and had my fingers crossed.

“I actually went home, which was really cool after being in camp. And Dad was there, my siblings were there, my best friend Sam was there: I received the email with all my loved ones around me.”

Grace has come a long way from that first tour in South America

“When I had first made the team, I was 16 years old. I was just a kid, and it was okay to make more mistakes, be a bit more behind the scenes, be that small person who was just learning.

“But coming back in and having to show what I’ve got and actually compete for a position where I thought it was possible this time, having that belief in myself and the coach’s belief in me too was important.

“Since my first tour back, this World Cup is the dream that I’ve been chasing. And now it’s finally here!”

Article added: Tuesday 04 July 2023