Surrounded by his immediate family, Roy Cox passed away peacefully on January 17 after a lengthy battle with cancer, six weeks shy of his 77th birthday.
OFC general secretary Tai Nicolas extended his condolences to Roy’s family and acknowledged his contribution to the game.
“Roy Cox played an integral part in developing and promoting women’s football in New Zealand and their status in world football today is a direct result of his contribution,” Nicolas says.
“The football family of Oceania is indebted to his tireless work in grassroots football in New Zealand which has had an impact across the Oceania region.”
Born on February 29 in London, Roy played for Brentford juniors then spent three years at Queens Park Rangers before knee cartilage problems put paid to his professional footballing aspirations.
In 1970 Roy, along with his wife Barbara and daughters Michele and Tara, established themselves in New Zealand and would go on to become one of the most influential families in women’s football in this country.
Roy was instrumental in the establishment of the New Zealand Women’s Football Association and served as the association’s first president.
During Roy’s tenure, New Zealand achieved arguably its greatest ever result, a 1-0 win over a USA side that featured Mia Hamm, Michelle Akers and Kristine Lilly, at the Women’s World Invitational Tournament in 1987, the predecessor to today’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Throughout his life, Roy was very well-known for his high degree of professionalism and charisma. He was also instrumental in the development of some of New Zealand’s top female footballers, including Donna Baker, Debbie Pullen, Wendy Sharpe, Leslie King, Maureen Jacobson, Monique Van de Elzen, Debbie Leonidas and Alison Grant, who scored the winner versus the USA.
He established the Northern Women’s Football Association, later to become the Auckland Women’s Football Association.
Among Roy’s many achievements in women’s football was the implementation of a national tournament which ran from 1976-2001, the forerunner to the Women’s National League.
Roy’s greatest satisfaction in the game derived from wife Barbara and daughters Michele and Tara, all of whom played for New Zealand at international level.
He also played a significant role in fund-raising for the All Whites’ “Road to Spain” 1982 FIFA World Cup campaign.
A celebration of Roy’s life will take place at the University-Mt. Wellington clubrooms at Bill McKinlay Park on Ireland Road, Panmure from 2pm on Tuesday January 22.

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