Player of the Year Portia bags Golden Boot
Portia Berios capped a stunning season with Hills United FC, by winning the Under 20 Golden Boot Award and being named Player of the Year. The lethal striker also made her debut for the first grade this season, making it the best year so far in her blossoming football career.
Portia, born into a football mad family, has been playing since she was four years old. Her talent and genius at scoring goals is evident. She scored a remarkable 32 goals as the Hills United Under20s stormed to the 2024 minor premiership.
Portia said the coveted Golden Boot – awarded for the best striker in the competition – was thanks to her team-mates. Unnerving for the defence is her ability to score with her right and left feet.
“I was very proud of myself and was so excited to share the award with my teammates. I couldn’t have done it without them,” Portia said. “Our coach Paul Tasses gave me a lot of confidence and this year I took the pressure off myself and able to grow in confidence.”
“I was most shocked when I won the FNSW Under20s Best Player of the Year Award as that was a complete surprise that I only found out on the awards night. It is voted by all of the coaches across the league so I was very surprised and honoured to be recognised with the award.”
Like her grandparents, parents, relations and elder sister Ellen, Portia also started her football career at Parramatta City FC. She moved to Nepean FC before joining Hills United. Ellen is a regular for the Hills first grade women’s side and both sisters could be playing together next season.
“Individually I had a great season but I could not have scored the goals with the help of my team mates,” Portia said. “The team had a very good season, as our goal was to finish first in the competition.
“But unfortunately we lost in the semifinals after a penalty shootout to South Coast Flame. It was very disappointing as we would have loved to win the grand final but finishing as the best team in the season meant that we were the team to beat. Well, you win some and you lose some.”
Portia, who attended Cherrybrook Technology High School, is studying Occupational Therapy at the University of Sydney while coaching the 5-13 year teams at Hills Football. Add her training, another job and studies, and you wonder where she has the time to relax.
“There is a lot more focus on women’s football after Australia hosted the World Cup last year, and the quality of football and footballers have really gone up,” Portia said.
Asked about her chances of playing professional football, she said: “What will happen, will happen. A lot of women are able to study and play football and I also like my studies and football.”
Women’s football game is thriving in the Hills with the women’s first grade and Under 20 sides challenging for top honours throughout the recent 2024 season.