The Football Fern grew up in Arrowtown, representing Central Otago age-group sides, until her family moved to Auckland when she was 10.
It makes for a homecoming of sorts when the goalkeeper returns south for the Football Ferns’ Fifa Women’s World Cup clash against Switzerland on July 30.
"I’ve never actually been in that stadium, let alone played in it, so that will be unreal.
"Just the New Zealand history that’s there in all sports will be something really cool to be a part of [and] bringing women’s football into the stadium."
Leat (21), who returned to New Zealand last Sunday after playing for English club Aston Villa, debuted for the Football Ferns at 15 — and scored the winning penalty in the quarterfinal against Japan at the under-17 World Cup.
She is excited about lining up for her first senior World Cup.
Playing in front of home crowds would add to the atmosphere, she said.
"It’ll be a special one.
"It just really connects you to who you are, I guess.
"It’s really grounding. You’ve got that pride to play for your national team, but then like there’s that next layer as well that you’re actually doing it . . . representing your nation in your nation.
"It’s kind of like that double hit of, like, being proud to be a Kiwi."
The Football Ferns’ camp had been running for about eight weeks, as players filtered back home from their various international club duties.
Leat grew up playing alongside many of her team-mates for age-group teams and youth World Cup, but it was exciting to be stepping up together, she said.
"I think the coolest part is you’ve got the girls around you now who have come up through the age groups with you.
"You’ve been and had those experiences with these girls that are like your closest mates and then now it’s like the next level with the same people so it’s really cool to share that."
She knew a little bit of what was coming in the cup but it was still going to be something new, she said.
That Otago connection still rings true. She hopes to visit Queenstown and Arrowtown next month.
