It was a big task for the head coach, who ended up leading them to fourth in the national women’s league, and followed through to take them to the final the following year.
Ridley has certainly left his mark; but he announced yesterday he was stepping down from his role with Southern United after three years.
He will take over as the Dunedin City Royals women’s team head coach, replacing long serving coach Graeme Smaill.
Ridley said it had been an honour to lead Southern United, but stepping aside to avoid the "politics" or any conflicts that might arise in his new role was the right decision.
He was "extremely proud" of his tenure with Southern United.
"Coming in the situation I did with ... sort of a week to go before the season starts and getting fourth," Ridley said.
"Then a second, a trip to the grand final, and then rolled the dice last year, and it didn’t really work with trying to score goals, but still very very proud of what we did."
When Ridley joined first Southern United he also took over from Smaill, after having spent 16 years in Australia, notably with Broadbeach United Soccer Club.
Southern United finished fourth in 2022 and had a golden run in 2023, winning seven games to make the national league final.
They eventually lost to Auckland United 2-0 in the final — the only game Southern United dropped that season — but the final was a great reward for the tenacity they showed.
Southern United finished eighth last season and Shontelle Smith was named national league player of the year.
Ridley’s focus will now shift to the Royals, who play in the Women’s South Island League.
They were runners-up in the league last season and made it through to the Kate Sheppard Cup semifinals.
Ridley said he was looking forward to the season ahead with the Royals.
"They’ve got a very good pathway there at the Royals from a young age right through to the first team, so I’m excited to work in every space that leads up to the first team which is pretty cool.
"It’s what I did in Australia and I’ll look forward to doing it here too."
Smaill forged a wonderful record with the Royals during his term, and Ridley acknowledged that came with a little bit of pressure.
"But if you’re coaching football at the level I am, you love pressure and you try and do the best you can and prove people wrong that don’t think you can do things, and prove people right that back you," Ridley said.
"That’s what I’m going to try and do."
