While Polkinghorne joins the Matildas 100 club alongside Lisa De Vanna, Cheryl Salisbury, Joey Peters, Heather Garriock and Anissa Tann, she also becomes the first player to reach 100 games for both her club and country.

To celebrate this milestone The Women’s Game with the help of Clare’s family have put together the small story of her football career.

There is no doubt Clare loves the game as much as she did back when she began playing with her older brother, Liam, in the under 6 football team at Wynnum Wolves.

As a five-year-old, she was too young to register for the team so her dad, who was the team manager, would always put her on for the last five minutes of the game and from that moment Clare fell in love with sport.

She was the only girl playing when she was five and was still the only girl until she was an 11-year-old.

From the first training session, Clare hated to be late; in fact, she is late if she isn’t at training 15 minutes prior to it starting.

For Clare being on time showed respect and commitment to her coaches and teammates.

While growing up Clare had never really heard of the Matildas and it wasn’t until she was a teenager she realised she could represent Australia.

Unfortunately, there was no clear path for Clare to a professional Australian women’s league.

The Women’s National Soccer League folded in 2004, which left players playing in their local leagues or academy squads but her dedication to the sport and to be the best she could be despite all the barriers, showed how truly passionate Clare was about football.

Her family would say one of her best qualities is that Clare has always known her strengths and weaknesses and has never tried to be something she isn’t. 

Clare was a member of the 2006 Under-20 World Cup squad in Russia alongside current Matildas teammates Lydia Williams and Caitlin Cooper.

They were the last junior Australian women’s squad to qualify for a World Cup.

At the age of 17, Clare was selected to play for Australia against China in a friendly match in the lead up to the 2006 Women’s Asian Cup.

Clare became the 140th player to pull on the green and gold for the Matildas.

After her debut, she played a friendly against the United States in October 2006.

Tom Sermanni, who was head coach of the Matildas at the time, gave Clare the task of marking renowned forward Abby Wambach.

Sermanni’s instructions… stick to her like glue.

Where Wambach went, Clare went too.

At one point in the game Wambach went to the sideline for a drink and to get instructions from the USA coaching staff and Clare was standing right beside her.

A year later, Sermanni announced the Matildas team for 2007 World Cup in China and Clare was shocked when she was selected.

Clare started at right back for the first game against Ghana, which was to be the first time the Matildas would win a match at the World Cup.

Australia would go on to have their most successful World Cup, reaching the quarter finals losing 3-2 to Brazil.

It is an experience she will never forget.

While Clare has spent the majority of her Matildas games in the number 4 jersey, in her early years as a Matilda she spent her time wearing number 19.

Dianne Alagich, who at the time was considered one of the best in the game, took Clare under her wing.

Alagich was a prolific defender who played a pivotal role in the Matildas inaugural World Cup win, facing some of the world’s most challenging and talented forwards.

Not only that, but she started in every single World Cup and Olympic Games match from 1999 to 2007.

Clare greatly admired and respected Alagich both on and off the field.

After a career spanning 13 years she retired in 2008 and asked Clare to take over the Matildas number 4 jersey.

As a gift, she also gave Clare her 2004 Athens Olympic match jersey.

Clare has been honoured to wear the jersey ever since and even has the same jersey number at Brisbane Roar.

Since her first game for the Matildas, Clare has gone on to be part of two more World Cups (2011, 2015), two Asian Cups (2010, 2014), an Olympics (2016) and an AFF Women’s Championship.

She has shared some magical moments with her family but none more special than the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

It was a childhood dream come true for Clare when she stepped out on the pitch against Canada.

The family would always gather around the TV when Clare was younger, and to be able to not only play but also captain Australia alongside Lisa De Vanna, saw her dream become a reality.

And while Australia, unfortunately, bowed out of against host nation Brazil, it is a memory Clare will never forget.   

Clare loves the team environment when playing for the Matildas and is always happy to let others have the limelight.

Amongst her family and friends, Clare is known for her humility, hard work, determination and quiet nature.

While, as a family, the Polkinghorne’s are immensely proud of Clare’s team and personal achievements in football, they are most proud of the way Clare carries herself, the way she copes with the pressure of being a female athlete, the personal sacrifices she has made along the way, not to mention her composure and the respect she has earned from teammates, coaches and the football community.