The untold story of NZ Football's great double act

In 1987, Aucklanders Barbara and Michele Cox became the first mother and daughter in the world to play together in a football international.

That year they teamed up in defence for New Zealand's only victory over the USA – a result that is so rarely celebrated that members of the current Football Ferns team weren't aware of it.

Michele was a teenager at the time and remains - almost certainly - the finest female player New Zealand has produced despite the professional advances in the game.

Barbara's late husband Roy, is regarded as the father of women's football in this country. While Michele's sister Tara also played for the national team.

The Cox family are a unique Kiwi sports family – the first family of New Zealand football. Here is their story, or as much as we can fit in.