My football journey started as a five-year-old, playing with the boys every Saturday morning in my favourite Rovers kit and flowery trainers. However, I turned 7 and suddenly there was no girls provision in my local area, so football stopped for me. Looking back now, I’m glad I can say I’m trying to make positive changes so young girls don’t have to stop playing. 

I returned to football at high school and really found my people, with sport providing the first proper leadership opportunities I had. The Girls Leadership and Marketing Squad (GLAMS) gave me opportunity to share my feelings on sport in school and create action plans to improve this. We provided new sporting clubs and activities for younger year groups and had the chance to plan and deliver sessions. 

When I started university in 2021, I had the opportunity to start coaching at a local football club in their women’s+ set up (Big up Leeds Hyde Park), the development team we started grew and now provides football to lots of people who had never previously had access. This had its challenges though, coaching a big group of people and wanting to deliver high quality and fun sessions every week did push me out of my comfort zone. Working alongside coaches in other parts of the club and asking for development support were definitely really useful ways for me to learn – plus it meant I was supported through my FA Introduction to Coaching Football. 

This enabled me to start to work with Leeds United Foundation and since then I have coached young people all around Leeds. This has included young girls, filling that gap where I had needed it back in 2009! I now work in Primary Stars alongside my MSc, so I get to engage with a lot of young people and provide physical activity to them. 

Alongside this I have also been fortunate to have been a part of the FA Regional Youth Network which has opened so many doors for me! From FA Your Game events, to supporting the Rising Leaders in the 23/24 season, I have met so many other great leaders. Learning from all of them, asking for advice and stepping out of my comfort zone has challenged me. It has also led me to reflect on my own journey, strengths, and areas for improvement, and look for opportunities to support my own development. 

Some of these development opportunities have included Women in Football’s ‘Be Inspired’ Conference and the BUCS Activator Events which have helped me to build a bigger support network in football. Learning from and getting to know other leaders within football has really shaped my development, and seeing the different ways in which people lead is always beneficial. Without the support of these kinds of people, I would never have taken the opportunities that have come my way either. 

I am also excited to be leading on the pitch this season, as I am vice-captain of my team, Harrogate Town. Being recognised as a leader is great, but really provides a new opportunity to learn and develop myself. Working with more experienced players in a leadership group means I have great role models, but also a chance to positively influence the football environment for my team. 

I am definitely still learning what it means to be a leader, and always looking for support and guidance to continue to improve. But I really enjoy having the opportunity to have a positive influence on people around me!