As we look ahead to the start of the new Women's Super League campaign, we continue our tradition of promoting from our youth set-up.
We spoke to Gracie Bradshaw & Lydia Humphries about moving up to the first team, their excitement, and their expectations for the years ahead.
Gracie is a winger/centre who has been playing for the 19s for a while now, but is looking forward to taking a step up this year with the first team. With so many England internationals in the squad, it is her ambition to take that step with the likes of Jodie Cunningham and Leah Burke taking it before her.
Hear from Gracie below:
We also spoke to Lydia Humphries, a loose forward who has been playing with our under 19s for a while, and will join Gracie in making the step up in 2023
On moving up to the first team Lydia Said: It feels like people have noticed that I have the potential to go further in the sport and do well at the club. I feel like I’ve still got some development to go through, but I also feel like I’ve made some big steps recently.
There are a lot of people I’ve been looking up to in my time at the club, none more than Jodie Cunningham. She’s been at the club so long and captained the side, as well as playing for England, she’s something of an inspiration to me. She also plays in the same position as me so having someone so accomplished to learn from is good for my development.
Looking forward my end goal has to be playing for England as that would say to me that I’ve accomplished all I can, and to represent my country, following in the footsteps of Jodie Cunningham, is something that I’ve always dreamt of.
Our women will be playing a preseason friendly against the Bradford Bulls at Crusader Park on Sunday the 2nd of April. Read more below.
