Goalkeeper Toni-Anne Wayne quits West Ham Ladies for Women’s Super League hopefuls Brighton and Hove Albion

West Ham Ladies shot stopper Toni-Anne Wayne has quit the club to join Women’s Super League hopefuls Brighton and Hove Albion.

The 30-year-old had been in fine form for the Hammers this season, bagging two player of the match awards in 13 games. But she admitted the move to the south coast side – currently on standby to join the Women’s Super League - was one she couldn’t turn down.

“I had a few approaches come in for me this season including one from Millwall but I know there are quite a few players going there so I turned them down,” the goalkeeper told Blowing Bubbles. “Then Brighton came along and my initial reaction was that I would say no because it was too far for me to travel but their manager wanted to meet me and speak to me so I went down there to look around their set up.

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“During my journey down there, I was thinking there was no way I would join Brighton but I was really impressed with their set up and the support from the men’s team which is second to none.

“I’m at an age now where I’m starting to get a few injuries and as great as the physios are at West Ham, I think at Brighton I’ll be able to sort them out rather than maintain them. That was my thinking behind the move but the chance to play in the Women’s Super League, which Brighton are on standby for, was another big reason for moving to them.”

The former Charlton Athletic and Gillingham ‘keeper said she thought the current season would be her last but admitted if Brighton get into the Women’s Super League, she doesn’t know what she will do.

“I spoke to the manager [Mark Saunderson] and told him about Brighton and them saying they wanted me to go down there and he was great,” Toni-Anne continued. “He told me he didn’t want me to go and would be sad to lose me but that I deserve to be playing at a higher level.

“I also spoke in depth to Julia Setford [Director of Football] and she was great too because she looked at it from a West Ham point of view but also as my friend.

“I was told I had to make the decision the Tuesday after the Cardiff game [December 1] but by the time we were travelling to the game, I still hadn’t made up my mind because even though I knew deep down what the right decision was, I love this club.

“I was so upset after the game, which we lost 4-1, because I knew it was likely to be my last. On the Monday night, I sent a group e-mail to everyone explaining my decision to leave and I was asked if I could play one last game, which turned out to be the following week at home to Chesham United, and if I could be captain for it.

“They are a great bunch of girls and it was an honour to be captain. They really didn’t have to do that especially given the fact I’m going to be in the same league and playing against them in April.”
Toni-Anne, who has played on and off for West Ham for the past five years, still has high hopes for the Hammers in the future.

“They are building and working hard to get a better infrastructure in place with things like the Centre of Excellence to help bid for Women’s Super League in 2015,” she added.

“I think you can see from the likes of Liverpool, Brighton and Chelsea that the only way women’s football can progress is with the support from the men’s teams and for me West Ham doesn’t have that at the moment. But they do deserve to be in the Women’s Super League and I don’t think people on the outside appreciate the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.

“Everything is done for the players so that all they have to do is turn up and play their game and don’t have to do anything else. I’m really going to miss everyone at the club and I wish them all the luck for the rest of the season.”

The West Ham Ladies play their home games at Thurrock FC, Ship Lane, Aveley, Essex, EM19 1YN. They play Charlton on January 5 at home with kick off at 2pm.

Cup run could ignite season for West Ham Ladies

A good run in every cup competition will help fire the West Ham Ladies up the FA Women’s Premier League South.
That is the view of centre back Sophie Reed who has impressed so far this season after breaking into the first team.
The 20-year-old has been with the club since she was 11 and has flourished since she was given her league debut against Lewes in September.

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Speaking exclusively to Blowing Bubbles, the London Metropolitan University student said: “We’ve got KIKK United in the cup this weekend which is our last game this year so we are hoping to get a good win before our Christmas break.
“We are taking all our cup competitions very seriously this season because cup games are great to play in. It’s just something about them that gets me and the others excited.
“In many cup games we go into them without knowing the opposition very well which I always like and I think some players are more relaxed and play more freely in cup games.
“I honestly believe if we can have a good run in all cup competitions then these performances will rub off on our league form and hopefully we can start climbing the league.”
Reed spoke to Blowing Bubbles after the Ladies comfortably beat Cheshum United 3-1 last weekend with the goals coming from Cherrelle Albert and captain Bex Merritt.

The victory ended a nine game winless which stretched back to the last time the Hammers played Cheshum back in September. They currently sit ninth in the league - five points above Keynsham Town at the bottom.
Sophie, who has made 11 appearances so far this season, continued: “I didn’t expect to have played so many games for the first team this season but the manager has come in and given me the chance to play in a lot of games.
“I think I’ve been doing all right. At first I was really nervous but with every game I’ve played, I’ve felt my confidence grow.
“Everyone in the squad has also been brilliant at making me feel welcome. They are all so friendly and that has helped to make the step up easier for me.
“The senior players in the team are really approachable and have been great at helping me out and giving advice.”
She added: “We have been getting results that on paper don’t look too good but we have been playing well. But we are working hard as a team and we’ve just been unlucky not to get the results we deserve.
“We are trying to put things right and everyone has been training hard even though it hasn’t really been happening for us this season so far.
“Everyone also makes the effort of picking each other up and we all try to go again as a team. We need to keep going because there are a lot more games to play this season.”
The Ladies were also boosted by the return of Danica Revell and Stacey Little from injury and both impressed last weekend. It was, however, the last game for influential goalkeeper Toni Anne-Wayne who has joined Brighton & Hove Albion Ladies.
Sophie continued: “Danica is such a brilliant defender. We are a similar age but she has a lot more experience than me and I know I will learn so much from her.
“But while she has been out Hayley [West] and I have been playing together and I think we have started to get a really good understanding of how we both play and I’m looking forward to building on this relationship.
“As for TAW [Toni Anne Wayne], I’m gutted she is leaving because she is such a fantastic ‘keeper. She has been brilliant at helping me week in, week out and she was always there for me.”
She added: “I joined West Ham when I was 11 and I’ve gone all the way through the ranks. This is the club I’ve always wanted to play for because I’m a West Ham fan.
“I can still remember now how massive it was for me when I had a trial and then got asked to play for the club.
“My goals for the rest of the season now are to just keep learning and improving and hopefully keep my place in the team.”
The West Ham Ladies play their home games at Thurrock FC, Ship Lane, Aveley, Essex, EM19 1YN. They play Charlton on January 5 at home with kick off at 2pm.

Campaign launched to stop FA cutting Women's Premier League and West Ham Ladies funding

West Ham Ladies are fearing for their future after FA plans to withdraw funding from the Women’s Premier League were revealed.

Blowing Bubbles understands that under the new proposals, dubbed the ‘Game Changer’ strategy, the FA’s focus will be primarily on the top flight of women’s football, the recently-created Women’s Super League.

This strategy will be at the expense of the Women’s Premier League, which will be merged with the South West, South East, Midland and Northern Combination league and would mean likely financial and footballing disaster for West Ham Ladies.

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But last week a campaign was launched to try and stop this from happening. A spokesman for the Save Our WPL campaign said: “In December 2012, the FA invited all the Premier League clubs to a meeting to discuss the new League structure where [FA Director of the National Game and Women’s Football] Kelly Simmons delivered the FA’s devastating fait accompli.

"Either the current WPL clubs (29 in all made up of National, Northern and Southern divisions) would have to agree to become amalgamated with the Combination clubs from the leagues below and formed into a new, less supported Championship League, or the WPL would simply cease to exist altogether.

"The meeting was labelled ‘consultation’ but this was the first time all clubs had the chance to look at the new structure and therefore were denied any opportunity to fully consider all its implications.

"A vote was then undertaken in part by at least half the clubs who now belong to the WSL and also one or two now relegated clubs.

"But what was not fully understood at the time was how the clubs, and indeed the entire women’s game, would be affected when the new Championship league lost its Premier League stature and the level of funding substantially decreased.

"This means that 36 clubs per league will get a share of just £45k instead of 22 clubs accessing £140k, therefore less funds to help towards the cost of running teams at this level.

 "The league will be downgraded from Premier to Championship level so clubs will find it hard to attract players and there will be less players coming into the game in the lower leagues because the FA isn’t strongly supporting them.

"When funding is cut, Men’s clubs that have Women’s team may not continue to support them either; therefore there is a real risk to their future survival.

"The FA are building a top down strategy rather than a bottom up one which will create an elitist sport rather than a sport for all."

Save Our WPL are demanding a Special General Meeting with the FA to debate ‘Game Changer’ against their alternative strategy for women’s football, ‘Every Player Counts’.

 The spokesman added: “It’s clear from Women’s Premier League (WPL) players’ reactions so far, the absence of promotion from WPL to Women’s Super League (WSL) in the Game Changer strategy is a huge demotivating factor in their development and may even cause some to leave the game.

"Rather than throwing the Women’s Premier League under the bus, the FA should, in fact, be looking to retain the WPL and invest more in its growth both in finance and management, as they have learned already how necessary it is to support the lower leagues in the men’s game.

"Ours is an approach that will be a more effective and cost-efficient way to achieve a more widespread player development route and create pathways for new players.

"In short, it will respect and deliver on the women’s game as a national, grassroots movement and not an elite sport for the wealthy few. And it will ultimately better serve the England national team by helping to develop many more English players. The FA have also moved to distance themselves from the FAWPL by claiming their previous collaboration was a “mistake”.

The news was announced on the influential independent FAWPL News Twitter account which has done much to promote the women’s game in England. The FA were unavailable for comment.

Injured midfielder hoping to give West Ham Ladies a New Year boost

Midfielder Stacey Little has set herself a target of returning to action by January in a bid to give the West Ham Ladies a huge New Year boost.

The 26-year-old has been highly praised by her teammates this year for her performances which has also seen her receive two player of the match awards in seven league and cup games.

But Stacey is currently enduring a frustrating period on the sidelines after chipping a bone in her ankle and sustaining ligament damage during the Ladies draw with Tottenham Hotspur last month.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

“I don’t know exactly when I’ll be returning yet and I don’t have a timescale in place but I’d love to be back by the New Year,” the midfielder told Blowing Bubbles. “I had a cast on my ankle for a week after the Spurs game to give me some pain relief and to stop me putting any weight on my ankle but now I have an air cast which allows me to walk on it.

“It has been really frustrating not being able to play because I’m injured but what’s worse is not having a realistic return date to work towards. I have been going to training and do keep asking when I can come back but at the moment I’m just working on upper body stuff.

“I thought I had been playing well this season too. I really feel I had come on leaps and bounds since the manager [Mark Saunderson] has come in and I’ve had two player of the matches. I’ve even stepped in at centre back because we’ve had injuries and I felt I didn’t do too badly.

“The other motivation for me to get back soon is that I’m not guaranteed my starting place because there is so much competition for places.  For me now it’s a case of starting all over again that’s what I find frustrating. Going through pre-season again really. Someone has got my shirt now and it’s my job to get it back off them.”

She added: “I really didn’t want to come off during the Spurs game but I’ve had ankle injuries before and I knew something bad had happened. It happened after a tackle and I can remember actually screaming in pain which I never do unless I have really hurt myself.

“I think when I get back to playing again, I’ll still be putting in the same tackles. After every injury, it’s all psychological and I’m sure I will be worried about my ankle but going in for tackles is part of my game – I can’t change that about my game.”

Following the draw against Tottenham Hotspur and without Stacey, the Hammers have lost against Keynsham Town, Coventry City and Cardiff City but did get a brilliant draw against a Gillingham side performing well in the FA Women’s Premier League South.

Stacey continued: “I’m extremely disappointed to be missing out but I was really pleased that they got a point against Gillingham. When the girls are at home, I will go to support them but to travel and watch them from the sidelines is pretty hard.

“I think we’ve had a very difficult start to the season. We got through pre-season and a few players left like Rosey Sullivan and then the players who filled in got injured and our back four has been constantly changed. I think it’s really important to have a solid starting XI to gel together at the start of the season especially with the new players coming in. Regardless of all this, the team has got on with it and morale is high.”

The former Charlton Athletic player added: “My personal aims for the season have changed now with the injury. I’m just focused on getting my shirt back and playing in my position and playing my game. I know what the manager expects of me and I’m happy to fill in wherever I’m needed.

“As a team as a whole, there’s no-one in the league that should be beating us – that’s how much confidence I’ve got in our squad. We were unlucky not to get a point against Charlton and we’ve beaten Portsmouth and got a good point against Gillingham bearing in mind their start to the season. As long as the girls can kick on now, there’s no reason why we can’t be pushing into the top half of the table.”

The Ladies host Gillingham on Sunday, November 24. Kick off at 2pm at Thurrock FC, Ship Lane, Aveley, Essex, EM19 1YN.

West Ham Ladies defender Hayley West hoping for charge up FA Women’s Premier League South

West Ham Ladies defender Hayley West has called on her teammates to have more self-belief and confidence to help drive a push up the table. 

The centre half was the standout performer for the Hammers during a 1-1 draw with league leaders Gillingham last month - a game the centre back believes could prove to be the catalyst for an unbeaten
run in the FA Women’s Premier League South.

Reflecting on the result, she said: “We didn’t know if the Gillingham game was going to be on or not when we travelled there because of the weather but once we got the all clear after the pitch inspection, we were just all up for it.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

“They are at the top of the league and we wanted to give them a good game. We hadn’t really hit our best
form and it hadn’t really happened for us this season even though we had been playing well so it was great
to get the result we did.

“They had put a lot of pressure on us in the first half and Toni [Anne Wayne] had to make some really good saves to keep us at 0-0 at at half time. Our talk at half time was how well we were doing and how we just needed to keep going and put a bit more pressure on them and we could hear their manager ripping into his players and it gave us a boost.

“And even though we came out in the second half and went a goal down, we didn’t give up and kept pressing and then Cherelle came on and scored pretty quickly. From that moment on we started to win everything, first and second balls, and even though it poured down
in the last 10 minutes, we didn’t give up.

“The morale at the end of the game was amazing. To have come from 1-0 down against the league leaders and not give up was great. We were all buzzing after the game and the manager was really pleased with us – it was such a great feeling.”

She continued: “This season our aim was – and still is – to win the league. With our bid to join the women’s super league rejected, we want to try and promote ourselves and get
more recognised this season. There is no better way of doing this then winning games, leagues and trophies. We all have that goal in mind.

We have got brilliant players who are starting to really combine with each other. We know how we want to play and I think we will kick on from here. If winning the league is not on, then getting as close as we can at the end of the season must be our aim.”

Hayley joined the Hammers in the summer and admits she is enjoying her football again after falling out of love with the game at Colchester United.

“It’s a whole new team this season with Mark bringing in new players like me but the team dynamic is so much better,” she continued. “It’s just the whole set-up and everything that’s going on behind the scenes which has really impressed me. The team has also bonded really well and we have a lot of banter.

“Before this season, I hadn’t played centre back before but I’ve learnt quickly and I’ve learnt a lot.
“What has also helped me is that the back four is more settled now. We lost a few players through injuries and leaving the club altogether but the last few games we’ve had the same back four and we have got a much better understanding. Sophie and I at the back work well together and both Jade and Lindsey are great full backs.”

The centre back also picked out centre forward Natalie Crinean, winger Kelley Blanchflower and ‘keeper Toni-Anne Wayne for their impressive performances recently.

“Natalie has been one of our standout players this season,” the former Colchester United player said.
“I’ve got no idea how she can hold the ball up for so long. The ball gets up to her and she just holds off other players until laying it off. Also if we have to go more direct, she wins nine out of ten headers in the air.”

She added: “Kelley has made quite an impact in recent games and is more attacking and has more confidence. Toni is a quality ‘keeper just from her talking and decisions she makes. It’s great having her behind me especially being new to the centre back role, she has been great at talking me through games.”

The Ladies host Coventry on Sunday, November 3. Kick off at 2pm at Thurrock FC, Ship Lane, Aveley, Essex, EM19 1YN

Why West Ham Ladies forward Natalie Crinean is delighted with her "amazing" return

It has been a difficult time for the West Ham Ladies with only one win in their last six games but the Hammers are determined to keep working hard to get the success they crave.

That’s the view of Natalie Crinean, who joined from Gillingham Ladies during the summer and is likely to be a key part this season.

The striker, who has already bagged two goals this season, added: “I feel like I have settled in really well and I just want a successful injury-free season.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

“I know that’s a very sad ambition but it’s true. I want to be a consistent and a key player for the team. I want to finish the season knowing that, as a squad, we have done everything to ensure that we are playing to our maximum potential.”

And with games against Coventry and Portsmouth fast approaching, the Ladies hope to pick up some valuable points and move up the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division table.

Playing football in the claret and blue shirt is also something that Crinean is familiar with after a stint at the club back in 2007.

She continued: “I signed for West Ham back in 2007 because things at Charlton, my club at the time, were not going well and I wanted to be playing at a better level. I also liked the idea of being part of such a great club. I had played against them so I knew they had a great team and I liked the way they played.”

Crinean played first-team football for West Ham, while continuing to be part of the Charlton academy, but a serious injury meant she had to choose to stick with the Addicks full-time.
But after an injury-plagued season she joined Gillingham.

However this summer, she felt the need for a new challenge and asked Ladies manager Mark Saunderson if she could move back to West Ham.

She concluded: “The club has come on massively since 2008. I was full of praise for the club last time round and this time it is amazing.

“They have built a strong link with the men’s side and the new management and all the staff within the club are great. It’s a nice friendly place to be for sure.”

The Ladies travel to Gillingham and Portsmouth next in the league before playing Coventry at home on November 3. All games kick off at 2pm.

The West Ham Ladies play their home games at Thurrock FC, Ship Lane, Aveley, Essex, EM19 1YN.

Determination of West Ham Ladies rewarded with positive start says manager Mark Saunderson

West Ham Ladies manager Mark Saunderson is in confident mood after his side’s promising start to the season, racking up seven points in their first four games of the league campaign.

Saunderson, having been appointed the Hammers first team manager earlier this summer, has done much to stamp his own mark upon the club.

“I tend not to say too much to the team before the game as I believe that this is the time where the players will go through their own rituals to ensure that are physically & mentally ready for the game ahead,” he said.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

“The majority of the information that the players require for the game will have been communicated in the squad briefing during the last training session and the players will have worked on this aspects during the session.

“I may reinforce some of information points from the briefing prior to the game but I tend to leave the squad to prepare themselves which usually involves some slightly dodgy music choices and ear shattering volume levels!”

Reflecting on preseason and the campaign so far, he continued: “I have been impressed by the way in which the squad has embraced the direction and objectives that the management team have set.
The squad and coaching staff undertook an off-season and pre-season schedule that focused on ensuring that each individual was at their optimum performance level going into the opening fixture.

“The coaching staff also focused on the detail and when combined with the squad’s work ethic and eagerness to learn, has resulted in the progress that we have collectively made. The pre-season friendly schedule was designed to pose different scenarios and questions to the squad whilst providing a platform to progressively improve team performance and the squad have overcome each challenge with confidence.

“The squad have over achieved the pre-season objectives set for them but without losing focus or drive on the task in hand.”

Last season, West Ham Ladies didn’t reach their full potential and failed in their bid to win the league title. Since taking the job, Saunderson is determined to improve the squad, identifying four key areas.

“The squad has focused on the four main areas of performance: technical, tactical, fitness and psychological,” he continued. “I have seen major improvements, both on individual and collective levels, in each of the elements. From a management perspective, we have refocused on the detail and brought in the right people to support the players both on and off the pitch whilst providing the right environment for the players to excel within.

“I also believe that we have captured players during the summer that have enhanced the playing squad in all areas whilst increasing the squad depth. I have also been impressed by the progress of players in the development squad and this is providing a valuable competitive element in training.
“I am expecting several players from the development squad to progress into the first team fold over the course of the season and strongly believe that we have the foundations of an extremely competitive team.”

Over the summer, women’s football has gone through a restructuring stage which has pitted West Ham up against several higher placed teams this season, but Saunderson thinks that their league opposition shouldn’t underestimate his team.

“Because of the league restructuring this season, we will be coming up against teams that believe that they have greater resources at their disposal then us, whether it be players or financial due to their involvement in the national league last year.

“For me, this has the added pressure of increasing expectations of players, managers and supporters alike whilst they will come up against teams who will naturally raise their game for these fixtures. I also believe that the league restructuring has also impacted upon player movement in our league as players are looking to secure moves to teams involved in the Super Leagues.

“I feel that we were sensible to secure the services of the majority of squad from last season from day one whilst conducting the majority of our transfer business early. We have introduced the right support functions for the squad in the background and when combined with the other factors, I am confident that we will be competitive this season.”

Earlier this month, Saunderson announced that Bex Merritt will take over as the club’s new first team captain from defender Rosey Sullivan, believing that Merritt can take his mind-set on onto the pitch.

He added: “Firstly, I have to recognise the performance of Rosey Sullivan whilst in the role of first team captain over the last few seasons.For someone of such a young age, she has displayed great leadership qualities and has represented the club in the true spirit of West Ham United.

“I did, however, feel that Rosey, whilst undertaking the role of captaincy and looking after other player interests, sometimes neglected her own to a certain extent and it was impacting upon her development as a player.The captaincy of any team should be used by the manager to be an extension of themselves upon the pitch.

“The captain should understand the playing philosophy, the game plan and the objectives of the team and be able to inspire those players around her to achieve these elements without distracting from their own individual performance.

“They should also shape and drive the team spirit, work ethic and mentality of the squad whilst embodying the spirit of the club and represent the club with the class that it deserves. Finally, they should be able to balance and enhance the unity of the playing squad by their leadership style regardless if the individual player is a senior player or a member of the junior teams.

“I considered several individuals over the course of preseason and took my time with the decision. Upon reflection, Becky Merritt demonstrated all of these elements and I am confident that she will excel in this role because of the support of not only the management team but the playing squad.”

West Ham Ladies take on Keynsham Town in the League Cup tomorrow. The game kicks off at 2pm at Thurrock FC. The postcode for the stadium is RM19 1YN.

West Ham Ladies forward Bex Merritt thriving in new roles

As a West Ham fan, Bex Merritt always speaks of her pride at pulling on the claret and blue every Sunday to play for the West Ham Ladies.

So it was little surprise the forward beaming from ear to ear when she met Blowing Bubbles editor David Blackmore after it was announced she was to captain her side this season.

She said: “It was a great feeling when I was told I was going to be captain. It’s massive for me as a West Ham fan to be given the chance to captain the side and I’m very grateful for the opportunity and for the new boss putting faith in me.”

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

As well as continuing to lead by example on the pitch, Bex hopes her new role will further encourage the younger members of the squad to come to her with their problems.

Bex continued: “I have always had a few of girls come to me about things off the pitch too and I think because I am one of the older players they come to me naturally for advice so I hope this continues now I’m captain.”

As for pre-season, things didn’t quite go to plan for the 27-year-old despite the fact she started her training a few weeks before the squad first met.

She said: “From my point of view it wasn’t the best because I missed a couple of games during pre-season –one was because I was ill and the other was with the development squad to try and get my fitness back – so the friendly against Nottingham Forest earlier this month, which we won 3-0, was massive for me.

“It was great to get 90 minutes under my belt before the Charlton game and It was a great game against Forest because I haven’t played them before and I’m not sure how long it has been since the club has either – if we even have.

“Northern teams are always tough to play against because they are more physical and play a completely different style of football so it was good to play in that game.”

She added: “Overall, I think it was a really good pre-season for the club. With the changes in management there were a lot of new faces about and we now have a great medical staff but everyone has settled in well.

“Mark [Sanderson, West Ham Ladies manager] has been setting standards for us all pre-season and then when we hit them, he ups it again. We have had some good signings and the squad is really beginning to gel now and we are all beginning to understand how we all play.”

As well as her new role as captain, Bex has also been given the task of adapting to a new role - a challenge she is thriving on.

She continued: “I haven’t been given a goals target this season but personally I would like to at least equal my goal tally from last year – I think I got 15 in all competitions.I am, however, playing a slightly different role this season which will allow me to wander a bit so I won’t be playing right up top which could impact the amount of goals I score.

“But I’m really looking forward to the season because I think this role suites my game better rather than playing as the top striker.”

The Ladies didn’t get off to the new season off to the best start last weekend - losing 2-1 away at Charlton Athletic. But with games at home against Portsmouth and Lewes, the Ladies will feel they have a chance to kick their season into full gear.

Bex continued: “After Charlton we do have a few tough games coming up but there are no games in this league that are easy anymore because of the introduction of the Women’s Super League 2 has meant a greater range of teams have been brought into one league which I think will be better for us.

“I think we play our best stuff when we are playing against tougher opposition rather than games where we are expected to win. It will be frustrating if we win the league this season and can’t get promoted to the WSL until the following year but we have a plan as a club which goes beyond this season.

“We will very much be taking this season week by week and see how we go.If at the end of the year we are picking up medals for winning the league and a cup competition than that will be brilliant and it’ll do wonders for attracting more players.

“The cups are always great to take part in because it gives us the chance to see how far we can go and it’s brilliant for the squad to travel together and play teams above us or in a strong position. It also gives us a test to see where we are individually and as a team.”

And reflecting on how last season’s squad compares to thie season’s, she continued: “The difference is we have got a lot of strength in depth which a lot of other women’s teams don’t have. At the moment there is a brilliant vibe at the club and everyone is fighting for the shirt.”

The West Ham Ladies play their home games at Thurrock FC, Ship Lane, Aveley, Essex, EM19 1YN. They play Portsmouth on September 1 and Lewes on September 8, both at home with kick off at 2pm.

West Ham Ladies' determination to lay last season's ghosts to rest

After failing to secure a place in the Women’s Super League 2 and finishing mid-table in the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division, last season was one to forget for the West Ham Ladies.
But while many other players from other clubs were sunning themselves in warming climes, the Hammers were back in pre-season training some three weeks before their rivals with the aim of overcoming last season’s disappointment and storming to the Southern Division title this season.

Speaking ahead of the Ladies’ first league game of the season away at Charlton Athletic next Sunday, ‘keeper Toni-Anne Wayne admits the side needs to “win ugly” if they are going to stand any chance of securing some much-needed silverware.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

“I think last season we got off to a good start and we were doing fine until we got to Christmas and suddenly had a lot of games called off and then picked up a few injuries,” the 30-year-old said.

“At one point last season we went eight weeks without a game and I think we lost our way a bit and our confidence. We also had quite a few young players last year and it was quite tough for the experienced players to get them up for it. But they’ve got that year experience now and hopefully what happened last season won’t happen again this season.

“One of the biggest things we need to do this season is to learn how to win ugly. Last season we either played really well and dominated teams and win or just played really poor and gave away stupid goals.

“But I think the whole experience of last season has bonded us and given us a united goal of what we want to achieve.”

Reflecting on the disappointment of missing out on the Women’s Super League 2, the shot-stopper added: “We really felt we deserved it and now we are determined to prove we did deserve it. We’ve got a great structure in place to take us forward with good youth players coming on well and recruiting good players from other clubs too.

“We need the younger players to start realising their potential and stepping up a bit and for the the experienced players to step up and show our worth when the going gets tough.”

One major change at the club over the summer was the appointment of Mark Sanderson as first team manager. The former Fulham Ladies and Crystal Palace Ladies manager was put in charge following the club’s 2013 AGM with former boss Julia Setford moving to a new role as Director of Football.

New players to sign include Cherrelle Albert from Charlton Athletic, Natalie Crinean from Gillingham Ladies and Jade Skillen from Ipswich Town Ladies.

Toni-Anne continued: “I really hope we can push on this season. The new players we have brought in have added a lot more strength in depth to our squad so if we do get a few injuries this season, we’ve got players who can come in and help continue any momentum we have.

“Natalie has come in and she is banter all the time and Cherrelle always plays with a smile on her face but the stand out new player for me is Jade. She has been a breath of fresh air at left back and is so quick.

“I also think having Lily [Mellors] and Hannah [Gowland] back from injury and playing well in pre-season does feel like we’ve got two new signings. They’ve both done really well to come back and the medical team have been fantastic and not rushed them.”

On the new management set-up at the club, the former Charlton Athletic and Gillingham player continued: “We’ve had Julia [Setford] over the last few years and she has done a fantastic job with the resources she had.

“But now we’ve got a new management team in place and it’s no longer just one person doing everything; we’ve got dedicated people doing different things from the practical stuff to the technical stuff. Obviously with the new manager we’ve got a different style and everyone has got to get used to that. He laid down how he wants to play at the beginning of pre-season and we all believe we can play this way.”

She added: “Our pre-season has gone well. The Arsenal game [lost 10-0] was a big learning curve for us. Having said that, they were halfway through their season and it was only our second game.”

And looking ahead to the forthcoming campaign, Toni-Anne concluded: “All the girls here want to win things. We would like to get promoted but that’s not an option for us this season.

“The main thing is to get a winning mentality and win everything we can now and get that trophy cabinet full of trophies so that when we put in our next bid to join the Women’s Super League, we will be in a much better position.

“We start our season with a local derby against Charlton Athletic which is a huge game for all of us. We have also got to play Lewes and Portsmouth quite early on so it is a really hard start to the season.

“But at the end of the day, if we want to win things, we have to play these games and win them. I’m confident we are ready for this campaign.”

Making his Mark: Saunderson appointed new manager of West Ham Ladies

West Ham Ladies have appointed former Crystal Palace Ladies and Fulham Ladies boss Mark Saunderson as their new manager.

Saunderson is one of the most respected names in women's football, having won the WPL Southern Division title with the Cottagers in 2008, before taking a sabbatical from the game after the birth of his daughter.

"I was lucky to be approached by a number of clubs but once West Ham made their interest known, it was an easy choice," Saunderson told shekicks.net.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

"It's an honour to be considered for the role at the club and it's an easy fit when both the club and yourself see the way in which the game should be played in the same way."

"I am sure it will be a challenge at times but I see the potential and passion in the club and that is what makes it such an exciting proposition."

Following the club's end-of-season AGM, previous manager Julia Setford has moved upstairs into a Director of Football capacity, as well as assisting Saunderson.

"Basically, we have had a little change," Setford told whufc.com.

"Mark is going to be first team manager and I will be his number two and also fill the role of Director of Football. The changes will enable me to take a step back, but Mark has far more experience of management than I do and can really push us on."

"We need to boost our squad with more quality and believe that Mark is the manager to bring better players to the club."

"He has won the division we are in before so we know we are getting a manager with good pedigree and a respected name in women's football."

The Ladies will be wanting to improve on this season's showing in the WPL Southern Division, where they eventually finished a somewhat disappointing 6th and missing out on a place in the new Women's Super Premier League.

There is good news already for the Irons, however, as former England goalkeeper Toni-Anne Wayne and forwards Becky Merritt (who recently won the Blowing Bubbles Ladies Goal of the Season Award for her strike against Brighton and Hove Albion Ladies) and Hannah Gowland committing themselves to the club for next season, as well as a large amount of interest from potential new players.

West Ham Ladies awards 2012/2013 - as nominated by the girls

The West Ham Ladies finished their season last weekend with a defeat away at league
champions Reading. Shortly after the game, Blowing Bubbles caught up with Toni Anne Wayne, Hannah Gowland, Zoe Lipley- Hinton, Stacey Little, Becky Merritt, Lindsey Morgan and captain Rosey Sullivan to give their votes in six categories.At the bottom of each category, we have also decided who we think should win.

Goal of the Season

TAW: Hannah Gowland’s goal against Leeds in the FA Cup. It was a game of limited
chances and she took it well.

HG: For me it has to be the second goal we scored against Gillingham away. I scored it which I am proud about but that’s not why. It was such a great team goal. It all started from the goalkeeper, worked its way through all positions, before it was given to me to score.

ZLH: Becky Merritt’s goal against Brighton because it was just a lovely clean hit.

SL: This goal sticks in my mind for the way Kell picked the ball up and ran through the QPR defence before sliding the ball underneath the keeper. Unfortunately, Kell also went on to break her collarbone in this game.

BM: We were 2-1 down with minutes to play and Lindsey smashed a half volley to earn us a point.

LM: Even though we lost the game it was an unbelievable strike from outside the box.

RS: Katie Bottom’s goal against Reading last weekend.

The Blowing Bubbles Award for Ladies Goal of the Season goes to Becky Merritt for her goal against Brighton and Hove Albion Ladies.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

Best Team Performance

TAW: Spurs away where we won 1-0. We played well as a team, everyone from front to back contributed to the win.

HG: Our FA Cup game against Leeds was our best team performance. We were 3-0 down at half time and after a decent talk in the changing room, we came out in the second half such a better team. We got two goals back and was [sic] unlucky not to get a third in the last few minutes. Our fighting spirit to get back at them, determination and team effort was great. We couldn’t have worked harder. If only we were like that first half.

ZLH:  Tottenham away. We just played really well as a team and played some great football.

SL:  Our home match against Brighton which we won 2-0. We always seem to struggle against Brighton and we never play well in both halves against anyone. So to beat Brighton (who had a very strong team this year) 2-0and play well in both the first
and second half was very pleasing for both players and
management.

BM: Our best team performance was when we beat Brighton at home 2-0. We were hungry for the win from the first whistle, everyone put their bodies on the line to prevent and score goals.

LM: For me it has to be Brighton at home. I scored the goal after 10 mins and it was just a brilliant team performance.

RS: For me, it has to be our 3-0 win over Tottenham.

The Blowing Bubbles Award for Best Ladies Performance of the Season goes to the performance against Brighton and Hove Albion at home.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

Best Individual Performance

TAW: Becky Merritt against Brighton at home. High work rate, first touch was brilliant and she scored a screamer.

ZLH: Toni Anne Wayne against Millwall. She pulled off some amazing saves to keep us in that game.

SL: Hannah Gowland vs Witham. Although Witham are ranked way below us, nothing should be taken away from Hannah for scoring a hat trick in six minutes in this game. Hannah had only just joined West Ham Ladies so she had done well to fit in to the team and made her mark early on. She was a massive miss for us the rest of the season after she broke her ankle.

BM: Toni Anne Wayne against Millwall. She pulled off some incredible saves to help us gain a well-earned point from the league leaders at the time.

LM: She stepped up this season from the reserves and she made the right back position her own and away at Tottenham this year she was brilliant. She has improved her game and become a regular first team player.

RS: Stacey Little on so many occasions. She works so hard on the pitch and covers so much ground.

The Blowing Bubbles Award for Ladies Individual Performance of the Season goes to Toni Anne Wayne for her performance away at Millwall Ladies.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

Best Goal Celebration

TAW: The team celebration after April Bowers’ goal against Spurs away.

HG: The best goal celebration for me would be after the second goal against Gillingham. After such a great team goal and great team effort, we all celebrated and come[sic] together to cheer and congratulate each other. It was nice.

ZLH: The celebration after April Bowers’ goal against Spurs. Before the game we said if we scored we would do the train celebration out of  [2001 film directed by Gurinder Chadha] Bend It Like Beckham.

SL: Tottenham away, April Bowers’ goal. We had actually been discussing this
before the game if we scored what our celebration would be.

BM: The team celebration after April Bowers’ goal against Spurs away.

LM: The team celebration after April Bowers’ goal against Spurs away.

RS: The best goal celebration was against Tottenham. The girls walked on their hands and knees in a row holding onto each others ankles. It was also a great result against Tottenham.

The Blowing Bubbles Award for Best Ladies Goal Celebration of the Season goes to the celebration of April Bowers' goal away at Tottenham Hotspur Ladies.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

Funniest in Dressing Room

TAW: April Bowers because she says the most
stupid things.

HG: The funniest in the dressing room is difficult because we all crack jokes but if I had to pick someone it would be April Bowers. She is very random, always comes
out with weird sayings, sings and loves a boogie. Plus she brings sweets before a game
and calls them "badman" sweets.

ZLH: Stacey Little. She just comes out with the best little comments.

SL: I’d have to say April due to the fact that we’ll all be sitting there, music playing and she will burst into song or impress us with her dance moves all of a sudden.

BM: April Bowers because she pretty much reinvents the English language with her gangster spin!

LM: Danica Revell. She is funny without even knowing it. She can be so blonde.

RS: Funniest in the changing room is Stacey
Little. She is always coming out with funny comments or jokes that have the whole
team laughing. Very comical girl.

The Blowing Bubbles Award for Dressing Room Joker goes to April Bowers.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

Team Diva

TAW: Stacey Little because if there is anything to moan about she will find it.

HG: The team diva is Rosey. She is always worrying about her hair and makeup.
Both have to be perfect and she never likes it going wrong especially when it rains. She loves the fake tan too.

ZLH: Kelley Blanchflower.

SL: Rosey Sullivan. That’s easy and I’m sure she will be everyone else’s choice too.
The moisturising to make sure the tan doesn’t peel, the panic when it starts raining that her hair is going to go knotty and mascara will run. Wouldn’t change our Rose though.

BM: Rosey Sullivan or Kelley Blanchflower. Pure TOWIE. You should see them if there is a photo and they were not given sufficient time to prepare.

LM: Kelley Blanchflower.

RS: I am the biggest diva (or so I have been told plenty of times) but if I'm not voting
for myself it would be Kelley Blanchflower. She's kind of similar to me with having our hair perfect, making sure we are pretty and smelling good before the game. She can also get the hump if things aren't going positively but guess that's the whole team.
We still love her.

The Blowing Bubbles Award for Biggest Diva goes to Rosey Sullivan.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

Disappointment as West Ham Ladies miss out on FA Women's Super League

West Ham Ladies endured a difficult week after being told their application to join the FA Women's Super League second division was declined before losing at home to Yeovil to a last minute goal last weekend.

The Millwall Lionesses, Watford and Reading were amongst the clubs chosen to play in the second tier of Ladies football at the expense of the Hammers.

Sunderland, Aston Villa, Doncaster Belles, Durham, London Bees, Oxford United and Yeovil completed the list.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

The news of the application came a couple of days before the defeat at home to Yeovil which took the Ladies’ winless streak to six games.

Despite having nothing but pride left to play for this season, the Hammers are hopeful they can pick up points away at Lewes and Reading over the next couple of weeks to end their disappointing season on a positive note.

At the start of the year the Ladies had high hopes of winning their league as well as reaching a cup final.

Despite a promising start, an unusually high number of games were cancelled before the Ladies were eliminated from both cup competitions and fell adrift from the league leaders.

In better news, however, the West Ham U11girls side have rounded off a fantastic league campaign by triumphing 4-0 in their final league game and in doing so, have gone the entire league season unbeaten and romped to the league title, eight points clear of 2nd placed Writtle Minors.

The girls now have the chance to double their joy as they face a May 12 date to take on in Upminster Park Rovers in the Essex County Girls cup final.

And in other West Ham Ladies news, the second trial for the Ladies’ Academy will also be taking place on Wednesday May 29 from 3 to 5pm and will be held at the West Ham Community Trust, Beckton.

Any current year 11 females interested in combining a college education with the professional football training lifestyle should register for the trial on www.scl-online.co.uk.

West Ham Ladies focusing on next season after Brighton defeat

Defeat at the hands of Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend ended West Ham Ladies’ bid for promotion out of the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division.

The 3-2 loss on the South coast unextended the Ladies’ winless streak to five games and left the Hammers 15 points away from league leaders Millwall Lionesses with only four games of the season left to play.

Speaking exclusively to Blowing Bubbles, captain Rosey Sullivan said there haven’t been many positives to take out of their recent run of games because the Ladies all prefer to be winning games.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

But she added: “A positive could be that we have stuck as a team and have recognised what is happening to cause the results we have been getting.

“As a team we have spoken about our performance in front of goal because collectively we do not shoot enough. We also need more from our strikers. We can't win games if we are always defending and we need more goals.”

Asked if the Hammers have been unlucky not to win any of their last five games, the centre half continued: “I think we should have won them all. We certainly had opportunities but we just didn’t take them.

“Against QPR we did not play as a team and it was the worst team performance we have had.”

On Sunday, the Hammers travel to Colchester, who are sitting comfortably mid-table, for their next league clash.

Rosey continued: “We want to win all our games and we will continue to treat every game the same but as we are not favourites for promotion, the pressure has been taken off us.

“This should allow us to enjoy our football more and play with more freedom.”

She added: “We are now looking towards next season and we are focused on getting promotion next season. We are working hard to identify what has gone wrong this season and we want to make sure it doesn't happen again.”

The Ladies next home game is against Yeovil Town on April 28. It’s a 2pm kick off at Thurrock FC.

The second trial for the West Ham Ladies Academy will also be taking place on Wednesday May 29 from 3 to 5 pm and will be held at the West Ham Community Trust, Beckton.

Any current year 11 females interested in combining a college education with the professional football training lifestyle should register for the trial on www.scl-online.co.uk.

West Ham Ladies fall further behind league leaders Millwall Lionesses and Reading

West Ham United Ladies’ push for promotion out of the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division has stuttered in recent weeks.

The most frustrating afternoon in the last few weeks came on April 7 when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers.

Bottom-club Rangers hit the front after just nine minutes, when Sophie Fogarty collected Elly Magg's cross, before finishing emphatically.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

It was a lead they would cling on to until the latter stages of the contest, as the visitors went in search of a second away win in succession.

However, parity was restored with 78 minutes on the clock, courtesy of midfielder Lindsey Morgan's sixth goal of the campaign.

Sadly a winner was not forthcoming and as the final whistle echoed around the ground, West Ham's winless sequence in the league stood at four, which included a defeat against Reading.

Ironically, the point lifted the Hammers into third but saw them lose further ground at the top.

With frontrunners Millwall Lionesses and second-placed Reading both winning, both have built a considerable points total clear of West Ham with only a few games remaining.

On Sunday, the Hammers travel to Colchester, who are sitting comfortably mid-table, in their next FA Women's Premier League Southern Division fixture.

The last time the sides squared up in the league they drew 1-1. This clash came shortly after ‘Col U’ dumped the Ladies out on the County Cup on February 17, beating them 1-0 in the semi-final.

The Ladies next home game is against Yeovil Town on April 28. It’s a 2pm kick off at Thurrock FC.

Becky sees Merritt in West Ham Ladies Academy

West Ham Ladies are opening an Academy for September and are recruiting now. Writing for Blowing Bubbles, forward Becky Merritt explains how the Academy happened, how tough it has been and what it means for the club.

After losing our under 19 development squad to lack of funding a couple of  seasons ago, there has been  limited opportunities for our under 16 graduates to progress into senior football and some have found the jump to reserves and first team a little too daunting.

With this in mind, we wanted to create an opportunity where we could bridge the gap for our young stars and the Academy seemed to be an excellent opportunity for this.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

Seeing that I already work in football academies with a company called Soccer Coaching Limited, I had the best people around me to start this exciting venture.

With the expertise of SCL and the passion of the management at West Ham, we have formed a strong partnership and aim to propel West Ham Ladies into the spotlight and be the best that we can be.

Starting anything from scratch is never easy, but we have the best people on board to make our ideas reality.

We have managed to secure a state-of-the-art venue for training and education as well as employing excellent coaching staff.

We have also been lucky to have the support of many people to help with our recruitment process and our hard work is paying off.

We have a number of girls applying for trials from well-established teams and we hope this interest grows.

The Academy, first and foremost, will allow us to have more coaching time with our players where our excellent coaching staff can develop the young girls into better players.

Training every day and playing at least one game a week will ensure our players develop far quicker. These players can hopefully progress to represent our first team, who have recently submitted a bid to join the
Women’s Super League.

As a self-sustaining club, our funding will allow the club as a whole to develop and grow. With a regular source of funding into the club we can help make our ambitions more achievable.

Women’s football has grown substantially over the last few years. There is a real buzz around the game at the moment and, with the success of Team GB in the Olympics and the current WSL, this is only set to grow.

As clubs are creating their own centre of excellence or academies this ensures that more young females are receiving regular coaching at a high level and therefore meaning, that as a nation, we are developing potential stars for the future.

Also, as clubs continue to provide these opportunities it will allow them to retain these players and lower the risk of losing excellent talents to big named teams.

Any current year 11 females interested in combining a college education with the professional football training lifestyle should register for trials on www.scl-online.co.uk

Our first trial will be taking place on Wednesday April 10from 3 to 5 pm and will be held at the West Ham Community Trust, Beckton.

Goal machine Hannah Gowland is huge loss to West Ham Ladies

After joining the West Ham Ladies at the end of October, Hannah Gowland was keen to quickly show manager Julia Setford what she is capable of.

The wet weather at the end of 2012 limited the amount of games she could play in so she gave everything in training in the hope of securing a place in the side for the first few games of the New Year.

Her determination was rewarded as she started and scored two goals against London Corinthians in the FA Cup on January 6 before scoring a goal in the league win over Gillingham the following weekend.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

The 18-year-old then kept her place for the tough FA Cup trip to Leeds and again was on the scoresheet but her efforts weren’t enough to stop the Ladies being dumped out of the competition earlier this month.

The former Colchester United star then bagged a hat-trick as the Ladies stormed to a 13-2 victory in the county cup quarter final against Witham Town the week after to take her goal spree to seven goals in four games.

But now the teenager is set to endure a period on the sidelines after sustaining an ankle injury in the Ladies county cup semi-final defeat to her former club.

Speaking of her decision to join West Ham, Hannah said: “Lily Mellors and I were at Colchester United together and we weren't enjoying it as much as we used to and we wanted a new challenge.

“We had quite a bit of success at Col U but wanted something different. Lily had a training session with West Ham and afterwards she said how much she enjoyed it so I went with her the next week and loved it there and wanted to sign for them.

“It was fun but the sessions felt like I learnt something new from them. The other thing which impressed me was that all the girls turn up for training which is great because you can work on things as a team. I was delighted to join.”

She added: “The whole team has welcomed me and helped me to settle. I already knew April Bowers, Danica Revell and Rosey Sullivan and was familiar with rest of team because I've played against them a few times.”

Asked about the Ladies’ chances of promotion this season, the forward continued: “I think we've got a good chance of getting promoted because we're up there with games in hand.”

She added she didn’t know exactly how long her ankle injury would keep her out of action but she said she is determined to play again as soon as possible.

The West Ham United Ladies play their home games at Thurrock FC (RM19 1YN). For details of future games visit www.clubwebsite.co.uk/westhamunitedladiesfc.

West Ham Ladies manager Julia Setford’s praise for new signings Hannah Gowland and Lily Mellors ahead of FA Cup clash

West Ham Ladies' manager Julia Setford has lauded the impact of her new signings as the team prepare to take on Leeds United in the Fourth Round of the FA Women’s Cup.

The Hammers head into the game on the back of consecutive wins over Gillingham and London Corinthians, and will fancy their chances to progress in the competition.

New signings from Colchester United, Hannah Gowland and Lily Mellors have made an instant impact since arriving late last year and manager Setford couldn't be happier with their progress.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

"The two girls I brought in, I knew they were quality,” she said. “They've settled in well and really proved themselves."

The two new recruits have really strengthened the Hammers side, according to their boss.

"Their finishing, especially Hannah's, is second to none” the gaffer continued. “She's a left-footed player and she brings a nice balance to the team; together with Lily's vision, it's really boosted our numbers and made us strong."

The team's recent form is particularly impressive given the frustrations they have faced of late, mainly down to the adverse weather conditions.

The Ladies have only been able to complete four games since November, but hopefully the worst of the bad weather is over now and the Leeds game will bring glorious sunshine and a third win on the trot for the in-form Irons, with more sparkling performances from the two new signings.

The Hammers have never lifted the trophy, nor even reached a final since its inauguration in 1971, and that will be sure to be something that manager Setford will want to put right this season.

With only two defeats so far in the league, the Hammers are also sitting pretty at fourth in the table - just five points off leaders Reading.

A fantastic seven match unbeaten run between September and October has been the highlight in the league for Setford’s side so far, but the most outstanding thing has been the Irons’ resistance to defeat and their “bouncebackability”.

Centre back Danica Revells’s praise for new signings and captain Rosey Sullivan

The West Ham Ladies have had a fantastic start to 2013, comfortably beating London Corinthians away in the cup and Gillingham away in league.

The Ladies return to cup action this weekend at home to Witham Town where they hope to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to five games.

Speaking exclusively to Blowing Bubbles, centre back Danica Revell has been delighted with how the side has started the year after a frustrating end to 2012 where the Ladies endured a run of cancelled games because of the weather.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

She has also been pleased to see the Ladies’ new signings get the chance to show what they can offer the team.

Reflecting on the Ladies season, she said: “We have had games where we haven’t played up to the high standards we know we are capable of but most of the time we’ve done really well this season. We’ve got great team spirit.”

The return of striker Kelley Blanchflower has also pleased the centre half. Kelley broke her collarbone during the Ladies’ 2-0 win at QPR in September.

“Kel has been training really hard and was doing really well in training before she got back in the team,” Danica continued.
“I’m delighted to see her come back. It’s a huge boost for us because we will need her scoring goals to help with our push for promotion.”

She added: “We’re still very much in the fight for promotion and hopefully, fingers crossed, we will get it. If we keep putting in the hard effort and not let it slip, then we will be pushing for promotion right till the end of the season.”

Danica’s partnership with captain Rosey Sullivan has been the subject of huge praise from her teammates as have their individual performances.

“I have a great partnership with Rosey,” Danica said. “We’ve played together for a couple of years now and we also went to the academy at Leyton Orient.

“We know each other’s game, inside out and play the same way. We also get along really well, which I think has been key to some of our performances this season.”

Since joining the Hammers back in the summer of 2010, Danica feels her time with the club has been the best period of her career so far, highlighted by being named West Ham United Ladies ‘Young Player of the Year’ last season.

She concluded: “I feel that I am developing towards my full potential and have found my place within the team. I am thoroughly enjoying being part of the West Ham team. We all get on very well and although we train extremely hard, we also have a lot of laughs throughout training.”