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Monday 23 December 2013

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.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

“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.


Friday 13 December 2013

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.

Mikey Cartwright/Ponderosa Pix

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.