28 September

Hey guys

Its good to be back telling you all my gossip. I have so much to talk about I actually don’t know where to start! But here goes…

Since I spoke to you last so much has happened. We managed to reach the final in the European Championships in Finland. We have played 3 games for Leeds Carnegie (and won all of them) and I am sure there is much more but I will start with that for now.

Finland was amazing, not just for the football, but the country and the people were lovely. There was an abundance of beautiful lakes and countryside and everyone that we met were so welcoming (I really am getting old aren’t I?) I shall move onto the football. Before we went out there I don’t think anyone believed we would reach the final apart from the people associated with the team. It didn’t start well; Italy beat us 2-1 after Casey Stoney got sent off after 30 minutes and in our next game against Russia we went 2-0 down. I remember thinking we are going home after the group stages. Something clicked and we started to play we ended up wining the game 3-2 and I think this was the turn around for us. We played Sweden in our last group game knowing that we couldn’t get beat and we would go through. The game finished 1-1. Our quarterfinal was against the hosts Finland. This was always going to be tricky, they had finished top of their group and we knew the atmosphere would be electric with a bias towards the hosts. Again we made hard work of it but managed to win the game 3-2. Our semi final was against Holland, whom we knew we could beat but their style of play makes it difficult for any team to break them down, they tend to defend and hit on the break. After extra time we won the game 2-1. We were in the final and not only had we made history we all believed we could go on and win it, because despite being in the final we hadn’t played as well as we knew we could. So if we turned it on against the Germans we could actually be European Champions. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be and we were well and truly beaten 6-2. After such a successful tournament this was a massive blow and we ended up all going home on a downer, instead of being proud of what we had achieved. It was the fifth time they had won the trophy in a row and they all received $25,000 for winning (I am sure I had an uncle Fritz)

After returning home there was no rest, it was just straight into my club season for Leeds Carnegie. Since then we have played 3 games and like I mentioned earlier we have won all three, so lets hope that continues. We have some fantastic staff and backing, so we just have to continue that on the pitch and keep up the good form. I have to mention Carla Cantrell or should I say Carla Keane who like her male counterpart scored 4 goals at the weekend, it was a fantastic individual performance and long may that continue. I think due to all the training and the amount of matches that we played over the summer I have been diagnosed with the injury plantar fasciitis or in laymen’s terms “dodgy heels”, if any of you have had it its horrible and niggles on, so I have been receiving treatment on a regular basis and have just reduced the amount of impact on my feet. So if anyone has any spare heels that would help me. Before you say it I don’t mean the 6-inch stilettos you wear on a Friday night.

Finally if anyone fancies watching us we are playing Sunderland tonight at Farsley Celtic 7.45 Kick off.