A great win, followed by the worst news ever

Hey Guys

We have eventually played a game, the weather managed to hold off long enough for us to play our FA cup game against Watford. The comments before the game were all along the lines of how excited we were about playing a match and how we wanted to win the game and progress to the next round as we know we have Arsenal and although it is going to be tough we relish the challenge! We won the game 4-1 and it was a very good performance from the girls so we were all buzzing until we had the dreaded news…

By now, you’ll have heard the news that Leeds Met has decided to withdraw the club’s bid for a Super League place.

We were told about 10 minutes after we beat Watford, most of the girls were in tears when Rick broke the news. When he called us all in we thought he was going to tell us how bad we’ve been in training, or that he was leaving. Instead, he had to tell us that everything we’d been working towards for the last two years wasn’t going to happen.

Being the oldest, I’ve played in a good few squads for England, at Tranmere and at Leeds, and I have to say this team is the best I’ve ever played in. We all work for each other, there are no egos, and we all just want to do our best for ourselves, the club and Rick. We all want to play in the Super League, and play against the best, but we want to do it for Leeds.

I think five of Sunday’s squad have been Leeds players since they were aged ten, and Leeds has a great youth policy. But without the lure of playing against Arsenal, Everton and Chelsea, what’s the incentive for young, local girls to play football? You’ve got to have something to aim for, and no-one aims to be second-best, playing in a lower league, you want to be on the big stage.

Maybe it’s because I’m a player, and passionate about the game, but sometimes I don’t think the money men – or women – realise just how devastating their decisions to save a few thousand pounds can be on so many people. As I write, there’s no mention of funding for next season, nor what happens to the Carnegie Scholars.

Then there’s the timing: less than three weeks before the Premier League Cup Final, while we’re still in the FA Cup and with a chance of a good finish in the league. Who decides they can’t afford a Super League licence *after* submitting their bid, anyway?

It is all very serious this week but this is how we are all feeling. Leeds is my club and I will do whatever it takes to try and help them sort it out. Marching on together!!!!