Barker Previews LCFC Women's 'Exciting' 2020/21 Curtain-Raiser
- Sophie Barker looks ahead to LCFC Women's opening clash with Blackburn Rovers
- The Foxes start their 2020/21 FA Women's Championship with a 2pm kick-off in Quorn
- Barker is excited to begin her and the Club's first campaign as full-time professionals
- The former Sheffield United midfielder also previews Rovers' main threats
In the Foxes' first campaign as a professional outfit, they entertain Blackburn on day one of 2020/21 at Farley Way Stadium in Quorn on Sunday afternoon (2pm kick-off).
Barker, who signed for the Club from Sheffield United earlier this summer, has settled in quickly with her new team-mates and is excited by the challenges ahead.
Speaking to LCFC TV before training earlier this week, the 30-year-old said: "Obviously, we're a brand new group and we've all come together, so for us it's a really exciting time.
"A lot of those haven't been professional before and to go into the season as fully professional and it literally be this weekend is so exciting.
"We've had some really good results in the last couple of weeks during pre-season, some really tough games.
Barker: Be On Our Best Game
Midfielder Sophie Barker sits down with LCFC TV at training as LCFC Women prepare for Sunday's FA Women's Championship clash with Blackburn Rovers.
"Just to finally get that game under our belt and to start the season, hopefully with a win, will literally start our campaign off as we mean to go on."
Asked about the test Blackburn will pose, Barker explained: "[It'll be] a physical one. I've played them a number of times and they stick to their guns with that. They're very good at that.
"They defend very well, so we're going to have to be on our best game, especially with it being our first game.
"Obviously, we've had quite a number of games, running up to this in pre-season, but obviously there's different pressures when it comes to the first game of the season to stuff that.
"They want to win, we want to win, so yes it'll be interesting, but I know they're a physical side and as long as we can move the ball and stuff we should be okay."
Barker is one of the more experienced players in the LCFC Women side this season and the former Doncaster Rovers Belles star is keen to use that expertise as best as she can to help the team.
"It's been really nice actually," she continued. "It's been weird to be one of the oldest! I've never really been that person in the squad, but the girls have been really nice, I'm really settled.
"The staff have been very welcoming. Obviously, they're brand new, too, to it. So, I think it's been easy for me because everyone's been on the same page.
"There's a couple of girls that have come down that have been full-time, and they've helped bring the professionalism along with that.
"But because everyone is in the same boat, it's been quite easy for me to fit in."
Like many of her team-mates, this will be Barker's first season as a full-time professional player and she is well aware of the added responsibilities that will bring.
"Obviously, it's the first time I've ever become professional, so it's been a lot different," she said.
"It's a change for me, not working full-time and stuff like that, but to be honest, this is one of the best pre-seasons I've had in a long time.
"We played some really good teams, we've had some really good tests, and training's been really good, times and stuff like that.
"The girls are adapting into it and everything, new staff, so it's been really good, I've really enjoyed it.
"Everyone knows they've got to up their game because, you know, clubs in this league don't get that time together.
"You know you have to make it worthwhile because that is the difference. We've seen it with Man Utd, for example, winning the league, going full-time.
"It really does make a difference to the fitness, the time you can spend on technical and tactical stuff."
All times BST.