Howard Hoping For More Exciting Times Ahead
- Sophie Howard speaks to LCFC TV on the 2020/21 season as a whole, which ended with LCFC Women crowned champions
- The FA Women’s Championship title winners will now compete in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League for the first time
- Scotland international Howard previously featured in the top flight and added experience to the squad this campaign
- The defender says she experienced a rollercoaster of a season and is looking forward to the next challenge back in the WSL
A new squad of players, many of whom were signed in the summer of 2020, helped to reach the target of winning the FA Women’s Championship during the Club’s first season as a professional, full-time outfit.
Howard, one of those to join ahead of the 2020/21 campaign, says it was a difficult process to achieve their goal and also reflected on how she has fared this term, making 15 league starts, primarily as a centre-back or right-back.
“As you imagine, it’s an amazing feeling, especially after this long year, this long season, so it's a great feeling,” the defender told LCFC TV.
“We came together as a random bunch of girls from all different levels and age groups, but what we realised and managed to do really quickly is just to get that cohesion on the pitch.
“Obviously, it took us some time to gel, but from the get-go we were together on that pitch, working towards that goal. I think it was a rollercoaster, to summarise it in one word, but I'm really happy [with] how I progressed, how I've kind of come out of the other end stronger.
“Mentally, physically, I've added to my game, so I can only say I'm happy with how I've personally progressed.
“Loads of the development is on the training pitch. You obviously have to apply it on game day, but the day-to-day work is massive in your development. I think it's also the girls around you that push you to become better and you yourself wanting to be better every day.”
Howard shared several standout moments from the season, including a crucial 2-0 away victory against Leicester’s closest challengers and the experience of being crowned champions on Filbert Way.
The Scotland international explained: “I think for me, the game against Durham, because we knew what a massive game that was, the two goals Sammy T (Sam Tierney) scored, it was just an amazing feeling and, again, that showed how well we can fight and work together and play as a team.
“Durham was a very physical game and I think they had one plan and that was to take our players out, but we dealt with it really, really well and to come away from that game with three points was massive for our title win.
“And then the second one was obviously playing at King Power Stadium. You can't forget that amazing feeling, to not only lift the trophy at the end, but also to play at King Power Stadium.
“I think it's kind of a dream come true for any Leicester player. I wish we could have had fans, friends and especially family there, but obviously circumstances didn't allow that.
“But nevertheless, it was an amazing day that Leicester had put together for us and also Charlton played, obviously, a big part. An amazing game and I think we're all going to remember that day for a very long time.”
Howard Happy With Progression
Defender Sophie Howard reviewed LCFC Women's season and the challenges ahead after promotion to the Barclays FA Women's Super League.
Previously a Barclays FA Women’s Super League player with Reading, the 27-year-old knows all about the league and challenges the team will face coming up against the best players in the country on a regular basis.
“That's what we've worked for and towards,” she added. “We knew we had one job and that was to win the league this year to go up to the WSL. And we also know now the hard work starts or restarts because we put it in throughout the whole of last year.
“It's going to be a different season, a different year for us, we're probably not going to be as dominant as we were against other teams this year, but we are excited.
“As much as we don't know quite yet where we're going to stand, that's what Sundays are there for also. But I'm personally very excited and I've heard from the camp that we're all looking forward to it now.”