Clean Sheets, Trophies & Records - Levell’s Debut Campaign
The only Leicester City player to start and feature in every fixture across the season, the 23-year-old has enjoyed an impressive first season as a Fox.
Coming in from Everton in the summer of 2020, Levell marked her competitive debut by keeping a clean sheet against Blackburn Rovers on the opening day of the Championship season.
A second shutout would follow for the former England youth international at the start of November as the Foxes sealed a 1-0 victory over Lewes at Farley Way Stadium, during a busy period of fixtures.
December then brought three consecutive clean sheets, starting with the 3-0 triumph at home to London Bees, which took Leicester to the Championship summit for the first time.
Three days later, the shot-stopper secured her maiden shutout on the road as the Foxes made history in the Continental Tyres League Cup.
Up against Barclays FA Women’s Super League outfit Birmingham City, the visitors needed at least a draw to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.
And when the Blues won a first-half penalty, Levell was the hero, saving Mollie Green’s spot-kick to keep the scoreline at 0-0 - how it stayed throughout with 90 minutes - to take the game to penalties.
After 10 perfect spot-kicks, Levell did enough to put off Connie Scofield, who hit the bar from 12 yards, before Leicester booked their place in the quarter-finals for the first time.
Another Championship clean sheet came four days later as City travelled to tackle Charlton Athletic at The Oakwood. The ex-Everton stopper clawed away Charley Clifford’s header at a crucial moment and a 2-0 success maintained top spot.
In the League Cup, meanwhile, Levell was able to keep out Crystal Palace as Leicester went a step further and progressed into the semi-finals by virtue of a 1-0 victory at Hayes Lane.
By the end of February, City were really starting to get into their groove and beating the Eagles by the same scoreline in Quorn, this time in the league, was the first of six consecutive shutouts for Levell and co.
Marshalled by the central defensive duo of Sam Tierney and Ashleigh Plumptre, both near ever-presents missing just one Championship fixture, the Foxes were beginning to keep out the opposition with increased assurance as the new-look squad gelled together.
Although Levell was largely untroubled in the huge 7-0 victory over London Bees, she had a much more prominent role to play in the success at title rivals Durham a week later.
A Tierney double took the headlines but Leicester had their ‘keeper to thank on several occasions, getting down to save Sarah Robson’s early effort, before protecting the two-goal lead by racing off her line to get to the ball ahead of Nicki Gears, and holding onto Beth Hepple's low attempt.
Coventry United were also unable to get past Levell, with the hosts recording a 2-0 victory in Quorn, and it was a similar story when London City Lionesses visited Farley Way.
The title was within grasp and Leicester took the opportunity with both hands, beating the capital-based club 2-0 to ensure they would be playing top-flight football next season.
Despite coming in a narrow defeat at Lewes, which ended the clean sheet run, Levell’s excellent save to palm away Lucy Ashworth-Clifford’s drive was nominated for Championship Save of the Season.
There was still a chance to claim a share of the Golden Glove on the final day of the season by maintaining a 10th clean sheet and that’s exactly what Levell was able to do, keeping Charlton at bay as Leicester recorded a 4-0 win before lifting the FA Women’s Championship trophy at King Power Stadium.
City’s and Levell’s 2020/21 story was not done there though and they had to navigate past a tricky opponent in the fourth round of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup, coming up against Liverpool at Farley Way.
Defending a one-goal lead in the closing stages, Levell produced an outstanding stop to deny young Reds substitute Lucy Parry, ensuring Leicester were able to hold out.
The shot-stopper would have an even bigger role to play in the fifth round clash away to Manchester United, who were fresh from finishing fourth in the WSL for the second consecutive season.
In the second half, as the Foxes drew level for a second time and then went ahead, Levell’s qualities were required to keep Kirsty Hanson's powerful effort from hitting the back of the net.
She was there again to stop United's opening goalscorer Jess Sigsworth, to set up a quarter-final meeting with Manchester City.
The FA Cup journey will continue next season, while Levell will be making an immediate return to the WSL and is set to come up against her former club, Everton.