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My favourite players of the WSL 2023/24 season...

 

The quality in the WSL is just constantly improving these days and teams are bringing in brilliant names each season to improve their squads and try compete for the title and those Champions League spots. Yes the big names coming into the league is fantastic however, a lot of the WSL players are often overlooked for those big names and their performances aren't as applauded as they should be. It has often taken players a move away from a previous club to finally get out of others shadows or injuries to others that force them into the spotlight a little bit more. Today's post is a look at my favourite players in the WSL currently and I will be honest this has taken me a lot longer than usual as I just couldn't narrow it down to my top 5 so we have ended up with a top 6 which could have gone onto a top 20 with how long it was taking me to narrow down. So here are those players who made the cut for the 2023/24 season...


Steph Catley 

I have loved watching Catley play for a long time now and her time at Arsenal has only solidified how good of a player she is in my eyes. The Matilda first came to my attention whilst playing at Orlando Pride and when she announced her move to the WSL I couldn't wait to watch her play live. Since coming to the English top flight she has gone from strength to strength and has become a crucial part of Arsenal's team. Steph has had another brilliant season with the Gooner's this season and her ability to get the team into great positions has really helped keep them pushing for that final Champions League spot.


Nikita Parris

The Lionesses have been shockingly overlooking Parris and I think I am not alone in saying why? Parris has been a key part of a struggling United side this season and has found herself on the score sheet plenty of times. She has often been overlooked at the club too however, it finally seems like they have realised how crucial she is and how she can find the back of the net whilst others can't. United are nowhere near where we expected them to be this season and things would be even worse if it wasn't for Parris having her scoring boots on. She has been a joy to watch this season. 


Beth England 

England is one of the players who has finally found herself thriving. Her move from Chelsea to Tottenham has really paid off and finally fans are getting to see her quality rather than seeing her sat on the bench. Hayes really didn't maximize on England's potential whereas Spurs are really getting the most out of her. We have seen all season just how capable she is of finding the back of the net and also helping out in the build up plays. I am glad that England made the move last season as finally we are getting to see what she is capable of.


Jordan Nobbs

There was no way I could write this post and not include my all time favourite... Jordan Nobbs was there? Jordan is another player who made a move last season that benefited her career as she is no longer sat on the bench week after week and is getting the game time she truly deserves. She can score a beauty of a goal which we have seen a few times this season but it is her build up play and movement around the midfield that is the best. Sometimes you forget she is there as she just gets on with it then she will put in a brilliant tackle or play a brilliant ball to create a great attack. The move to Villa has done her the world of good and she has become a key part of the team.


Guro Reiten 

My shirt number on the pitch is number 11 and one of the reasons for this is Reiten. Since she arrived at Chelsea I have loved watching her play and with every season she just gets better and better. Reiten is one of those players who makes a big impact in games but doesn't get half as much credit as she deserves. The winger has the pace and technical abilities to frustrate her opponents and she can get the ball into great positions for her teammates in the box. With injuries hitting the Chelsea squad Reiten is finally getting a bit more credit so let's hope people start to realise just how good she is soon.

Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw

I admit I was a bit worried when Ellen White retired as Man City didn't look to have a huge attacking threat but up stepped Bunny. Shaw has no trouble finding the back of the net and we have recently seen her break Stanway's record to become the all time top scorer for Man City Women with 68 goals in just 82 games which are quite remarkable stats.  Shaw always seems to find herself in the right space at the right time and reads the play really well. She also frustrates the opposition which leads to set pieces for Man City usually in great positions. Shaw is going to be crucial in their charge for the title and as we enter the 2024/25 season, she is great to watch.

So there you have it those are my favourite players of the 2023/24 season, it is certainly getting harder to narrow down these lists and as we approach the business end of the season no doubt some of these could change but only time will tell with that one. Then we have the fun of the transfer window in the off season where yet more names could end up joining the league so no doubt next seasons installment of this post will be even harder to create. For now though let's see how these players perform for the rest of the season, especially Shaw as Man City challenge Chelsea for the title.

Who have some of your favourite players been this season? 

What's in my game day bag these days

Here we go, after a bit of a break from football which also led to a break from the site we are back. The break from the game has resulted in me playing for a new team which is a very new start up but more on that in it's own post soon. The new team started up after this seasons leagues begun so currently we are playing friendlies to gain that valuable game time before the new season begins later this year. I can't complain though as the friendlies are providing me with opportunities to work on my fitness & technique before we enter the league. 

A new team though also means new kit & training gear and that fun part of packing your bag on a Saturday evening to ensure you have everything you need before heading off to a game on a Sunday. I love the Saturday evening before a game, getting my kit laid out ready and filling my bag with those essentials and here is what I pack...

My kit doesn't actually go in my bag as I make sure I am ready before I head to the game but I couldn't help including our training kit in the post as I just love it, the colour is perfect and the fit is even better. We are currently wearing training kit to games as we await our new kits arrival which I am really looking forward to as the design is brilliant.

The first thing in the bag are the shin pads and I have treated myself to a lovely comfortable pair from Nike for these friendlies and probably into the new season. These are already my favourite shin pads as they fit much better and are much lighter than my old Puma ones. To be honest these have to be one of the first things that go into my bag as I can guarantee if I forget anything it would be my shin pads.

Next up we have the trusty sock tape which I actually use to hold my shin pads in place. The shin pads come with sleeves but with how tight my socks also are the sleeves just seem to restrict me and I am not a fan. A bit of this sock tape around the shin pad though does the trick just as well as the shin pad is held in place. These are super cheap on Amazon too and the colour matches the socks perfectly.


The knee strap is then put straight into the bag as I have done a few training sessions without this and been in pain after. My knee issues are never going away however, this strap is one of the best I have ever owned as it has massively reduced the game day/ training pain in my knee and again it was a bargain off of Amazon. 


The inhaler is an absolute essential and before I head out of the door on game day I think I check about 5 times to make sure this is definitely in my bag. I am hoping once I shift some weight I might not rely on this as much as my fitness should be increasing quite a bit but for now as I am pushing myself more and more the inhaler is always easy to access.


I am growing my hair out and I didn't realise how much of a nightmare it would be when I am playing football. Just in case it ends up really irritating me during a game I have one of my favourite Miss Kick headbands in my bag so I can quickly put it on and get my hair out of my face. 


With us playing on 4G/5G I always make sure I have some form of plaster in my bag just in case I come off the pitch and notice any bad cuts, they also come in super handy if my boots start to rub me which fingers crossed hasn't happened yet. 


I am so unfit it is untrue so in my bag I always make sure I have one of these energy gels. The gel is an essential for half time and as soon as the whistle blows I am straight into my bag to get the gel down me before the second half starts whether I am starting that half or not. These SIS gels are certainly my favourites and I love how you can get the packs in Home Bargains which contain a nice mixture of flavours.


Alongside the gels I also have a bit of a snack in my bag for post game as sometimes I just can't wait until I get home to have something to eat. The snack is 9 times out of 10 a protein bar which is always beneficial after playing and helps with the post game recovery which is always much needed, it is a much better option than a chocolate bar. 


I always have a bottle of water with me on game day as if I have a Lucozade these days I tend to struggle, plus I have a pretty high daily water intake target so the water switch is certainly beneficial. I am going to start adding an extra bottle in to the bag though for post game which includes a scoop of EAA's & creatine as these should help with the recovery process.


We live in England of course a jacket is included in my bag every game day and even if I start of wearing it the jacket ends up in the bag at some point as I am not planning on losing it anytime soon. My jacket of choice at the moment (yes I have 3 already and 2 are different types of 1/4 zips) is this simple 1/4 zip. The quality is amazing and has got me through plenty of warm ups whilst it has been freezing. This is probably the smartest looking 1/4 zip I have had in a long time and quite possibly the comfiest. 


Yes I have better boots than these however, I am saving those boots for when the league is up and running next season (I am a bit paranoid about destroying them before playing competitive again). These Adidas are slowly becoming a favourite of mine though and are really tempting me to opt for Adidas as my next pair of boots as they are much more comfortable than my Nike's to say what the price difference is, but again there is a whole other post comparing the two boots coming very soon. These are certainly well worn but are still really comfortable which is what is needed due to the mixture of surfaces we are on these days.

So there you have it that is what is in my bag on game day these days. I am absolutely loving being back on the pitch and these friendlies are really making me push myself so that I can head into the new season in the best shape possible. I wonder how much the contents of the bag will change over the course of this extended pre-season and as we head towards the new season later on in the year. The boots will definitely be a change as the new season rolls around but will they be the Nike's or something different I guess we will see nearer the time. 

What do you always have in your game day bag?

The football boots I am currently wishing I could purchase...

It is safe to say that brands are absolutely smashing 2024 when it comes to the new boot releases. Every week there seems to be a new pair being released that goes straight to the top of my wish list as the releases just seem to be getting better and better however, they unfortunately seem to be getting more and more expensive putting them out of a lot of players price brackets. Even with those high prices though we are seeing some boots selling out straight away as they are throwbacks for the older players and who doesn't want a remake of the boot they grew up playing in? 

Today's post is all about those boots I would love to pick up if I was in the market to buy a new pair (which I could be soon) and if money was no object and let's just say this list was very hard to narrow down. So here are the boots that made the cut...


Adidas Predator Elite Tongue 

At retail a pair of these in the firm ground variant would set you back £240 however, it is a case of being able to wear a classic boot once more. The more I see these boots the more I fall in love with them as the colours work well together and create that standout boot with a classic look. I am not usually an Adidas fan these days however, these are definitely top of the list for wanting to buy currently.


Nike Phantom Luna 2 Elite

I am not usually a fan of black and white boots as I find them a little bit boring however, these are a little different I guess. The texture on the top of the boot just adds a little bit of something extra without the fear of it being too much to effect the touch of the ball at your feet. The big gold Swoosh also stands out nicely and the colours merge into each other really well. The added bonus with these is the fact some of my favourite players are currently wearing these boots too.


Adidas Copa Pure 2 Elite+  FG 

I am sure I said earlier in the post I am not usually a fan of Adidas but here we go with another pair I am absolutely loving at the moment. They are smashing it with every release at the moment and these Copa Pure's are totally different to any boots I would normally gravitate towards as they are far too white for me however, I am loving how the colours work together on this silhouette. If I was opting for a more toned down pair of boots this pair would certainly be high up the list.



Nike Air Zoom Mercurial Superfly IX Elite x Air Max Plus FG

There are two things that I really love buying are football boots and trainers so this would be the perfect pair of boots for me in reality as it combines the two really well. The purple trainer version is a pair I have wanted for a while however, haven't felt confident to buy as they are a standout pair for sure however, I feel they would work so much better for me on the football pitch where I prefer the boots that stand out. If money was no object then these are what I would be rocking ASAP. 


 Nike Phantom Luna Elite FG SE 

Oh look another pair of Nike Phantom Luna Elite's but this time it is the special edition pair that just gets more special every time you see them. The colour is absolutely gorgeous on this pair ad in the different Swoosh placement and the amazing detail surrounding the heel placement and you are onto a real winner, plus the sole plate is brilliant and a stand out on its own. Although these look that nice I do believe if I got them I would prefer to have them on display rather than actually wearing them on game days.


Puma Future 7 Ultimate FTR GF/AG

Finally a Puma pair have made it onto the wish list. I have had a few take down models of Puma's in the past so I think it is about time I treated myself to a top end model to see just how good their boots are. I have always liked the Puma's I have had in the past so I am not quite sure why it has taken me so long to get a new pair from the brand. These Future 7's are really standing out to me though as the colour way stands out just the right amount and the colours actually work really well together. The sole plate is a real winner for me as the metallic look works well with the boots upper colours and adds a bit of a standout to the boots without overshadowing the rest of the design. 



IDA Rise Women's Football Boots

Now these are actually the cheapest pair on the list and also the pair I am most likely to purchase first as the concept is one I am wanting to try. The Vegan leather boots are made to a unique female foot mould meaning the are likely to fit my feet better than any of the other boots on this wish list. I really want to pick up some boots from this brand to see what difference there actually is between the standard boots from the big brands & these female specific ones. Comfort would surely increase but how would the overall feel be on the pitch on game day. Hopefully I will pick up a pair soon to see for myself.

There you go those are the boots I would absolutely love to pick up if money was no object. If I had to pick a pair to buy first I honestly think I would struggle to decide as they are all great pairs however, I could be tempted to try something away from the usual Nike & Adidas maybe the IDA pair to see how the women's specific boots feel compared to others or even a pair of New Balance for something totally different as I have never owned a pair of New Balance before. I guess only time will tell though and we will have to wait and see what my next pair of boots actually is.

The perfect gift ideas for the footballer in your life...

Christmas is upon us and it is the time of year where family start asking what you would like to receive on Christmas day. Players it is time to start thinking about replacing those items you wear every training session that are starting to fall apart, family members of players why not treat the player to something that is going to help them not just this current season but future seasons too. Today's post is one packed full of ideas from stocking fillers to those more expensive items the player might be holding off buying. Finding the right gift can be hard work but for a player who spends most of their days doing something football related you can't go wrong with these ideas...

Shin pads

Shin pads aren't always the first thing you think of when sending someone a gift however, it is one that most players would probably be grateful for as their current ones might be years old and starting to stink. There are plenty of options out there for every price point when it comes to shin pads but why not do something a bit more personal for the player and surprise them with some personalized shin pads? They could simply be there name & number or even have some of their favourite pictures on them, it just makes the gift that little bit more unique.

Calendar for fixtures

Now this is one that is not only great for the player but the rest of the family too as it can be hung for everyone to see. Having a calendar hung with all the fixtures and training sessions on just means there is no confusion leading to double booking or even turning up at the wrong place at the wrong time. If there are multiple players in the family why not get a family calendar with multiple columns for each player broken into times so there is no confusion over where everyone is meant to be and lifts can be arranged if needed so no one misses out on game day.

Grip Socks

Grip socks have really taken over in the world of football and the majority of players these days are seen wearing them with sock sleeves or the feet of their club socks cut out. They stop your feet sliding around in your boot and just provide a fit that a club sock might not, I know I personally prefer grip socks over normal ones as I just feel that bit more secure. These would be the perfect stocking filler for any player and if you check out GripSockz and use the code EDGEOFTHEAREA20 you can get some money off your order.

Team merchandise

Most teams these days have their own merchandise so why not get the player kitted out in their clubs colours whether it is for day to day wear, training or pre-match. Typically clubs offer hats, t-shirts and hoodies so why not see what the club offers and pick up a few pieces for the player. Not only are you helping the player represent their club you will also be helping the club as the funds will no doubt go to them.

Training wear

If the player doesn't have a specific training kit they have to wear a nice shirt and shorts set might help them head into the second half of the season with a bit more confidence. Alternatively if the player heads to the gym outside of football training a nice set for this will come in handy and just give them something different to wear rather than wearing the clubs training kit every session.

Massage gun

Now this is a great idea especially for us older players who might ache the day after games or training sessions however, it would also be great for those constantly training. There is nothing worse than waking up with your legs aching when you know you are going to be training again the next day. A massage gun can be used post game/training session to loosen those muscles and try reduce the intensity of the aches and pains. Massage guns used to to cost an absolute fortune but these days you can pick them up at various prices.

Care package

A little care package would be nice especially if a player is out injured. It could be filled with treats, books or things to simply help pass the time on the sidelines until they are recovered, a little basket filled with all the players favourite things would be sure to brighten up their Christmas. For those still playing it could be filled with novelty but useful bits such as plasters, deep heat, hand warmers and hot drinks sachets just for them to keep in their bag throughout the remainder of the season.

Medical supplies

If you don't fancy going down the care package routine and fancy some stocking fillers for the player when not pick them up some medical supplies that they can keep to hand seen as knocks are part and parcel of the game. There are a few different bits that any player would be happy to be stocked up on such as heat packs, deep heat, deep freeze, plasters of all kinds and even bandages, if the player usually has energy gels in a game these could also be used as a stocking filler.

Boot buddy

There is nothing worse than muddy boots so a Boot Buddy or any other boot cleaner would definitely help out any player you are purchasing for. Here in the UK you never seem to be able to escape the mud and if left it just makes a real mess of your boots which are too expensive to get ruined these days. The Boot Buddy is a really inexpensive gift that can make cleaning those boots a whole lot easier than using the standard products. This is definitely going onto my own Christmas wish list.

Boot bag or Kit bag

All these new items need somewhere to live so why not treat the player to a new boot bag or kit bag that is big enough to store everything in. Again you can possibly get a team bag or Nike & Miss Kick have some great options to cover all basis. These will vary in price so it depends what type you are after but a new bag for the new year would be great for the player heading into the second half of the season as it isn't always something the player would think of upgrading themselves.

New boots

Possibly the most obvious gift idea is a pair of new boots to go into the second half of the season with a nice fresh pair. Boots have definitely shot up in price but you can find them at a mixture price points so there is something for every budget. What player doesn't want to open a fresh pair of boots at Christmas? Just make sure you know what surface they are needed for.

So there you have it that is our women's football player gift guide, check back next week to see our fans gift guide with plenty of ideas for those who love to spend their time watching the game. There are plenty of options to treat the footballer in your life to at various price points whether it is a stocking filler or a main gift there is something for everyone. If you play football what would you love to receive this Christmas?

In conversation with Everton's Emily Ramsey

 

Here we are back with another 'In conversation piece' but this time it is a little bit more special as it is with our first full professional footballer and it is a player we have enjoyed watching in the WSL. Just before the start of this season we were given the amazing opportunity to sit down and have a chat with Everton's Emily Ramsey. 

In the chat we got to know more about her experiences growing up and being a part of some of the big clubs from a young age. It was great to get to know about a player who has a lot of potential in the future and is putting in some great performances even at a young age. Ramsey is only 23 years old but has already played and trained along side some brilliant players whilst also seeing first hand how the women's game has developed since she first signed a professional contract. So here is how our chat with Emily Ramsey went...

EOTA : What made you want to be a keeper in first place, it's obviously not many peoples 1st pick for positions?

ER : Yeah I always just had a love for it from when I was really young and I used to play with my dad & my brother. I used to play with like the little sponge ball when I was tiny (about 4 or 5). 

When I decided I wanted to play for a team so went down to the one my brother used to play for (Deans),  it was a boys team who were a year old than me and they basically said I couldn't play unless I went in goal. I already kind of liked it so I thought OK why not I'll give it a shot & loved it. I was in net again the next year and then year after I went to United as a 'keeper and literally never looked back.

EOTA : So typical case back then of the only way of being on the boys team?

ER : Yeah shoved in because I am a girl but it worked out though

EOTA : With Mary Earps being in the news more often do you think it is going to spur more girls on to start taking that path of being a 'keeper?

ER : Yeah definitely I think Mary's been a massive role model for me and a lot of young 'keepers. I think we've really seen it over the past couple of years with the success shes had with the lionesses and with United you really see people coming down to games with an Earps shirt on and as a 'keeper its rare that happens, your family might wear a goalie shirt but they are normally the only ones. 

But I think that its really inspiring to see that Mary's really caught the attention of young girls and she is going to bring a next generation through that are going to want to be goalkeepers. Like I just said about me it was more I got shoved in net and found out that I loved it, it wasn't a decision on I am going to be a goalkeeper and my role models were all male and I think it is just really inspiring for those young girls to have role models like Mary and the other keepers coming through that they can look up to and try follow in the foot steps of. 

EOTA : Obviously you've been at big clubs like United and under great 'keepers like Earps & now Brosnan what sort of things do they teach you?

ER : I think it is really important for me like especially throughout my career to take little things from everyone that I have worked with and just sort of be a sponge and soak up information. Obviously it is important the coaches you work with too, I've worked with a lot of really good goalkeeper coaches and taken a lot from them and I sort of found my own style from blending different things and trying different things . 

The first big goalkeeper I worked with was Siobhan Chamberlain and I learnt a lot from her, a lot of things that worked for me and a lot that didn't, its sort of a trial and error process. Then obviously working with Mary under Wilko (who is the goalkeeper coach at United), he is brilliant. Then you find out other things too, like as a goalkeeper everyone is different with different styles, I have a different physique to some 'keepers so what works for Mary might not work for me but just sort of watching things in training more than anything asking questions, I am not afraid to ask questions in training but I think just when you are rotated out and just watching seeing what they do and trying it for yourself helps. Same with Courtney now I think we are very open and honest in training with our discussions of well I did this and it worked for me and in this situation this is what helped me to make that save etc... and I think that's whats really put us both in a good position of last season of both playing well and getting the success because we were so open in terms of how we were going to improve.

EOTA : Obviously there is always talk of the goalkeeper union, that must be like a little pact you've got going on?

ER : Yeah it is true like you spend every day as a small group of people they may just be 3 or 4 of you every single day on the training pitch and you've got to learn how that dynamic works and I think it creates this little bubble of we are friends, yeah we are competing against each other but we are also friends and we are going to find out what makes the environment so successful, how we can improve it and how we can keep that intensity in a session. So you've got to get on with your 'keepers and look out for your 'keepers and I think that is really important. I have trained on my own before and it is rubbish so its important to have those people around you.

EOTA : You've signed now for Everton full time what were the thoughts behind that leaving United and moving across?

ER : I wanted to play, I think realistically looking at United with Mary I wasn't going to get the opportunities I wanted so I knew from last season that wasn't maybe the path I wanted to go down. Then obviously I had a really enjoyable year last year with Everton, played a good amount and was hoping for more but unfortunately I got an injury. But I think I really found a level within myself that I was happy with and I was performing well. I got called up to England and I felt happy in the environment too, it's such a welcoming club and with the new manager the ambition of the club is really good and I just felt that the direction we were moving in off the back of last season into this season was just really positive and I wanted to be a part of it and try for this season to be more successful. 

EOTA : Obviously Everton have had a dip in recent seasons but are starting to rise back up again what do you think your addition can bring to the club?

ER : Yeah obviously a couple of years ago they had their struggles with a lot of different managers and the squad didn't seem so settled but coming in last year like we have a great environment and we are always learning & looking to improve. We obviously have the new direction of Brian Sorensen as well so it has been really positive for us and I think looking at this year its only going to go up the direction of the club, plus we've got good signings in. I was here last year so its been easy for me to in bed into it but all of the girls we've brought in have really fit in to the group well and are really good footballers but more importantly they are really good people and its only going to help our team environment. 

EOTA : You mentioned earlier about football inspirations and that they were really all male so who was your biggest footballing inspiration?

ER : It was Edwin Van der Sar, that was like my era. Growing up I loved football and as a young kid I was football mad. My family are all massive United fans so I was watching United and that is when Van der Sar was in net and he was just unreal. I remember my cousin got me a United shirt for my birthday and it was the Van der Sar shirt, the blue goalie one with white across and Van der Sar on the back. I loved it so much that I didn't take it off for like 2 weeks, I used to sleep in it and everything. I loved it because I had never had my own United shirt before either, I always just got hand me downs off my brothers and sister so I just thought it was the best thing ever. So Van der Sar was a massive one for me. I was just moving to United at the time, I was a 'keeper and I just looked up to him so much he was incredible. 

EOTA : So if you had to pick from the women's game as well do you have any inspirations from there?

ER : I think the first 'keeper I ever saw from women's football and thought WOW was Hope Solo, I remember the first world cup I ever watched was the one in Canada. Then around that same time was KB (Karen Bardsley),  as well as Shiv (Siobhan Chamberlain), who obviously I used to see and look up to and then I got the chance to play with her. But I would say first is Hope Solo but then probably KB then Shiv. 

I was still young when I got to work with Siobhan and then I got to play with Mary (Earps) and those players I will always say have a big impact on my career but from being younger and seeing it i would prob's say KB (Bardsley) is also a big inspiration.

EOTA : The women's game is not really full time at all levels yet so if wasn't in top flight and was in a lower level semi pro team with a job what do you think you would be doing?

ER : As a job on the side? I think I would probably be working in the police, because that is what both my parents did, they used to work in like CSI forensic science stuff and I always found it really interesting. So I reckon I would probably just have followed in their footsteps and gone down that path which still sounds like a pretty good job to be fair. I am glad I just don't have to explore those options right now. 

EOTA : So last question the WSL now has designated away ends. What do you think it will mean having those fans behind you if they get behind the goals each away day?

ER : I think its a really big step actually in terms of creating that fan culture in women's football. I think we've had a lot of progress with the Lionesses as it has inspired a lot of kids so you get a lot of families coming to games. But I also think that some clubs like Everton are really good too at leading the way at bringing almost the same environment as at men's football and bringing it to the women's game. The chants, competition and rivalry you see at Walton Hall Park are great... there's chants there's football songs and just enthusiasm from the fans and I think that is a big step for women's football to take as its a family sport like 'what a good day out' which is great because we get to inspire the girls but also for us on the pitch if you feel that passion from the fans it gives you something else.

I remember the first derby last year at Anfield, the Everton fans you could hear all game louder than the Liverpool fans and we went on & played great and performed on the pitch with the backing of them fans. I think it is something United are good at too with their fans, Arsenal are good too and I think it is going to create a better atmosphere for even away games as we will go to away games and you will get stick from the home fans or hear your fans backing you in a tough moment and i think its just something that for me is really exciting if women's football can develop that.

EOTA : Like you say it should pick up that atmosphere we've been to games in the past when it has more or less been silent, you can hear the players more than fans

ER : Its cos your a city fan (after seeing the signed shirts in the back ground) 

EOTA : Believe it or not its not actually City, we have United season tickets and watch anyone really (laughing) 

ER : OK I can't say anything about that then can i (whilst laughing ). The dedicated areas definitely help with the atmosphere though as it just makes the fans louder.

We then ended the conversation with a little game of this or that for a little bit of fun and this is how it went...

EOTA : Save a last minute penalty or go up and score a last minute goal?

ER : (After a bit of thinking) er penalty, last minute save. 

EOTA: Night game or early game?

ER : Early game, I don't like waiting around. 

EOTA : This seasons Everton home or away kit?

ER : Home the away outfield I am not a fan of.

EOTA : Finally plain gloves or bright gloves?

ER : Bright, I like to see my hands and feel like I look good. All whites the best though. 

So there you have it that is our conversation with Everton's Emily Ramsey, granted we have seen since this interview took place a mixed bag of fortune for Everton with them only just really starting to find their feet in the season however, we are looking forward to seeing how the rest of the 23/24 season progresses for both Emily and the club. 

Thank you to Emily Ramsey & Everton for making this chat possible, who would have thought 4 years ago when this site first started we would be getting to chat to players from the English top flight? Who would you like to see us chat to next?