From Le Harve to Lewes: Rhian Cleverly’s multicultural football upbringing

Bristol, Le Harve, Mardy, New York and now The Dripping Pan… Rhian Cleverly has had plenty of places she has called home.

A defender for FA Women’s Championship outfit Lewes Women, who pay their players the same level as their men’s side, Rhian Cleverly’s story is an intriguing one.

Her beginnings originate from Newport, where she was born. Mardy was the team she was aligned to as a youngster, featuring for their underage sides. However Mardy is a very different setting to New Island.

The Rooks captain to a number of countries where she has taken in a number of footballing cultures with America perhaps the most challenging.

For three years of her life, she was a student at Hofstra University, which is in New York. Alongside her job in the States, she would also juggle playing for the University’s football team. 

 “It’s like a different sport out in America forcing you to become more athletic and more emphasis on how fast you are, fit you are, how strong you are always asking new questions.”

“The game is less technical than say playing in France and Britain as they are more focused on that, you could probably get away with that if you’re not the quickest, so for me personally it was a struggle and it made me more aware of my weaknesses that I’m not the fastest player in the World.”

“The change of culture of how different people speak and are brought up, makes you a lot more aware of differences and maybe how your brought up is not the same as everyone else.

Had Cleverly not taken up the opportunity, her career may have been different, however it is one she is glad she took.

“It would have been interesting to see what would’ve happened if I stayed,” added Cleverly. “But it was a no brainer for me and it was an opportunity that I definitely think was one of the best things I’ve ever done.”  

After Cleverly’s time in America she moved to France for a year, alongside another Wales youth international in Ellie Leek, who is now a teammate with her at Lewes.

Her sole responsibility was to be a footballer, a position she had never experienced before. For Rhian she would have other aspects of life to focus on.

However French side Le Harve came calling and for a year she was able to prepare for the modernisation of the Women’s game in England which was to come.

Rhian would finish second in the league with Le Harve, a respectable finish, highlighting her ability to adapt to a different culture of football.

“In France they were all very relaxed, they wanted me to have a good lifestyle…it’s your only job to play football, we weren’t allowed to work or study. I felt more pressure that I had to be good at football so I always tried doing extra gym sessions, more practise but they would take the footballs from us and kick us out of the gyms, they always said we must rest.”

“It taught me that sometimes less is more, for the first time waking up for the game on Sunday, I felt fresh and buzzing for the game with my body feeling good.”

“In America it’s more you play a game on the Friday and a game on the Sunday, by the time the game comes around on Sunday you’re barely able to get out of bed.”

At Lewes, she is surrounded by fellow countrywomen. Emily Jones, Nicola Cousins and Samantha Quayle have all represented either the Welsh senior team or the age grade teams.

But barring a select number of appearances for Emma Jones, most have been overlooked in recent years for a senior international call up. This is despite the second tier of Women’s football in England becoming professionalised in recent years, which has fit into the departing Jayne Ludlow’s philosophy.

Cleverly has been showing quality on the pitch in recent performances for her club side, featuring in 11 matches and scoring once.

But for now, she can only reminisce of her time with Wales, but she hopes to return to the national setup soon: “I loved my time at Wales playing for the U17 and U19s teams, getting my senior cap is one memory I will look back on and really smile.” 

“The Welsh team is getting so much more competitive with youngsters coming through and it’s so nice to see. I’d love to be a part of that and I’m keeping a close eye on it, but we will see, I’ll keep playing well for Lewes and you never know.”

Cleverly plays her football across the border but as mentioned, her youth career began with Mardy Tigers.

Women’s football in Wales is going through an overhaul and a restructure of the pyramid will come into affect this summer.

The FAW are also in search of a successor to Jayne Ludlow, making this a huge year for the future of Welsh Women’s football. 

Her opinion on the game in Wales is for more financial support for clubs as well as building a stronger infrastructure in academies: “It starts at grassroots teams, when I was playing with Mardy Tigers, there’s got to be those teams there, maybe providing a bit more support for these teams.”

“I think if we could pump a bit more money and support into it is only going to make the quality better in the long run.”

 “I also think the academy’s, like they are doing with the WSL and Bristol for example, allows you to do your education as well as play. Something like that needs to be in Wales, then players wouldn’t have to leave.”

 “I went to America and maybe that’s why I’m out of the loop with the national team.  If we just keep pushing those limits keeping up with the likes of Scotland and England.

“Yes we are a smaller country but there are good people in place, it just takes time, but I think things are going to be bright for Wales in the future.”

(Featured Image: Will Cheshire)