If you had asked Lily Woodham how this season would pan out, what she’s gone on to do wouldn’t have been at the top of the list.
Having been appointed as Reading captain at the start of the season, Woodham now finds herself in the NWSL with Seattle Reign.
The bright lights of the Emerald City are a far cry from the streets of Reading, but when the call came about a potential move to the West Coast, it was a move that Woodham simply couldn’t turn down.
“I was honoured to be named captain of Reading and I didn’t think anything would happen this season in terms of a move. Over the Christmas period, this offer came about, and my agent got in touch with me.
“Him and Jess always asked if I’d ever go over there, and I’d always say at some point I would, but I didn’t know when. I’ve got to thank those two a lot for getting me over there and then I went out in late January. As soon as it came up, I wanted to go, and I left Reading on good terms.
“Seattle is really good, and I’m really enjoying it. It is a long way from home for me, but everyone has been so welcoming, and the team have been really friendly, along with the manager and the staff. The settling in process has been really easy.”
A quick glance at the Reign squad, and you can see why a player like Woodham would relish the opportunity to go over there.
Of course, the presence of Jess Fishlock and Angharad James is a big selling point, but there are so many international stars there.
Sofia Huerta has over 30 caps for the USA, Jordyn Huitema and Quinn are mainstays for the Canadian national team, while Ji So-yun is an icon of women’s football.
Seattle has a good mix of youth and experience, and Woodham is enjoying the opportunity to learn from everyone.
“It’s been so nice having Jess and Haz there. I’ve always looked up to both of them, regardless of them being on the same team as me. To be able to play with them now at club level as well as with Wales is incredible.
“Everyone else in the team is so good. I’m constantly learning from players who are older than me, players who are the same age, and I’ve learned a lot already and picking their brains.”
Along with an elite squad, Reign also have an elite manager.
Laura Harvey has seen and done it all. A WSL winning manager with Arsenal, an FA Cup winner, a three-time NWSL Coach of the Year, and she was linked with the Chelsea job when Emma Hayes announced she would be leaving at the end of the season.
Having a manager of that calibre has certainly helped the flying full-back settle in quicker in Washington State.
“Working with Laura has been really good. It’s hard to describe, but she is just so nice. She’s friendly, she’s always in the changing room asking how we are and everything, and that really does go a long way.
“In terms of the football side, the details that she gives and the confidence you gain from it is really helpful.”
Harvey has made an impact on both sides of the pond. One manager hoping to do the same now is new Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson.
Rhian Wilkinson names first Wales squad ahead of European Qualifiers
While the squad have only been together for a couple of days with the Canadian, Woodham does believe this feels like a new era for Wales and revealed she had conversation with the new head coach while out in the US.
“Rhian is good. It’s been good to have someone new in who has different ideas, and we’re learning new things as a result of that. I had a phone call with her before coming onto camp and she wished us luck for our first game of the season against Washington Spirit.
“It was really good to have some contact with her before we got in here. It’s all about building that relationship now, but so far so good.”
Now with a new qualification campaign on the horizon, there’s perhaps an expectation from the Welsh public ahead of these games.
Having been relegated from League A, Wales now find themselves in League B and are the highest ranked team in their group.
For Woodham, she’s looking forward to kicking off the campaign and says Wales have a better chance than ever before of reaching their first major tournament.
“This qualification campaign is an exciting one. We’ve got a good chance of getting through and everyone is really up for it. Everyone knows this is a big one for us.
“We haven’t achieved qualification before, and now is a really good time for us to do it. We’ve got a few younger players who are coming in and we’re developing as a squad, and everything is really exciting.”
Wilkinson and Wales’ first game of the campaign sees them take on Croatia at the STōK Cae Ras.
For the players, this theatre of Welsh football is a new venue for many of them, and Woodham is looking forward to playing in front of new fans, and more importantly, getting the three points.
“Croatia will be a tough game. It’s nice to be playing it in North Wales and in a new stadium with a new set of fans, and hopefully a lot of people come out for it.
“We’ll do everything we can to win the game, then we can fly to Kosovo in a positive mood and try and get two wins under our belts early on.”
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