Wales star Carrie Jones looks ahead to new Swedish season

Ireland 0-1 Wales. 67 minutes played. Rhian Wilkinson’s side had quietened the cauldron that was the Aviva Stadium, but a second goal would turn that quiet into sheer panic. Step up Carrie Jones.

Getting on the end of Lily Woodham’s pinpoint through ball, Jones shrugged off the challenge of Niamh Fahey, before proceeding to fire the ball past the reach of Courtney Brosnan and into the bottom corner. Cue pandemonium on and off the pitch for those associated with Cymru.

Even three months on from that night in Dublin, that goal is still a source of joy for so many of us, including Jones herself.

“I can’t lie, I’ve thought about that game and that goal every day since it happened, and I’ve watched the goal every day since too! It was an incredibly special moment. Me getting emotional in the interview afterwards summed it up in a way.”

Even the merest mention of what happened across the Irish Sea can bring tears of joy to the eyes of fans, and even the players still get a little giddy over what happened.

Despite playing two games since qualifying for the Euros, parts of this historic achievement won’t sink in until that first game against The Netherlands in Lucerne.

“Parts of what we’ve done have sunk in. A lot of us during the last camp looked back on it, and we were all watching it back, looking at each other, and we all just smiled and asking ourselves, what have we done? It’s one thing achieving it but actually being there is a whole different thing. That’s what’s next for us now.”

But what that night in the Irish capital proved is just how much Jones has developed in such a short space of time.

Since returning into the fold under Gemma Grainger, we’ve seen the winger grow and discover a new found confidence, and good luck stopping her now.

“I have felt a big development in myself over the last few years. Maybe not in the first year because I was a bit younger, a bit more naïve, but now I feel like I’ve got a good mindset, and I do make sure I look back and recognise how far I’ve come.

“As footballers, I think we always look ahead to what’s next. Sometimes it gets us down, but now I’ve got a very balanced mindset, and it is important to see how far I’ve come.”

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New Swedish Season

Undoubtedly, a big factor in Jones’ development has been her move to Sweden, and to Damallsvenskan side Nörrkoping.

Having been relegated with Bristol City at the end of the last WSL season, Jones made the unexpected and inspiring move over to Scandinavia, and after half a season, she is ready to tackle this upcoming campaign head on.

“I’m really looking forward to starting this season. I joined halfway through last year, but now having done all the preseason and being around the team, it’s a really exciting time. It definitely took some adjustment for sure coming over from Bristol City, but I know I have to go into everything with an open mind.

“Even playing all through the summer takes a bit of time to get used to, but I feel my open mindset and willingness to take everything on board has really helped me, and I feel really settled now heading into the new season.”

Nörrkoping were promoted back to the Swedish topflight in 2022, and last year, recorded an impressive fifth place finish.

Now, with a new manager in place, the White and Blue are looking to push on in their quest to reach the summit.

“We finished fifth last season, and I think that was a great success considering we are quite a new team in the league. This season, Stellan Carlsson has come in as our new manager, and it is a process. We want to focus on ourselves, but we want to be aiming for the top and be better than last season.”

However, that quest to reach the top certainly isn’t going to be easy, especially considering the calibre of team in the Damallsvenskan.

Hammarby qualified for the most recent Champions League group stage, while both Rosengård and Häcken have also graced Europe’s premier competition.

Without a doubt, the league is one of the most competitive in Europe, and Jones was quick to praise the quality within it.

“The Damallsvenskan is really competitive, and I would encourage a lot of youngsters to play in this league and to play abroad in general. This is a very exciting league to be a part of and there are some real top players playing in top teams, and there’s a lot of internationals here too that you can test yourself against.”

But perhaps the biggest positive about the Swedish league is the talent that it has produced.

In the last two seasons alone, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Maika Hamano have departed Hammarby to join Arsenal and Chelsea respectively, while Rosa Kafaji also plays at the Emirates having previously been at Häcken.

Sweden is clearly a place where young players thrive, and Jones is hoping to do just that in her time with Nörrkoping.

“The talent that has come out of this league speaks for itself. The league has a rich history of bringing youngsters through, and that was something that was really attracting me to come here. It’s a place that gives a lot of opportunities to young players that want to progress in their careers, and it’s such a talented league.”

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Euros Build-up

However, Jones will only play two games at club level before she, potentially, returns to the Wales squad for the next international break.

Rhian Wilkinson’s side kicked off their Nations League campaign with a narrow defeat away to Italy, before picking up an unbelievable point against Sweden.

Jones admitted the squad weren’t delighted with what they’ve done, but that those games certainly provided a confidence boost.

“That first window was a huge confidence boost. We were content with the results we got, but also, we weren’t completely over the moon and happy because we’re a group of winners and we want to win. Against Italy, when we looked back on it, and against Sweden, some of the football that we played was good.”

The theme of the campaign so far has certainly been the emphasis on youth players.

Mayzee Davies made her first start for Wales in Monza, while Mared Griffiths made her debut in the same game.

Jones is only 21 but suddenly feels like one of the team’s senior talents, but she stressed how important it was for her to welcome new players into the camp.

“I was once the youngest player in the squad, I was once in their shoes, so I always try to make them feel as welcome as possible. It’s always hard being a youngster coming in. You’re very nervous, very shy, and I was like that, but I always try to make them feel welcome.

“We are a kind of group who does want to welcome anyone in and make them feel at home. But it’s also great to see them succeed for Wales and getting the opportunity to play.”

As Jones said herself, she was once shy and nervous, but now, she seems so much more rounded as a player.

This summer could be a breakout one for the forward, and while goal involvements are a vital part of her game, Jones says she wants to continue being a good human more than anything else, and positive things will happen off the back of that.

“As much I say we focus on ourselves as a team, obviously I do have personal goals. For Norrkoping, as a team, we want to be successful as we can in the league. I want to make sure I’m helping the team as much as I can and hopefully get a good few goals and assists under my belt.

“I want to help the team and be a real good person and character, and if I do those good things every day, I’m sure the results will come.”

(Featured Image: Ashley Crowden/FAW)