Impetus welcomes new contributor Abi Ticehurst and her first piece is a detailed look at Barclays FA Women’s Super League side Reading’s new summer signings and the influence that they have had at The Madejski Stadium this season.
As a consistently mid-table team, in the last few years at least, clubs like Reading tend to be forgotten because they’re not ‘Top 4’ or in a ‘relegation scrap’. Nonetheless, the departure of players from Reading at the end of a somewhat controversial 2019/20 Women’s Super League season will have had those watching the women’s game concerned and undoubtedly sent any fan into a flurry of panic, as the Royals found themselves in a slightly disappointing 5th place. With the development of the pandemic, Reading were quick to furlough all their staff and players, further adding to the concern that they were going to get left behind when the transfer window opened on the 19th of June.
Radio silence for almost a month…
Then with no hints or clue whatsoever, Reading announced the signing of Arsenal legend Danielle Carter and a sigh of relief was no doubt felt amongst followers as the ball, pun intended, was set rolling. And Reading did not disappoint, Carter was swiftly followed by fellow Gunner and Scotland international Emma Mitchell, whilst Deanna Cooper made the switch from midnight to royal blue. Second choice keeper Rachael Laws departed and she was quickly superseded by New Zealand international Erin Nayler from French club Bordeaux, whilst Jess Fishlock’s arrival from OL Reign was both unexpected but not a total surprise. Fishlock was back from injury after almost 18 months out, but was now faced with a ‘play or retire’ predicament with the NWSL season cancelled and as such gravitated somewhat organically to Reading as a home from home set-up, with four fellow Welsh players, Tash Harding, Rachel Rowe, Angharad James and Lily Woodham, already in the squad. A final surprise signing in the shape of Jeon Ga-eul from Bristol City, who had initially joined ‘The Robins’ just as the country went into its first lockdown, the South Korean is a decorated player with 38 goals and 101 appearances, she’s the country’s fifth most capped player and their second-highest goal scorer. Also worth noting is the six academy players who made the step up to first team duties this season in the shape of Molly Childerhouse, Lily Woodham, Emma Harries, Kiera Skeels, Bethan Roberts and Sophie Quirk.
So, what kind of impact have the six summer arrivals had at Reading? Impact is obviously a fairly subjective word, do we look solely to statistics, consider game time, goals scored, assists given or do we delve a little more qualitatively to team efforts or off the pitch contributions? The answer is both.
Danielle Carter ticks all the boxes when it comes to on pitch impact, for Arsenal and England that is at least, with 101 appearances and 28 goals for the club and 50 caps, 19 goals, a hat trick on her senior debut and a GB gold medal for country. Plagued by two ACL injuries in as little as 14 months, Carter found herself on the sidelines for her final two years at Arsenal so a move to a club like Reading, who typically favour experience over youth in their squad, seemed like a natural transition. Facing off against Arsenal in the opening game of the season, the less said about that game the better, Carter was able to scrap home a single goal on her debut for the Royals when Zinsberger fumbled the ball in the box. Carter has become somewhat of an ‘impact sub’, fresh legs with a bit of pace still in her, she’s able to latch on to a tricky ball in the box. She made the most of a Mitchell free-kick against Manchester United to head home a winning ball and take her goal tally to two. Off the pitch, she recently launched a campaign on her social media to send out the spare boots she’s been gifted to those less fortunate and was able to reach girls in the UK, as well as in India, South Africa and Saudi Arabia.
Emma Mitchell was out of sorts struggling to get game time at Arsenal before a loan move to Tottenham in January of 2020, but the pandemic hit shortly after so once again she found herself without football. Then the chance to move to Reading came about in the summer and she was keen to head south of London. Mitchell has settled effortlessly into the backline of Reading and has been vital in denying opponents efforts. Not a one trick pony either, she is the set piece queen, pinpoint corners and soaring free-kicks, Reading really have capitalised on her abilities, most recently against Arsenal and Manchester United. Outside of football, she’s talked candidly about her mental health struggles and how important it is to be an advocate and encourage people to discuss how they’re feeling, whether it’s good or bad.
Deanna Cooper had much of her Chelsea success when she first joined in 2017 when the one-off competition FA WSL Spring Series ran. Similarly to Carter, she was hit with an ACL the following season, despite this she still signed a two year contract extension in March 2018. Cooper then made the move to Reading as a spot in the starting Chelsea squad became increasingly competitive. Cooper often goes under the radar in terms of recognition, but she’s already established herself well in defense and made some crucial blocks in front of goal, in particular the 1-1 draw against Bristol City. She slots in effectively alongside Emma Mitchell and Molly Bartrip.
Perhaps unfortunately for Erin Nayler, Grace Moloney is well established as first choice keeper and as a result has made just one appearance for Reading so far this season. A 3-0 defeat to West Ham in the group stage of the Continental Cup. Nayler is suitably impressive on the international stage, having been the Ferns goalkeeper in three World Cups and holding England to an historic 1-0 win in June. She seems content at Reading so no doubt there is plenty of time for her to get minutes on the clock and showcase that international talent.
Jess Fishlock has had arguably the biggest impact both on and off the pitch for Reading. With potentially more to prove than any of the other signings having been out of the English game since 2013 and back from an injury that stopped her from playing for the 18 months prior to signing with the Royals. Fishlock is a playmaker, she’s the midfield missing link and despite being one of the older players in the squad, she shows no signs of slowing down as she runs box-to-box week in, week out. She’s got the hunger to strike too and has 3 league goals to her name so far this season. I suspect much of the reason she fits in this team so well is having her well compatriots on the team as they are able to utilise the previous playing years together. She’s often brutally honest when talking about individual and team performances which can be really refreshing in a time when women’s football is becoming more professional and possibly more ‘sanitised’ as a consequence. When she’s not commanding the field, she’s highlighting social injustices in the game including racism and homophobia. As well as giving a voice to charity initiatives such as the regeneration of Llanrumney Hall who provided free meals at Christmas for the local community.
Jeon Ga-eul comes with real credentials as the first South Korean player in the NWSL and the W-League. An unfortunate time to make her Bristol City debut it seems as the pandemic hit, she eventually made the switch to Reading during the summer. She made her starting debut on October 7th in Reading’s 4-0 home win over Charlton in the Continental Cup and made the starting line-up in the following league games against Birmingham City and West Ham. She hasn’t made an appearance since having not been part of the subs bench either with the physio team at Reading conforming on the club website that she suffered a hip injury during training in November and has undergone surgery as a result. She is currently undergoing rehabilitation and they hope to reintegrate back into individual and team training.
The January window closed on the 28th of the month so it’s worth noting that it was relatively quiet for the Royals, they did however very casually announce the signing of Silvana Flores, former Arsenal and Chelsea player, just 18 and already impressing on the international stage for Mexico. Emma Harries did however sign her first professional contract having been at the club since the age of 8 and proving her worth in recent weeks by causing problems for opposing defenders. A debut goal is without a doubt pending for the Reading born and bred striker. A proper academy product if we do say so ourselves! Meanwhile, Sophie Quirk is out on loan to Championship side London Bees, whilst Kiera Skeels has made a loan move to FAWSL relegation candidates, Bristol City with it difficult for the defender to find a first team spot having the more experienced Mitchell and Cooper in the starting line-ups.
To find out more about Abi and Impetus’ other contributors, visit: https://impetus885775742.wordpress.com/about-our-contributors/
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