Ashlee Hincks played in the very first WSL match, as well as two FA Cup Finals and a League Cup Final. Now an integral part of AFC Wimbledon’s squad in tier four, the striker spoke to Ben Gilby about her career, life at the Dons, and how she’s positive that they can finally achieve promotion to tier three (15/6/23).
Above: Ashlee Hincks celebrates a goal for AFC Wimbledon at Plough Lane last season. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Emily Topping.
Ashlee Hincks is a player who has been part of the fabric of the sport in London for many years – and she is still at the top of her game with AFC Wimbledon.
The striker’s footballing journey has taken her from her back garden at the youngest of ages to the highest level of the game in England.
“My parents tell me I have always been holding or kicking a ball ever since I was able to walk. They took me to join my first all-girls team aged seven and I haven’t turned back since. I have many many highlights.
“My first senior debut for Charlton Athletic when I was 17 (playing in the top tier), winning what is now the Conti with Charlton, playing in two FA Cup Finals, one with Charlton and one with Chelsea, my first game with England, scoring on my debut, playing in Iceland for a season. Playing in the first-ever WSL game for Chelsea – those are just to name a few.
“If you would have told me at the start of the WSL what it would be today I never would have believed you, the growth has been incredible and I am proud to have played a small part in that.”
After spells at Millwall and Crystal Palace, the striker, now aged 34, has just come to the end of her second season with AFC Wimbledon in the tier four FA Women’s National League Division One South-East – and she is still hitting the heights.
“I have made 56 appearances for the Dons, scored 75 goals, and have 35 assists to my name.”
However, Hincks brings more than just goals to the table. She is an intelligent reader of the game who is hugely influential on the younger heads around her. “I think with my experience I lead from the front, trying to control the tempo of the game with link-up play or hold-up play game dependant, I also think I’m very reliable.”
Her current achievements are also that bit more impressive when you consider that Hincks suffered an ACL injury three years ago. That period is one that the attacker looks back on as the most challenging of her career.
AFC Wimbledon continue to be a real force in tier four, although for the second successive season, despite beating a number of teams from the division above in cup competitions, they narrowly missed out on promotion.
Unbeaten in the league since the end of August, the Dons took four points off of eventual champions Hashtag United, but a single league defeat to Queen’s Park Rangers was enough to deny them top spot.
“It is extremely frustrating as the points dropped are purely our mistake. Credit to Hashtag United though, they were ruthless throughout.”
Whilst the title race in the FA Women’s National League Division One South-East was tight, two clubs in the division, Hounslow and Wymondham Town folded during the season with their respective records expunged. In terms of how Hincks views the situation, the striker says: “Albeit two teams folded in our league in general I think the standard and quality is very high for tier four.
“One thing I would like to see is more teams from the division below enter our league and expand the league to more teams which will help the competition. There are some fantastic teams in tier five with great financial backing which would only improve the quality. The quality would then only filter down the leagues as it already has since the WSL and Championship have gone pretty much full-time.”
After two successive near misses, AFC Wimbledon are determined to finally make the step up to tier three this time next season, something which has been aided by the fact that so many of the squad have extended their deals for another year.
“I think the fact majority have already committed to next season is the key to gaining promotion, any successful team I have played in has kept the core group for a few seasons before success.”
Hincks is one of those to agree to another season in the blue and yellow, and for the striker, it was an easy decision to make.
“AFC Wimbledon is a real family. From the moment I signed, I have felt such loyalty from the club, which is very rare in the women’s game. They go above and beyond to give us everything they can. With us being fan owed and the links being much closer, things also get done a lot quicker than they would do in say a Premier League-linked club. It really is an honour to wear the shirt and I hope this season is the season I help us get to tier three.
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