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"The Parker & Todd Pod" ACN Pod 120
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Jon and ACN debutant Ben Ambrose are joined by Norwich City Women's first teamers Alice Parker and Megan Todd to discussion the season ahead, a new head coach, fresh faces and Lionesses
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Transcript
Podcast Introduction and Team Overview
00:00:14
Speaker
Welcome to the Along Come Norwich Podcast. This is John here for a different kind of podcast and you'll notice that for probably the very first time in the history of this pod there is no alliterative form of opening words because my friend and colleague Mr Tom Parsley is sadly not with us today.
00:00:33
Speaker
Instead, joining me for his Along Come Norwich debut is formerly of Norwich Talk YouTube channel, Ben Ambrose, and he's helping me to welcome a couple of very, very special guests, Norwich City women players, Alice Parker and Megan Todd.
Team Structure and Promotion Goals
00:00:50
Speaker
We're here to talk about the women's team, their recent successes, what challenges await them in their new campaign ahead of their season opener this Sunday as they travel south of the border to take on AFC Sudbury.
00:01:02
Speaker
Megan, I'll come to you first. Conscious, some of our listeners might not be particularly familiar with the women's team and the women's setup. Could you perhaps give us a little bit of a background about the team in general, where you sit in the pyramid, and actually more importantly, what people can expect if they came to watch a game at the Nest or maybe more importantly, a game at Cara Road very soon?
00:01:25
Speaker
Yeah, so the Norwich City women's team is now part of the main football club, which happened beginning of last season. So we're now fully integrated with the main football club. We sit in tier four, which is the National League Southeast. So when you're looking at tier one, you've got the WSL, tier two championship, tier three, the Premier. We sit tier four, and we're kind of regionalized across there. We're the highest playing team in Norfolk,
00:01:55
Speaker
So yeah, we've been in that league for quite a while, so we're hoping to get out of that league, possibly this season.
Community and Fan Engagement
00:02:06
Speaker
And I think, you know, obviously I attended Carrow Road, not Carrow Road, sorry, the Nest, quite a lot, you know, kind of, and it's, it's a really nice vibe there. And I think it's something that you guys as a club have been building for some time. Alice, like what kind of thing do you think people can expect from a game at the Nest that's maybe different to say like a men's game at Carrow Road?
00:02:27
Speaker
And, you know, kind of do you kind of feel like maybe a bit of responsibility as players to create that connection? Because it's a bit more, I think it'd be fair to say, it feels a bit more grassroots, you know, kind of, and you can have that interaction with the fans that are, you know, kind of the really young fans as well that are there.
00:02:44
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. I think we always make an effort as a squad to go and see players after the game. I think it's really family friendly. There's a lot of families there, which is really lovely to see. It's a lovely environment. We did have a couple of people banging drums last season, which was quite good, especially when we needed a bit of a push in the game.
00:03:04
Speaker
I think that was good. It's obviously different to the men's game. I think it's not going to be, it's a different environment. And I think if you attended like a WSL game, it'd be the same. It isn't like going to watch Arsenal play on Man City. It's very different, but there's massive positives in that. And I think the crowd are excellent. They come week in week out and we really, really appreciate the fact that they're so low and come every week and cheer us on.
00:03:32
Speaker
I was just going to say, in terms of expectations and the way you manage those, a little bit later we'll get into on the pitch, but off the pitch, in terms of that respect that you demand, what do you expect back from the fans? Obviously, you will go and greet the fans or go and sign shirts, et cetera, as we saw most recently at the County Cup final. What do you perhaps hope for and expect back, if that makes sense?
00:03:57
Speaker
Well, Alice. Oh, is this sorry? I'll take this as an interesting one. I think it's so lovely to see everyone there. I think just cheering us on in the game, to be honest, I think we're a team that sometimes we need a bit of encouragement, I think. And I think there was points at last season where definitely like the crowd and the fans got us through and I think really cheering us on and
00:04:23
Speaker
giving you that little like edge. And sometimes when you go on a weigh day and there is very little fans, there is, it's difficult because we're so used to such a nice following when we come back to the nest.
Season Highlights and Team Performance
00:04:34
Speaker
So I suppose just expectation, just being, you know, just cheer us on, smiling, be happy. So we could want really.
00:04:42
Speaker
And Megan, it's been a while since last season ended. You're probably one of the more experienced players at the club. If you've been there a few seasons, you've seen that come and go. And as you say, that's been in the fourth tier for some time. But this was, I think I'm right in saying our best place finish for quite a while ended up fourth in the table. Just give us a few reflections on the campaign as a whole. When you say experienced, I mean, I'm the older players, the oldies. I didn't say that. You can say that.
00:05:11
Speaker
Yeah, last season seems quite a while now, but I think reflections from last season is, I think something shifted with us, with the team. Going from previous seasons and not get results, this season we were getting results and I think
00:05:28
Speaker
The team togetherness was really there I think that really shown that like shown through our clip performances and I do think the crowd at the nest made a massive difference I think our first game, you know, we can't believe how many people we had this supporting and every week
00:05:44
Speaker
that encouraged us. Like Alice said, it definitely got us through a few games. I think one game was a sudden Coldfield game and I think last 10 minutes we're losing and I just remember the crowd getting really loud and pushing us on and going to win that game. And I think
00:06:00
Speaker
All those little things have made a huge difference and we obviously integrated with the club as well and all those differences off the pitch we can literally just focus on playing the football and that showed I think in our league position and the results we got.
00:06:18
Speaker
Far from the match you mentioned there, the Sun-Calfield game, I want to ask both of you, but I'll start with you, Megan. Do you have a particular highlight from last season? Because I think from a fan perspective, you pick out last minute winners, those kinds of things, a five and a win, something like that. But for you as a player, is that perhaps different? Do you have a niche little moment that you pick out as a, yeah, I'm really proud of what I did there. I'm really proud of what we as a team achieved. Yeah, I think I have two.
00:06:48
Speaker
I think the Carrow Road goal, I don't think I'll ever be able to top that. Just the whole day actually, the whole occasion was incredible. And the certain colorful game always does stand out for me as well, two penalties in the last five minutes. Yeah, that was just a major turnaround that even though we weren't playing our best, we could still manage to get a result. But yeah, I think the Carrow Road goal has to probably top it for me. What about yourself, Alice?
00:07:18
Speaker
Yeah, it was the Carrow Road game. I don't score often. And I didn't actually realise the first goal was mine, to be honest, until someone said after the second goal I scored was like, oh, you're on for a hatchet. And I sort of thought, what? And then I realised that obviously the first goal was that I scored. So, no, it was amazing. Like Megan said the whole day, like, it was just incredible. I look back on it and I
00:07:41
Speaker
I don't always believe it. Like, everything just clicked for us as a team. Like, it was so frantic. I think, obviously, we looked at score after like 12 minutes and there were so many goals, but I think once we settled and everything, like, we got with it and, you know, we were so, like, I think we were so tight as a team. We never gave up and I think, yeah, it was amazing. So, yeah, that was my favourite moment. Alice, I'm interested and you've touched on it there. So, that first goal, are you shooting or are you crossing?
00:08:12
Speaker
I don't care who scores it as long as it goes in the net. I appreciate your honesty. Megan, that was obviously a fantastic occasion.
Challenges and Coaching Transitions
00:08:21
Speaker
You know, some, some wonderful goals scored at Carrow Road and it kind of felt like a real, those two games at Carrow Road felt like a really nice culmination of something that you guys as a club, as a team had been building for some time. But I'm really interested in
00:08:35
Speaker
Were there any regrets from last season because you know you guys were right up there with hashtag You know during the early part of the campaign you know kind of I'm I don't think any of you guys are maybe saying in post-match You know press duties that you know you were you were targeting promotion, but you were challenging for a while And then there was you know kind of a bit of a dip I want to say you know maybe after Christmas You know kind of where there was a few results which people wouldn't have expected is there anything when you look back on it that you think oh? Maybe we could have just gone one further
00:09:05
Speaker
Yeah, I think as we just took each game as it went last season and I think we didn't expect a
00:09:13
Speaker
to probably go and win the league. And I think when you don't have that belief, you then start to have those little results. And I think there are some away games. We threw away some really silly points, you know, and that's what we've got to be better at this season. We're going to travel to places. It's not going to be a nice place. We're going to try and bully us off. It's quieter. There's not much crowd.
00:09:36
Speaker
that's where we've got to go and grind results more. I think that's where we struggled in. I think our regrets is all the hashtag results always bother me. Yes, they're a great team but sometimes I just think that doesn't really reflect us, especially the home game. It felt like every time they shot they scored and they actually fought the first 20 minutes we played well and
00:09:57
Speaker
that's that ruthlessness that they have, and that's what we've kind of looked at and gone, we need to be a bit more like them. So yeah, I think some of the away games, we really threw away some points to be fair. Yeah, absolutely. And Alice, I'll come to you briefly. I think a big part of the success of last season, and you could see it build throughout the season, was the style of play that you guys was really patient, like really,
00:10:24
Speaker
It was football that was pleasing on the eye, a real passing game. And much of that, I don't know, correct me if I'm wrong, but seemed like that was the playing style that the former head coach Sean Howes wanted you guys to play. How much did you enjoy being a part of the setup that he'd put together and how did the squad take it when you found out he was stepping down?
00:10:44
Speaker
Um, I think last season, um, it was a special season. I think, um, everything like Megan said, like everything sort of clicked and that togetherness and like we were all in it together and had everyone's backs at all points. Um, and I think that's what really pushed us on. I think.
00:10:59
Speaker
you know we believed in each other as well as ourselves and I think that started to really show towards the end of the season and despite some like bad results here and there like we did we played really well all season and I think Sean stepped down and left us in the best place he could have possibly have and we'll see Martins now come in and putting his own spin on it and I think
00:11:22
Speaker
It does you know we're pushing on now and it requires someone with that full time like all of their time into us and I think that's what we need and obviously Sean did an absolutely amazing job and we all really really appreciate all of this time and everything and I think he put us in the best spot going forward.
00:11:39
Speaker
You mentioned about Sean and obviously he stepped down after the two games at Cara Road. I know we've touched on them before, but I'd be really interested in both of your takes in terms of like, how did that day feel and how were the pre-match nerves? Because I'd imagine that's probably like the biggest football environment that you've played in before, Megan.
00:12:01
Speaker
Yeah, I think obviously with the Carrow Road game there were a lot of nerves and Flo put a lot of stuff to support us ahead of that game, some workshops and how we can just settle ourselves because like I said, I've never experienced playing in front of that many people and I remember coming on the second half and I was like, this is just, this is mad. There's so much noise and you're trying to play the game and
00:12:25
Speaker
it was, then that's probably why it reflected in the score line. So I think hopefully be a bit more quick. But with the County Cup Final, I think it's kind of like, you know, that kind of chapter ended in a really positive note for Sean. And I think we wanted to end on a positive note and
00:12:43
Speaker
He did, like I said, did a lot of work to get us in this spot. And I think it was like a perfect way to kind of finish that chapter with him and win the trophy obviously for the club, but also as a, as a good, goodbye I'd say. And Alice, you know, I know we've talked about it before, but how were the nerves on the day?
00:13:03
Speaker
Oh, horrendous. Really bad. I'm not gonna lie about it. No, I didn't feel good the night before at all. I was up most of the night. I drove my family insane. And to be honest, I think I was just so nervous to let everyone else down.
00:13:21
Speaker
I didn't want to be that person that turns up on the day and just has an absolute shocker and it can happen. And I thought I just hope for the team that I just, I just want to perform my best for everyone else. Um, I never jumped or scoring or anything. I was more worried about it going into my own net to be honest. Um, but no, it was, yeah. But like I said, like Megan said, you know, Flo put on workshops for us and I have to say like that did help. I tried to use some of the techniques in calming my nerves.
00:13:46
Speaker
which I do think's helped and I still do it now so I'll be using that on Sunday. And do you think that puts you in good stead because obviously you know we need to mention it there is a game at Carrow Road that's coming up soon where you guys will be playing I think it's your second home match of the season against Cambridge United.
00:14:05
Speaker
Do you think that puts you in really good stead to go into that and to fly? Or do you think, again, there might be a little bit of those pre-match nerves? Has it become normal for you guys now? And should it become normal for you guys now to be playing at the home of all of the Norwich City teams? What do you think?
New Playing Style and Adaptation
00:14:24
Speaker
I think, yes, there'll still be nerves but I think we know what to expect. I think the whole occasion, the whole day, you kind of know what's coming. I think that the first game it was just like, wow, we've got this and then we've got to go do this and there's music. Yeah, I think we'd feel a lot more comfortable but
00:14:44
Speaker
We still want to go out and get that result and not take my foot off the gas because I think that day everyone gave it 110%, you know, those who might not have had their best game, those who did, they gave it their all. So I think we know what to expect, but I mean, I'm really, really excited to be playing a karaoke game. If we can live another game, hopefully with not a KSI scoreline, maybe a clean cheat.
00:15:06
Speaker
like another perfect day and just another way for us to also showcase you know the team and ourselves and and keep putting ourselves out there and yeah I'm really excited and I just yeah I hope we keep a clean sheet this time. Has the um intensity of training gone up Alice given that there's a Carrow Road game on the horizon and surely everyone is very very keen to make sure they're part of that starting lineup?
00:15:32
Speaker
I think, yeah, even despite if we didn't have a game there, I think like, you know, new managers come in really enthusiastic and everyone's naturally stepped up again. Like I think got like a lot of new signings as well, which is really at depth for our squad as well. And I think that's really positive. So naturally going to a new season, especially hopefully being an exciting one as well, that everyone, everyone's just stepped up again. Like I don't know if you agree, but Meg, but I think everyone like has taken up a notch.
00:16:01
Speaker
And you go into training and you think, right, OK, you need to really keep going. And there is everyone, so I don't really know how to describe it. But even though we did a training game last night and it was just like, what do you do? How do you describe it? The intensity is insane, isn't it?
00:16:18
Speaker
Yeah, it's intense. It's very competitive. I don't think anyone could sit here and say who's going to be the 16 for Sunday. And I think you can see that in the way everyone's training because they want to impress. The intensity is a lot higher. But it's all good. It's all going to make us better. Everyone's pushing each other. But it's all positive. There's competitive, but it's positive.
00:16:41
Speaker
But that's kind of what I wanted to come on onto because obviously Sean stepping down presents an opportunity. Martin's come in. I was at the Roxham Friendly on, when was it, last Wednesday. There is no doubt in my mind you girls are going to have no trouble hearing that man when you're on the pitch because his voice bellows. But you could tell that the standards that he was demanding from the team and the type of play that you were
00:17:05
Speaker
Putting in was it you know, the style of play was different Has that been your experience in training and I guess what kind of without giving away the trade secrets? What changes could we expect and maybe the style of football and the intensity of the football from from the team this season Alice? I Think the word I'd use is exciting like I think
00:17:27
Speaker
We want people to come and watch and be like, wow, they played really well. It was a really exciting game. I do believe I think we're going to score a lot. I think it'll be very attacking. I think you'd probably see that in the preseason games as well. So yeah, just an exciting game. We've got a lot going for us. And if we all believe in ourselves as well, I think we'll get the results.
00:17:52
Speaker
Is there an element of you have to sort of keep your feet on the ground as well? Because you mentioned this idea and we'll come to you first make for this like this idea of being attacking scoring goals and perhaps, you know, almost creating that demand for goals in this new system. Do you think that perhaps breeds this idea of the fans, you know, are going to have to be a little bit patient as you adjust to the new system?
00:18:14
Speaker
Yeah, it's different to probably a bit of what we played last season, but I think because we've got the players to do it, I think as an attacker player, the way he wants to play makes him really excited. I think there will have to be elements of being patient, you know, different movements, different runs, there's new players learning to play with them. But I think with the quality of the squad, I think, yeah, we should get...
00:18:40
Speaker
really make a statement hopefully on Sunday. You could probably see in the Roxxon game a little bit, we're still trying to work each other out and what we do in these situations but already he's already kind of given us lots of knowledge, lots of answers already from that game and I could see yesterday we already kind of fixed the things that we weren't sure about in the Roxxon game so
00:19:04
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's going to be really exciting and fans might have to be a bit patient but I think the intensity of it in the play out, I think that will probably get the crowd going to be fair.
00:19:14
Speaker
at other any elements, sorry. I'm so interested in this sort of transition of coaching. It's such an interesting thing to me, especially sort of the psychology side, which we'll come back to. In terms of yourself, Alice, and your playing style, are you looking at things now as in the lane of, look, I'm going to have to do what I do, but better and a bit quicker? Or are there elements of your game that you think you're going to have to sort of grow and develop that perhaps, you know, on the less comfortable side of things?
00:19:44
Speaker
how are you sort of adjusting yourself personally from sort of more of a tactical perspective? I think the style of play really suits me as a player. I think it's very attacking and like although I'm a fullback like I love to get bored I love to get involved within the attacking phase as a play so it suits me suits me well I think there's always like everyone's always got their own areas to develop on and improve on like I'm not perfect. So just spent time on the offseason like trying to
00:20:12
Speaker
you know fix that as much as I can and be the best I can go into the start of the season which I like to think that I have um but yeah no it's good he's an incredibly knowledgeable man like he's you know he's got his way of playing and he's gonna help us all individually as well as a team so um as much as I love that I love the way I love the way we're gonna play um I think there's always areas to improve on uh no matter what
00:20:39
Speaker
Does it, Megan, I'll come to you on this one. Obviously we've just had a new coach been appointed, but alongside of that, and it was all announced on the same day that mine was announced that he'd be taking over, there was six new signings that the club channel put out. There's another one, you know, Rachel Lawrence has kind of put pen to paper today.
00:20:59
Speaker
When you've been in preseason training, when you've been around these players for a while, I guess they've been in and around the setup, it looks like there's a real mix of experience, of youth, of quality. Actually, the players I saw at Roxham, you could tell, had real quality on the ball. But what have you made of your new teammates? And is there anyone, maybe not asking you to single anyone out, but are there people that we should be looking out for?
00:21:24
Speaker
I think the new silence have fitted in really well. Not only playing wise but actually getting on with the squad. I think that's the first thing, always think about how are they interacting. They've come in, they've worked really hard. They get on really well. It's been actually really nice to have some fresh faces around. That's really important. I think the biggest thing is you need all the whole squad for next season. Injuries will happen.
00:21:50
Speaker
We obviously, Charlotte picked up a big injury in the season and already you need your bench to be ready, you need players to be ready to come in. So, yeah, they've fitted really well. And I think, I mean, you have to highlight obviously Sarah Quant coming in, her experience, you know, playing at top, top level, just to have her presence there and her knowledge and her kind of feedback she can give and her presence on the ball.
00:22:16
Speaker
It's, yeah, it's really good to have someone in your house to how to win. And I think we've got an experience of, like you said, kind of people have played that quite high level and then you've also kind of probably got the future as well, but can also deliver now. So it's looking at what kind of plays we need to help us to get to there now, but also those players that are probably going to help in the future when the older people get too old to play.
00:22:45
Speaker
So you're making a face there, that's you Megan, but you're gonna be around for plenty of seasons yet, come on, yeah, exactly.
Rivalries and Team Mindset
00:22:51
Speaker
I'm really interested, you mentioned one of those signings that has been from Ipswich Town, and I know that she's not the only one that's joined us from them lot down south, is there?
00:23:03
Speaker
the rivalry like is it the same within you you know your setup or you know is is it a bit bit more friendly because it feels like i don't know the women's game is much more of a community you know kind of and everyone kind of knows everyone to to an extent is would that be fair to say alice or or is it fearsome should we expect studs up challenges you know kind of next time we play it switch when inevitably when we get promoted this season
00:23:28
Speaker
I think, well, I'm a Norwich fan, so I'm never gonna like them at all. But that's just because I love the club, and I think that's about all, isn't it? I think no matter who we come against, to be honest, I think we just want to win, and that doesn't change for them either.
00:23:45
Speaker
I don't think we'd change our game, like if we played them, if that was to be in like the FA Cup or hopefully when we do go up in the near future. So I don't think anything would change. I think obviously like tensions are high. Like there is something, I remember being part of the game where we beat them not so long ago and it was possibly one of the, it was the best day and everyone was absolutely buzzing. And I think like the challenges obviously are people do go in with a bit more force as such, but
00:24:12
Speaker
Like I'd never want to hurt someone, no matter who it is. So I think there is that, but we'll stick to our game plan and I'm sure that we'll talk through.
00:24:22
Speaker
Definitely. Meghan, I'll give you the last word on this season coming up. What feels realistic for the team? Because it felt like last season, like hashtag were, in terms of what you said about that ruthlessness and that quality, they were perhaps, you know, kind of a step up from everyone else in the league. But apart from that, it was wide open and there was loads of really even games and you guys, you know, kind of pretty much performed against everyone and got results against most teams.
00:24:49
Speaker
Do you feel like you can go all the way? Can we talk about the P word? I think for us, and we spoke about this as a group, it's just to be winners. Just every game we play, we expect to win, and we are winners regardless, Cup, County Cup, League. And I think if we focus more on that, I think that the outcomes and what happened, we've been doing a lot of work on that.
00:25:11
Speaker
You can go say something, but actually we need to focus on, actually, you know what, every session, you know, it's going to be competitive. That team wants to win every game. We just want to be winners. And I think it's changing our mindset to do that. And then who knows what can happen. So yes, that's the answer. We're going to get promoted, right? I'm not going to say anything.
00:25:37
Speaker
In terms of the longer term direction, because this has been something that a large proportion of Norwich fans have been keen on for a while and everyone was really, really pleased to see that the women's operation was fully integrated into the club.
00:25:53
Speaker
And I appreciate, Alice, I might be putting you on the spot a bit, and this may be more of a question for someone like Flo Allen or even Martin, but actually from your perspective as a player, where do you think the club should be in two, three, four years' time maybe?
Future Aspirations and Club Growth
00:26:10
Speaker
How ambitious can the club be? And more importantly, I guess, is what support do you guys feel like you need as players to make that happen? And I don't necessarily mean internally from the football club, but actually from the fans as well.
00:26:22
Speaker
Norwich is a community club, right? And you know it from supporting them. Can the community come together and make your lives easier as hopefully you step up the divisions?
00:26:35
Speaker
I think I like to think the sky's the limit, like never stop believing. Like, you know, I think it's always as a player, like currently, like not thinking too much ahead, in all honesty, very much thinking about the task ahead of us this season. And I think that's a big task in itself.
00:26:55
Speaker
I mean you'd like to think you know once we keep going up and up the support from the club is only getting more and more incredibly grateful for everything that like Flo and the club do already and I think you could see the massive change in us as well like from last season we really stepped up and
00:27:14
Speaker
I think that comes with actually we really appreciate everything that everyone does and with that support you can achieve obviously greater things and I think we show that last season and I like to think that this season will keep on building and building so I think it will come and the more they support us and the more we'll achieve that's what I believe.
00:27:33
Speaker
Can I just ask a question just about sort of, again, that psychological side, you are sort of holding onto it for the right moment. And this idea of talking about the sort of the near, but also the distant future seems a good time to ask, and I'll let you two decide who asked it first, because I think it could be a bit of a tough question. But as this football club grows on the pitch, you know, the quality of play will continue to grow, attendances will grow, the media spotlight will become
00:28:02
Speaker
hopefully continuously a lot harsher on you guys in the sense of brighter, should have said brighter, not harsher. How do you as people, as human beings perhaps deal with, I don't know what word to use specifically, the pressure, the expectations, your personal standards, how do you perhaps deal with making sure you stay sort of in the moment, present, but also sort of plan for, as we're heading for promotion this season, success in the future?
00:28:33
Speaker
I'm happy to ask this one. I'll give it a go. I think what the club have been doing really well with us is everything's kind of been fed in. So it hasn't been like overnight, right, this is what we are, we are this. It's all been very slow and steady. And I think from this preseason and going into it, I think all of us players just slowly raised our game a little bit, ensuring that we're physically in the best shape
00:29:01
Speaker
we're now thinking about kind of we're getting more education on what we're eating, how we balance kind of work life. So we're getting a lot of support kind of around from the club as well, and that's educating us. And I think once that starts to become like the norm from the players, it drips feet down to the rest of the players. And I think we've all been quite, we all keep everyone quite grounded. We're really like a humble group of girls.
00:29:27
Speaker
We all sort of have jobs or college or uni, trying to balance everything and it can be hard. And we know that sometimes someone's going to come to training and they've done a night shift. There's about three girls that might have to then go off to work after training. So we're very kind of rounded with that. We know how to kind of educate and how to support people.
00:29:49
Speaker
I think we deal with it quite well. I think we are a very close group and we openly talk about things. It may be how we're feeling or, you know, I think everyone's in the game, the Carrow games. Everyone's like, we are so nervous, but everyone just kind of pulls in and
00:30:06
Speaker
I think it's just supporting each other and just giving each other ideas. I don't know if you've got anything to add on that, Alice. No, I think you're spot on to be honest. I think, you know, we, yeah, like Megan said, like everyone, everyone's very honest and I think that's like the most important thing. Like if you're not honest and you're not transparent with each other, like it's not, it's not going to work and the club are incredibly supportive and
00:30:30
Speaker
It is difficult sometimes managing everything that goes on in life and work and everything else but we've got a good bunch around us alongside staff and the club and I think that's you know all you need and I think that massively helps us get through the season.
00:30:44
Speaker
I was interested in that, Alice, because we haven't talked about it yet, but actually though, since you've been officially part of the football club, what has changed? Because you say there's support staff, Martyn going full-time as a head coach, I think is a really, really big deal for a head coach at this level to have a full-time job, and he's moved his family here.
00:31:07
Speaker
There seems like there's a real commitment to support you girls, but actually what has that meant for you like day to day, you know, kind of is that extra training sessions or physiotherapy or, you know, kind of just different levels of support from maybe like two, three years ago when you were perhaps having to buy your own away kit and, you know, kind of chip in for, you know, a bus to, you know, like it feels really different now, doesn't it?
00:31:30
Speaker
Yeah, massively. I remember when we were at Plantation Park and my mum volunteered to do the food after the game and things like that. I won't forget that and it is massively different and I think Martin coming in as head coach, obviously a full-time position is huge and we're really grateful that someone can also dedicate all their time to us as well.
00:31:52
Speaker
Alongside with the partnership with UEA, which I think is really important for player pathways as well, really does show the direction of the club and how we want to progress in years to come. I think also, obviously we have physios and stuff and that's also not easy. Not every club has that. We go to other places in our league, we're incredibly fortunate.
00:32:14
Speaker
to be training at Colney, having that use of facilities, you know, the gym, the use of physios, other people don't have that, like you go to some clubs and the pitch isn't very nice, like you think we play at the nest, like it's a lovely pitch, it's perfect, lovely atmosphere as well and great facility. So we are incredibly lucky and it's so different to what it used to be, it really is. And Megan, I'm thinking about
00:32:41
Speaker
what brilliant looks like like for us as a football club and I know maybe we shouldn't you know kind of cast our eyes in other directions when we think about that but are there any other clubs within the women's pyramid that you just think they've got it spot on that's what we should be doing that's what we should aspire to as a football club
00:32:57
Speaker
I think you can learn from other clubs, but I think it's going to have my other hat on a little bit. I think every club is different in how they run because of where they are demographically as well. You know, if you look in the London club, a team folds, for example, those players can easily go to find another club or they can go sign players easy in that area or north because they're a lot closer. So where we are, we
00:33:23
Speaker
we really kind of rely on kind of our homegrown talent as well and obviously the link to UVA putting more players outside than we've obviously attracted some girls from Cambridge area so I think yes you can look at clubs and go like that's really good I like we like that idea and
00:33:40
Speaker
you know, when we went to Burnley, like little things, I really loved what they did, kind of their little set up and making sure players had jobs to like, tidy up, like just little things you can take and go like, they're obviously top level Burnley, actually what they've done there, that requires nothing, that requires us just having that mentality. So you can pick up little bits,
00:34:01
Speaker
but I think we're kind of going on this journey still. I think that's really important. I think we're taking little steps as we go and picking up a little bit and I think the club are giving us this platform and the structure to make sure we're in a good place. You do see clubs sometimes go zero to 100 and you'll see clubs it
00:34:23
Speaker
They haven't got that infrastructure where I think we're going on a slow, steady journey and making sure we're okay, wherever the club might be in the future.
00:34:35
Speaker
And I appreciate what you're saying, making about a slow and steady journey. And I think there are some fans that maybe think, oh, look, we should have played at Carrow Road way earlier than we did. Actually, I think I'd probably echo that. And there are people that clamour, me among them, that the club should be supporting the women's team more. Alice, I'll come to you on this. Do you think
Role Models and Local Talent Development
00:34:58
Speaker
That there's a real opportunity now look we've all just watched it although if my employers are listening then maybe i didn't watch it but you know we've all just watched the world cup final and the lionesses are through to the world cup final you know this sunday um how can we and i don't necessarily mean as a football club but like again as a community how can we capitalize on the success of the lionesses and like what
00:35:20
Speaker
What would you have liked to have had in place as kind of say like an 8, 9, 10 year old girl playing football? What would you have liked to have happened differently and how can we make sure as a society that that's in place for the next generation?
00:35:36
Speaker
I think like the lionesses were incredible like I'm still I'm so happy for them but I think when I was younger like I never had a women's team that I looked up to or any even players like in that national team level like I didn't I never watched them I just watched Norwich the men's side and like that was just all I ever ever knew and I not that that's right but I
00:36:03
Speaker
Now I like to think that youngsters will watch them and they'll be like, okay, like, so who's my local team? Or who could I go and watch? And like to think that they'd come to the nest and support us and look up to us and think, yeah, I'm.
00:36:16
Speaker
you know, a young girl in Norfolk, how can I get involved? What can I do? Can I get involved with CSS programs? Like there's loads of little bits that necessarily I didn't have when I was younger. Um, and I like to think that we can, as players can be role models for them as well. And hopefully that they can aspire to be one of us.
00:36:34
Speaker
Do you feel that responsibility, Megan? Because, you know, I see it at the Nest, like, every Sunday that you're there, you guys are over signing autographs. I've seen, you know, when I took one of my youngest daughter's friends, and actually, I think it was Tash came over, and she was just in awe that, like, a Norwich City player was talking to her. It was just incredible to see. Do you feel that responsibility now of being a role model has that sunk in? Because that must be quite the thing for you guys.
00:36:59
Speaker
Yeah, I think I still find it mad that we go through signatures after the game and half the girls are like, I see you every week. It's still really, really probably surreal a little bit and I think
00:37:14
Speaker
you know, knowing kind of where we've come from and like, as I said, Plantation Park and paying for a kit and minibus stuff and then you're there and they want to have your water graph and your picture and you're like, oh, okay. And I think we've kind of gone through that throughout the season and we've kind of realised, okay, actually,
00:37:34
Speaker
we need to make sure we are role models, we appreciate them and we give it our all. And I do think that still plays a part in kind of our success last season because the first game, we couldn't believe how many fans were there. And we were like, oh, wow, like, we're actually going to have to, you know, I think it just made us step up a little bit. And I think
00:37:54
Speaker
when you see the support of the young girls cheering you on it is really special and I think I just appreciate it because it's never it's not been the last forever um and I think as a obviously not playing as much so enjoying it it's really really important and um yeah it's still surreal like side of the grass and taking pictures really I've got a rubber chair as well okay making me want to sorry for some of the girls if that's mine
00:38:23
Speaker
But I find that when you look at football or signature, some of them are just a squiggle. And then it's almost like, can you just write your number? Which a lot of them do now, don't they? Just write your number, squad number, because otherwise we'll never work it out. Megan, I do want to come back to you on this one because it feels pertinent for people who don't know that you work with the Girls Player Pathway for the Community Sports Foundation, which feeds into the Nora City Academy.
00:38:48
Speaker
and it feels like we're on the cusp of a real opportunity to enthuse girls to engage the next generation of sports women and footballers. In your day job, representing Norwich City's academy, how do you think that Norwich City can make sure that the next Lauren Hempe or Amy Palmer or even Flo Allen that comes along in our pathway, how do we keep them there and how do they help push the club on?
00:39:15
Speaker
I think kind of a reflection and obviously been doing this role for about five years now is that we have to make sure that the women's team was in a good place. And I think that's obviously happening. You know, we want to, you know, we do want to keep our best talent.
00:39:32
Speaker
at Norwich and I think Eloise is a perfect example of someone who's come through the pathway, transitioned into the women's team and took our opportunity and that's the big thing. Yes, they can transition into the women's team but to actually take the opportunity and sustain that level is massive and if you probably look across the women's team, the majority of them have come through the CSF pathway.
00:39:57
Speaker
and we're looking and we continue to work on how we can keep them here and I think Eloise was a massive one for us at the foundation, an absolute top talent and she wanted to aspire play for the women's team and I think because the girls love Norwich
00:40:13
Speaker
and they now are a part of it and their role models are their coaches with Freya coaching the girls, Alice coaching the girls, they see their role models every day and I think that will just continue to inspire and that just helps the women team get better as well if we're keeping some of the best talent. I mean you know it's amazing to see where it can go because if you look at the players we produced, imagine if they're with a team right now
00:40:40
Speaker
Absolutely. Alice, I want to come to you on this
Addressing Criticism and Positive Growth
00:40:44
Speaker
and I appreciate it. It's maybe a bit of a tricky question for you guys to consider, but does it frustrate you that for all the positivity around the women's game, and again, we've mentioned it's a huge growth area at the moment, they still let you guys look at social media. We're not going to dress that up. You'd see sometimes that there's
00:41:00
Speaker
a fair few ill-informed comments. I saw an interview with Leah Williamson recently. She was pointing to the fact, and you know, making a really good point, that actually people who don't like women's football are really happy to volunteer that information that they don't like women's football and they're not interested in it. And she was just like, well, we don't care, just shut up about it, because actually that game isn't for you, because there's so many people that do enjoy it.
00:41:24
Speaker
Is that how you feel? How does that make you feel when those comments are volunteered and put into the public domain? I tend not to look at it if I'm honest. If someone feels that that's their view, then everyone's in touch. They're an opinion. However, I feel like they're becoming the minority now. I think the growth of the women's game is huge. You look at the lionesses today, it's absolutely incredible. They're an absolute asset.
00:41:54
Speaker
to our country and the talent is so good and you think actually why be negative when you can be positive because everything's so good and you know they're really putting their stamp on it and showing how good they are and so there's no need for it and I think
00:42:12
Speaker
Leah said it correctly to be honest if it's not your scene it's not your scene and that's that's absolutely fine. So just try to focus on the positive and not dwell on the negatives because there's so many so many great people involved within the game the women's game especially you look at it here like
00:42:28
Speaker
obviously Flo has done such an amazing job and I'm sure Megan would echo that as well and she's really helped us and supported us and it's been it has been tough at times and I think without that support I think we'd have really struggled and the club is making taking massive steps forward and drip feeding us in as Megan previously said so you know just focus on the positives and we'll concentrate on on them. What about yourself Megan?
00:42:56
Speaker
There'll be a list. I just kind of laugh at them. Like, you know, I don't go tweeting. I don't want to watch local men's football on a Saturday because that's not my scene. You know, it's fine. People can like what they like. Plus I just think people like to just put things out there to get a reaction. You know, most of the accounts don't even have a picture. So if you just, everyone ignores them and just, you know, positivity everywhere.
00:43:24
Speaker
disappears all they want is a reaction and that's sadly why they do it so if you don't give them that that time really it just dies out yeah completely great Ben was there any more questions for myself mate
00:43:38
Speaker
I think I'm sort of sat here and all, just listening to it all really. Yeah, no, I think I'm good to be fair. I think we've covered everything you need to and we've done a stellar job there. Brilliant. Well, look, there's something really important that we need to talk about to finish up.
Season Excitement and Fan Support
00:43:51
Speaker
And that is that the fact that we've talked about the lionesses a lot today, but they're definitely bringing it home on Sunday. Two important questions for you both. How are you going to follow the match given that you are
00:44:04
Speaker
probably traveling to AFC Sudbury at that point you know for the season opener and more importantly how many goals are we going to win by? Alice
00:44:15
Speaker
Oh, we'll be watching it on the bus, I believe. And I got a score prediction right today. I couldn't believe it. I said it on the radio and then my mum texted. She said, oh you got it right. So I don't know how I get it right again. But I think we're on a roll to be honest and I think we'll fire quite a few home. I go with four too. Cool.
00:44:41
Speaker
And in a training game and the same score line that when the men's tier won it in 66, it was 4-2 as well. So that'd be a lovely symmetry to it. Yeah, brilliant. Meghan, definitely bringing it home, right? Yeah, I've gone 2-0. It'll be a close game. I think we'll get two late ones. Nice, nice.
00:45:01
Speaker
OK, well, I think we will leave it there. That just leaves me to thank both of you guys, Alice and Megan, for giving up your time. And we wish you the very, very best of luck for the new season. If you're in the area, if you for some reason, I don't know why you would be in Suffolk, but if you are in Suffolk on Sunday and you fancy going south of the border,
00:45:19
Speaker
You should definitely give our women's team a look. You know, they are 2pm kickoff or 2.30 I think it is, isn't it? 2.30 kickoff on Sunday. If you're not and you fancy learning the team, your support first home game of the season is at the nest against London Seawood on the 3rd of September. We'll definitely be there or you can make your way to Carrow Road the following Sunday to see them take on Cambridge.
00:45:41
Speaker
in, can we call this a Derby? East Angling Grudge match. Let's call it that. But as I'm sure everyone knows who's listening, tickets are available at nares.co.uk. We'll all be there. Come and see us if you see us, or come and say hello if you see us, and mind how you go.