Congratulations you’re having a girl!

The words I heard in the winter of 2010 at my wife’s baby scan. As a first time Dad, one of the many thoughts going through my head that day was – How on earth was I going to bond with a girl. I love football, girls don’t normally like football do they? Little did I know that 10 years to the day after that scan my daughter would have changed my view on football, girls and life.

As a toddler Abby was into your normal things. Peppa Pig, sand pits, scooters and the like. When she hit five the option of clubs and activities was brought up. As most first time parents probably do we defaulted to ballet for Abby. Whilst showing willing in the early days, it was clear it wasn’t for her as her interest faded.

We needed something else. Could it be football? I was a Portsmouth addict since the age of 10, it was all I really knew. If I was going to get her into football I needed to inspire her, she needed role models.

So I took her to a Portsmouth Women game on 20th August 2017. The day everything changed. The team were fantastic with Abby. Engaging with her pitch side. She was hooked and looked up to her heroes in awe.

Abby joined Milford Pumas as an Under 8 player in August 2018. She joined the mixed Saturday team. Being the only girl in the team meant nothing. The other parents, players and staff were brilliant with her and she felt welcome from day one. One of her coaches was Mark. Mark was fantastic with Abby, he knew exactly how to speak to her and over the first season built her confidence.  She grew massively as a player that season and won the Most Improved Player award.

The following season for the under 9’s she remained in Marks team and was becoming a solid defender with a reputation for a strong tackle. She won managers player of the season at Milford Pumas and captained her school team to a cup final. In January Abby had a trial for Fulham and impressed enough to be offered a place in their mixed Development Centre on Friday nights. She was also nominated for Grassroots Footballer of the Season in the Women’s Football Magazine awards.

As of this season Abby currently plays in the U10 age group at Milford. She was moved into a new team but soon made new friends and has had new coaches to inspire her. She still trains with Fulham on a Friday and now also trains with Portsmouth on a Tuesday and Wednesday. We still attend Portsmouth Women games together and sometimes their goalkeeper Hannah Haughton comes to watch Abby play.

In May 2021 she was nominated for Grassroots Footballer of the Season for a second time, this time winning it. We were all so proud of her.

Abby is one of the most determined girls I’ve ever met. She wants to be a professional footballer and I’m so excited to see what she can achieve, at this point I would put nothing past her. 

Watching her play on a Saturday morning remains the highlight of the week for us. No matter where Abby’s journey takes her we will never forget the foundation Milford Pumas gave her in the early days.