Ahead of our second home game of the league season I spoke to Merle about her journey to the R’s, and her experiences in women’s football. As well as her thoughts on the progression of the sport. Here is what she had to say.
Q) Growing up you tried a few sports. Who is one person that inspired you to carry on playing football?
A) When growing up I was surrounded by a lot of aspiring footballers (males) who I constantly played football with and once I saw them get into academy football, I wanted to follow that path to.
Q) Before Queen’s Park Rangers you were at Crystal Palace. What is the biggest difference you noticed between the set ups at both clubs?
A) At that time both clubs didn’t have a direct pathway into the women’s team, but QPR seemed to be heading that way faster, as a young female player having to pay to yearly subs (£100+) to support the clubs funding rather than the team seemed unfair, and now with QPR’s positive link in with the community trust the benefits to the players are amazing.
Q) Now you’ve been at QPR Women for a few years, and you’ve seen our journey as our club. What’s your favour moment at the Rs?
A) My favourite memory is definitely winning multiple cup finals (I’ve never lost a cup final when playing for QPR), another great memory I can’t leave out is when myself and a few teammates got to do a lap of honour at the KPF stadium in our first season as the QPR Women’s Team I was only 16 at the time and to get recognition was surreal especially in front of so many QPR fans.
Q) How important are supporters in women’s football? And can you see it growing?
A) Any type of support is beneficial to not only me as a player but my whole team, seeing fans travel with us to away games makes it special, with flags and banners on show. It is most definitely growing with the women’s World Cup quickly approaching, you can see a lot of not only young girls but young boys being more interested in knowing female footballers’ names.
Q) Has the rising success of the Lionesses had an impact on your journey in the sport? If yes, how so?
A) Throughout my development as a footballer I have been lucky to have been invited to various events where I have met many ex and current female and male England footballers, I have also been lucky to grow up in the generation where female football have been televised so I have had multiple women to aspire to be like, with the current success of the lionesses in the Olympics and World Cup it’s had a key part in my goals and development as one day I would like to compete at that level whether that be for England, Barbados or Grenada.
Thanks to Merle for taking time to answer my questions, and all your efforts at QPR women. A great person on and off the pitch. Wishing you all the best for the upcoming season!
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