Two words... GOLD MEDALLISTS!

WOW is all I can say at this moment in time. Sitting here, with a gold medal hanging around my neck is pretty surreal. As cliché as it sounds this is what dreams are made off. Many dream of playing for their country, many dream of competing on the world stage and many dream of winning gold medals and together we have managed to achieve all 3 of those. For some people looking in on the outside, they may view this tournament as just a student games and not worthy of recognition but if you take a step back and look at the quality of athletes across all sports you will see that there are youth internationals, world champions and Olympians featuring, all of whom use these Games are a crucial part of their training and competition pathway. With alumini such as Jessica Ennis, Beth Tweddle and Gemma Gibbons all previously attending the Games you can start to appreciate the magnitude of such an event. And the women’s football is no different.

To think that on the 21^st June we all came together as a squad for the first time, spoke about what we wanted to achieve from the Games and talked about going for gold and then just less than four weeks later we have seen those dreams realised is pretty incredible. It’s one thing to say you want to be gold medalists and that’s easy, they’re just words, empty words but it’s a completely different thing to go out and actually achieve it and I am proud to sit here and say we have done that. As a squad, all 20 players, our coaching staff Kay and Rehanne, our GK coach Steve, Team Manager Alex, Sport Scientist Luke, Analyst Wilkie and medical team Katie and Tim, have made that possible and together we are one team. Without each of these contributing, giving above and beyond for each other and putting in the hard work when it counted I wouldn’t be able to sit here now holding a gold medal and for that I will be forever thankful. Football is more than just the 11 players on the pitch and I am proud to be part of a team that has shown that, a team that has united in the quest for gold and has emerged victorious.

Tonight's starting 11

As with all other game days today started pretty similar, with a match day schedule set out. But this wasn’t just any game though, it was the FINAL and we were in it. I have said it before but today 8pm couldn’t come soon enough, and I mean literally, the whole day was spent counting down until kick off. Arriving at the ground the feeling was good, and from the warm-up right up until kick-off our standards were high, everyone was on it and we were ready for the most important 90 minutes of our life.

The game kicked off and we were in, the battle had commenced. It took a while for us to settle into the game, and that may have been accounted to the nerves we were feeling which shone as Mexico took the lead on the 10 minute. The Mexican midfielder broke through the lines playing the ball forwards; despite our attempts to clear the ball it fell to their striker who slotted the ball home, 1-0 they had taken the lead. It was not the start we were looking for but that didn’t deter us from our quest for gold, we had plenty of time to gain a foothold in the game. Our break shortly came from a set play, something we had been looking dangerous from; a header down from Kerys was coolly turned and half-volleyed past the keeper by Naomi. Back in the game at 1-1. Mexico continued to compete and make our job hard, we couldn’t expect anything less, a gold medal was at stake. On the 25^th minute, Mexico took the lead again and we fell 2-1 behind. Come on girls we can do better than this and again we came back into the game, arguably an own goal but rightfully claimed by Izzy to level the score at 2-2.

The faces say it all...

What a first half it had been, 4 goals scored, 2 apiece, the second half was lining up to be an exciting one. Back out we came and we were determined more than ever to improve from the first half and make sure come 90 minutes we could walk, or crawl off that pitch, as winners. Chances were created at both ends as we pushed for that winning goal. It took until the 80^th minute for the next goal to come and little did we know what would follow it. A goal on the 81^st minute by Fran, followed by Aileen slotting one home on the 86^th minute, one minute later Fran doubled her tally with a cracking finish topped off with Dan scoring in the 91^st minute. 6-2 what a finish to the game! We were winners and we had done it in style J I couldn’t have been more proud. The score line, although maybe slightly harsh on Mexico, underlined the talent and quality we had in our squad.

Receiving my medal

All goals we worthy winners and after each one we celebrated more and more in elation as the realisation that the gold medal was ours. When the 6^th goal went in there were tears all round, that medal was ours. What we had set out 4 weeks ago to achieve we had and we were ending as World University Champions. What a feeling.

The celebrations were something special and those moments are precious moments I am sure each and every one of us will treasure for the rest of our lives. Little did we know what this journey to Kazan would be like, what experiences we would go through but it is a journey I am glad I came on and so happy to be part of. We have an unbelievably special group of players and staff and together we have created a team of which I am more than proud to be part of.

A proud moment for all of us

Back to the village we came (after a slight delay due to drug testing) and we celebrated in true style… With a McDonalds! Seeing as it’s free and provided on tap in our food hall, plus the fact that we haven’t been able to eat it since getting here we made the most of it and ordered to our heart’s content. Even those who didn’t quite like McDonalds indulged and it was quite some celebration. Following this we got involved in the traditional kit swap. Similar to pin badge collecting, all of the athletes’ collect their kit that they don’t want and head on down to the centre of the Village to exchange and swap with each other. Looking on it was quite like a market, hustling and bargaining with each other and tonight it was obvious to see where all of the GB athletes were. It appeared that our kit was hot on the market and countries were doing anything and offering everything to get their hands on a piece of our kit. Even the Brazilians, who were once our opposition, suddenly became our best friends!

We done it in style. GOLD MEDALLISTS!

What a crazy day it has been! I am literally buzzing on the euphoria of tonight’s occasion and despite being 4am I am wide awake.  This is a moment which still seems surreal and will take a while to settle in, but every time I look at the gold medal I can’t help but smile with pride about what we have achieved and I am so happy that I have been able to play a part in it.

With all of the medallists

ONE TEAM