Date: 2nd September 2016 at 1:01pm
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Striker Lucy Quinn made her WSL bow this week – and it was one to remember!

She joined WSL2 league leaders Yeovil over the summer from Portsmouth of the Women’s Premier League – and scored on her debut against Sheffield.

The 22-year-old had been in contact with Lady Glovers manager Jamie Sherwood for some time, and he had asked her to consider stepping into WSL football previously.

She felt it wasn’t right for her then as she concentrated on her studies in PE and Sports Coaching at the University of Chichester – but the opportunity came up again when the team’s leading goalscorer Sarah Wiltshire announced that she would be taking time off due to pregnancy.

Quinn didn’t hesitate.

“It’s exciting enough just as it is just moving into the Super League,” she said.

“I’ve wanted to do that for a couple of years and I felt that now I’m ready, it fits into my life a bit better – let alone coming into a team that are so good and in contention for the title, that’s just a bonus really.”

She has been combining university with games for Portsmouth – and representing England in beach football. It’s no surprise, perhaps, that she joined the Yeovil first-team squad for training immediately.

“It was nice that he felt I was up to that standard already,” she admitted.

“But I didn’t know if I’d make the squad for the games, just because of the quality they have in the squad. I was over the moon.”

And she was even happier to have a goalscoring debut – even if she doesn’t remember much of the goal itself.

“Normally I remember games quite well – but mostly the things I think I did wrong! I think all footballers are like that – you’re your harshest critic,” she explained.

“When it comes to the goal, I don’t remember much at all.

“It was a shock watching the highlights back on Twitter because I don’t remember it happening like that at all! I just remember being stupidly excited.”

With the WSL about to hit the finishing straight, Quinn may yet have an even more exciting conclusion to the season – if she and her new team-mates can maintain their excellent form for the run-in.

“Every training session the girls blow me away with what they’re capable of,” she said, choosing her words carefully, with the superstition of a footballer worried about jinxing the team’s luck.

“They’re so determined to do it, that this will be their year – and it’s all in their hands.”

*Carrie Dunn is SHOOT’s Women’s Football correspondent. Her book ‘The Roar of the Lionesses: Women’s Football in England’ is out now – available in all good bookshops.*

 
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