You can never have enough former national team members on your team no matter what sport you participate in.

FC London’s League1 women’s team has taken that to heart with the signing of Ashley Campbell, a former Canadian national U20 player who participated in the U20 Women’s World Cup when it was played in Canada in 2014.

She’s already played three games for FC London and has been tremendously effective. She will make her home debut Saturday at Cove Road Field.

She scored a highlight reel volley 15 minutes into her first game with FC London, a league cup match.

Campbell joins Jade Kovacevic, who has also participated in Canada’s national team program. Kovacevic is leading the women’s division in scoring. She also happens to be one of Campbell’s closest friends.

In fact without Kovacevic’s strong skills as a recruiter, Campbell might not be plying her skills with London.

“I played with Jade in the U20 camps and played on provincial teams since we were 13 years old. I’ve known her a long time. She’s one of my best friends,” Campbell said. “She was trying to recruit me even before I went to the Czech Republic. ‘Come play in London,’ she said. I had some questions like, 'League1, how good is it? What’s it all about?’ She said ‘I promise you, come here, it’s a great club. Our coach is amazing; it’s a great group of girls.’ Once she said she had improved since playing with this team and playing with Mike, that’s when she started to convince me. I never want to stop learning as a player.”

Mike is women’s coach Mike Marcoccia. Campbell says she has already learned some things no other coach has taught her.

Campbell is now 23 and for now, not involved with the national team program. She played soccer with the Toronto Lynx and at University of Dayton and spent some time in the Czech Republic playing in its top league before coming to London.

“I played in a town about three hours from Prague,” she said. “It was a great experience. I’m really happy I went. It wasn’t exactly what I expected it would be. What I found there was a lot of support on the men’s side and not so much on the women’s side. I found a lot of people didn’t even know the city had a women’s team.

“It’s not much of a secret it's not one of the best countries for pro women’s soccer. It was a different style of play, focused more on the technical. But it was helpful playing with different players. I’m a very visual learner and watching them, I learned a lot of things. I’m always thankful for that.”

Campbell is an attacking midfielder who has the ability to hold the ball until her teammates get in positions to attack. She’s strong and has good pace.

“She’s a top talent,” Marcoccia said. “The biggest thing for me -- and I’ve been only able to work with Ashley for three weeks now -- I’ve been really impressed with her ability to adapt. She’s come into a new situation and completely adapted to our playing style. She’s an intelligent player.

"She’s also a really good person. She came into this setting now letting her resume speak for herself. She’s put in the work and has really, really made an effort to be part of this team. Her character spoke for herself.”

The Bradford native believes she’ll only get better the more familiar she becomes with her teammates.

“I think the league is challenging,” Campbell said. “The calibre is good; better than expected. It’s very high-paced. I think I’m still trying to build the chemistry with the players on the field, but I already have a head start with Jade, so it’s nice.”

Marcoccia said it’s “interesting” how well Campbell has blended in with everyone, not just Kovacevic.

“It’s rare that a player comes in and meshes so quickly both on the field and off it,” he said. “That’s her character again.”

Like every player who has had the chance to play internationally, Campbell aspires to get back into the plans of national team selectors.

“That’s my goal right now,” Campbell said. “I haven’t talked to any coaches in the program, but a few of them know I am playing with London this season. Really, all I can do is work hard and I have to show in this league; I have to play well and see where it goes from there. I still have a full two months and I hope to kind of make a name for myself in the league. I’m excited to work hard and peak as a player.”