Salute

Longhurst living the dream at West Ham

Lifelong West Ham fan Kate Longhurst never imagined she’d be playing in the top flight for the club she’s always supported.

Joining the Irons in the summer following a five-year spell stint with Liverpool, the two-time Women’s Super League winner, never imagined just how good life would be at Rush Green as she pioneers West Ham’s first season in the Women’s Super League.

The 29-year-old, who also had spells with Chelsea, Watford and Millwall, certainly knows a thing or two about playing against the very best and now she’s determined to help others follow in her footsteps.

Longhurst stars in a brand new BBC three series - Britain’s Youngest Football Boss - which promises a behind-the-scenes look at West Ham United women’s team led by their 19-year-old Managing Director Jack Sullivan over the course of their debut Super League season.

And the Hammers fan is convinced that this exposure is exactly what the women’s game needs.

“Media attention is so important for the women’s game to grow,” she said.

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“If people don’t see it, they either don’t know it’s there or there’s not enough out there to really draw their interest.

“The documentary shows a completely different side to us.

"We’re not shoving women’s football down people’s throat or insisting they have to watch it. We just want to show that we are just a group of friends working hard and enjoying what we do.

“I hope that this will help people make a connection with women’s football and incite interest in what we do on the pitch too.

“We never had many female role models in the past, but that has changed so much now and we want to keep that going with the documentary.”

When Longhurst began her career at Colchester United, she never thought that her dream of playing at the top level would be possible.

But the midfielder believes women’s football is finally getting its fair due after revealing her own troubled path to the top as a teenager.

Longhurst said: “There are so many more opportunities for young girls wanting to get into football now.

“When I was at school, I was one of just two girls in my class who wanted to play football. We had to play with the boys until her uncle created the first team for girls.

“But the standard was terrible because the girls had no coaching or support.

“But now they are so much higher because of the increased opportunities given to girls who want to play football.

“I would tell young players who dream of reaching the Women’s Super League to just be themselves, ignored any unwanted comments and get out there and play. If you enjoy a sport, nothing should stop you from taking part.”

Longhurst, a two-time WSL winner and a 2012 FA Women’s FA Cup Final goalscorer, brings crucial experience to a West Ham side that stepped up two divisions over the summer.

Longhurst scored the club’s first-ever Women’s Super League goal in their 4-3 loss to Arsenal in September, but testament to the Witham-born player's nature, she was more concerned about the overall result.

“I didn’t realise at the time – all I cared about is that I had put us ahead against Arsenal,” she said.

“It felt incredible, but I would have rather got the three points.

“It’s our first season at the top level, so it’s never going to be easy.

“We’re still learning so much and I don’t think we can rush into setting our eyes on any unrealistic expectations.

“We want to finish as high up the league as we can and we would love to go on a good cup run.”