Once A Spur | Bianca Baptiste

Next, we caught up with forward Bianca Baptiste as she spoke about how the Club helped her off the pitch and reflected on some memorable moments during her time in Lilywhite…

First of all, how did your move to Spurs come about the time and what made you want to join the Club?

“I moved to the Club when I was 18 years old. I had a few of my friends join the team and I enjoyed football because of them, so it only felt right to go and be a part of it with them. I was reluctant at first, but I trained and I was really pushed by players such as Sam Pittuck and Jenna Schillaci after just one training session – and that is when I realised this is the team for me.”

From joining in 2010 to helping the Club all the way to the Championship and promotion to WSL, talk to us about your journey in Lilywhite?

“I had an amazing career and also amazing guidance from players and staff, especially as I grew up in an area that was involved in criminal activity. From playing at the back of train tracks to training at the Men’s training ground as well as playing matches at White Hart Lane, those were all experiences I will never forget and will take with me forever. I grew as a footballer and as a person - and it was all down to playing at Spurs.”

How much did the Women's game evolve throughout the years from when you first started?

“Like I said, we used to train at the back of a train track which had no grass, we used to pay to play and pay for our football kits. I remember the first day we saw our names at the back of our shirts and it was such a special and golden moment for us all. To now see how the Women’s game has evolved so that players don’t have to work another job, so all the focus is on their footballing career, just makes me proud to be a part of and involved in that movement.”

Do you have any standout memories from your time at the Club?

“I have many standout memories at the Club, but I have to mention two. The first was scoring and winning the league at White Hart Lane, while another one was nearly getting relegated. Now that might sound crazy to some people, but I really learnt from that experience at the time, it taught me about self-belief so I, and the team, could then go and show resilience to win the league in the following season.”

You scored 82 goals for the Club, is there one that really sticks out to you?

“We played against Blackburn Rovers in a third-tier play-off fixture on 28 May, 2017, after we won the Women's Premier League Southern Division and I scored two goals which helped us get promoted to the FA Women’s Championship for the first time in our history. The feeling, the atmosphere, I will always remember it - it still gives me goosebumps talking about it even now.”

Have you managed to follow the Club since and what have been your thoughts on the growth over the last few years?

“I have been following the Club and it has been amazing to see the growth, especially in Women’s football as a whole. It makes me so proud to know I was a part of that journey and to now see such great players representing the Club, and being proud to do so, is just incredible.”

What have you been up to since then?

“I have since played for Crystal Palace and Watford following my time at Spurs, but I have now retired. I currently work in a secondary school as a PE teacher and Head of Year and try to use sports to help students engage, not only in lessons, but in everyday life. It’s hard being a child in this generation, so it’s important that they are shown the right path in life as football did the same for me. I just want to give back to the community as best as I can.”