Rachel Williams hoping to take her game to the next level at Spurs

Rachel Williams, one of three new signings for Spurs Women this summer, says she is “feeling like a kid in a sweet shop” as she anticipates the return of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League (WSL) and a new chapter begins in her career.

The former Birmingham City forward arrived at the Club last month and brings a wealth of knowledge to our front line which she is hoping to expand in the season ahead under Karen Hills and Juan Amoros’ supervision.

“I’m happy to be back playing and I’m enjoying it,” Rachel commented on life at Spurs so far. “When I played against Spurs at Birmingham’s ground last season, they were aggressive, on the front foot and really got at us. They should’ve been 2-0 up in the first 10 minutes, that attracted me and I’ve heard good things about Karen and Juan as well so it felt like the place for me.

“Coming back from my injury last season (Rachel was ruled out of the 2018/19 campaign with an ACL injury) and with everything being up and down, I’m looking forward to some consistency, I’m feeling like a kid in a sweet shop again and having a good time.”

During two spells with the Blues, Rachel scored 43 goals in 94 appearances, including a goal in the 2012 Women’s FA Cup final which saw City overcome Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out to win the trophy. She also has 13 caps for England and represented Great Britain in the 2012 London Olympics.

On her style of play, she said: “I think it has changed over the years with different managers and teams, but I’d say I’m quite an aggressive forward. I grew up playing in midfield but got moved quickly to playing as a forward back in 2011 under Marcus (Bignot) at Birmingham when the WSL started. Every manager who has worked with me has added their little touches to my game. I know I am a strong header of the ball and at Spurs, I just want to add goals and defensively add that aggression, drag the team up the pitch and be a leader from the front line.”

Rachel, along with our other new summer recruits Kerys Harrop and Aurora Mikalsen, has been training at Hotspur Way with the squad who are in the midst of preparations for the upcoming season.

“I’m blown away by the facilities here,” she said on how she is finding pre-season training so far. “Working with Karen and Juan, I think they’re very different. Karen is very old school and I was only talking to her the other day about who she played with in her era and she gets me and knows what I’m about.

“Juan is going to take my game forward on the attacking side of things. I’m quite old school but he likes to bring in different phases of play and mix it up so I’m looking forward to working with him.”

With opening fixtures of the 2020/21 WSL season set to be revealed on Friday (7 August), Rachel has shared her expectations for the team next season.

“I think the team can go quite far,” she continued. “This league is getting really competitive now with the quality of players we have coming through and coming from abroad, we’re just going to take each game as it comes and make sure that anyone who turns up at our home ground is going to be in for a game.”

Register your interest for a 2020/21 Tottenham Hotspur Women Season Ticket here.