Hannah Godfrey: “All I’ve seen are happy faces at training”

Hannah Godfrey and the rest of the Spurs Women squad returned for pre-season training at Hotspur Way this week as phase one of the return to training protocol commenced.

Having adapted to the new normal for the last five months, which involved virtual training sessions, regular zoom calls and individual training programmes, the day finally came on Monday (13 July) when the squad were back on the field as the players trained in groups of five and small steps to return to normality began.

“I was like a little kid at Christmas when we returned,” Hannah smiled. “It felt like Christmas morning, especially putting on our brand-new training kit for the first time. Even though we weren’t training fully as a group, just seeing so many familiar faces and being back on the pitch was just really exciting for all of us.”

Head Coaches Karen Hills and Juan Amoros led multiple training sessions at Hotspur Way this week as preparations for the new season got well underway.

Hannah, who is celebrating her 23rd birthday today (Friday 17 July), commented: “All I’ve seen are happy faces at training and you can tell that everyone couldn’t wait to return. We’ve been working hard during off-season and you can see that from the standards in training this week. For me personally, I’m feeling really sharp and I know there’s a big season ahead. It’s been a strange one for us with the protocol in place, COVID-19 testing and training in small groups, but we’ve all experienced a completely different life for the last five months and we’re just thankful to be back on the pitch doing what we love.”

In her list of individual achievements from the 2019/20 campaign, Hannah was voted our Player of the Season by the fans in her first season at the Club and she’ll be out to impress once again when the Barclays FA Women’s Super League (WSL) returns in September.

“It was amazing for me to be recognised by the fans as the Player of the Season in the Club’s debut season in the WSL and my first season back in England, and at Spurs,” continued Hannah, whose performances led to a senior international debut for Scotland last November. “I feel that I achieved a lot individually and that motivates me to do better next season. I’ve found my feet in the squad now and I feel at home here. I want to keep playing every week, keep learning and hopefully I can continue to make the Club proud and represent Scotland.”

Following a seventh-place finish in our debut campaign in the top flight, Hannah believes that the team have the ability to make headway in our second season in the WSL.

She said: “I think last season was successful for the team, it was historic and that’s just the start for us. I know that the team and I can give more and we’re not going to sit back on the achievements from last season, we’re ready to step up and push forward to achieve bigger things.”