Bartrip shares her story with Women’s Under-16s players
Thu 12 February 2026, 12:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
Our Women’s Under-16s came together for a special evening with Women’s First Team player Molly Bartrip.
The experienced defender, who began her footballing journey in our Academy in the mid-2000s as part of our Under-10s before returning to the Club in July, 2021, spoke at length about her journey to becoming a professional footballer, the challenges she has faced on and off the pitch and the battles she has faced with mental health.
Our next generation of players in our Academy were captivated by her stories, with many of those now balancing school and football, alongside life away from the pitch with family and friends, and were given a golden opportunity to pick her brain in a special Q&A.
Returning as a Lilywhite ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, our number five has since gone on to make a century of appearances for the Club and in the Women’s Super League, giving our youngsters the opportunity to hear from one of the very best in England’s top flight.
The insightful speech from Molly came before our Under-16s then secured their spot in the final of the Professional Game Academy Plate Final after a 2-0 win over Newcastle United at the weekend.
With many of these aspiring players currently in education alongside playing football, Molly spoke heavily on the importance of balancing different aspects of their lives at that age.
“It was really nice to talk to them, they were a lovely group and I hope I inspired them just a little bit to keep pushing,” she told us. “As professionals in the game, we want to pave the way for the future and I want to make sure they are in the best place possible mentally. We talk a lot about the physical aspect but, mentally, it’s just as important. I was there to share my story and what I think could help them moving forward.
“A few of the players asked a few questions about balance and I think it’s one of the hardest things to juggle when you’re that young. They will want to focus on education, but also want to give so much energy to football, plus their family and friends as well, so it’s a tough period for them. So, that’s why I gave them a little bit of advice and a few pointers in how it could help them but, more than anything, it’s putting them in the right place for the future and making sure they have the correct support around them.”
