Leeds Ladies go into more detail of Coles’ background in the game;
Harriet was 9 when she began playing for Preston North End Girls’ Juniors and took on the role of striker. She progressed through the age groups quite smoothly until she was asked to attend a 6-month goalkeeper training programme. This is where Harriet got a taste for the pressure and adrenaline that comes with being the squad shot stopper. After the course had finished, and with a little persuasion Harriet became the team’s new goalkeeper. As luck would have it just in time for an U-16s’ squad trip to Dallas where Preston participated in a tournament. This resulted in Harriet receiving a scholarship offer from University in Minnesota. Although she declined this, she decided to put her all into goalkeeping and trained hard and pushed herself to improve.
Harriet said; “I spent the last 3 years playing for PNEWFC, this gave me the opportunity to really evolve as a keeper and as a person. I love my position because you have to be on your toes at all time and the pressure pushes you to perform both psychically and mentally. Every save is a test of character”.
Harriet will be studying Fine Art at Leeds College of Art and is extremely excited to play for Leeds Ladies. Harriet goes on to say “To play for a club that has big aspirations and is well on the way to achieving them is so exciting. The whole atmosphere at training and matches is brilliant, everyone plays for each other and pushes one another to be their best, which is exactly the kind of club I want a future with”.
Lewis Atkinson, Leeds head coach said this of his new keeper: “It’s a great pleasure to welcome Harriet to Leeds Ladies as we know that her goalkeeping heritage has been of the highest order! Having spoken with Harriet’s previous coach, I was in no doubt we were adding strength and ability in between the posts which was only going to strengthen the squad as a whole!”
