Katie Astle had a late start at work on Monday morning after captaining York City to the fourth round of the Women’s FA Cup with a 3-0 win over Altrincham.
Fortunately, she works at the York City Foundation, on the junior pathway.
“It was good to wake up and then all of our players and group chats this morning were going off, everyone buzzing about the win,” she tells SheKicks.net.
“I had a lot of messages off parents saying their kids – some of my players had seen it – and even some of them travelled to Altrincham.”
Astle got the second goal – a special one by anyone’s standards.
“It was a nice [goal] for us straight after Ruby [Watt] scored the first one for us. Straight from their kick-off, we won the ball back and then Ruby again played a good ball through to me, and then I saw the keeper coming off the line, so I thought, ‘I’ll just go for it and go for the lob.’
“Luckily it paid off and it went in.”
Astle: It’s a proud moment
That goal, coupled with her leadership, has seen her nominated for the player of the round award, alongside Southampton’s Atlanta Primus, Newcastle United’s Shania Hayles, and Hull City’s Abi Wallace.
She found out about the nomination on the team bus on the way back from the game – and says she couldn’t believe it – “especially in the FA Cup. It’s so special to be in. [It’s a] very proud moment.”
The fourth-round draw takes place on Monday evening, and Astle and a few of her team-mates have got their eyes on a big trip to London – perhaps to Arsenal or Chelsea.
“It’s the first time the team have got this far, and I think off the top of my head, it’s the first time any of us in the squad have got this far. We’re quite a young squad. So it’s a good opportunity for everyone in the team and then I just think it’s going to be a great occasion for everyone in January. Everyone will be looking forward to it.”
Katie Astle: This is a great opportunity
And of course, wearing the armband, she’s additionally proud of what her team have achieved, having returned to the club after a spell with Huddersfield Town.
“This is my first year back at York, and then being able to captain the team, it’s just great to see, especially after games like yesterday, the smiles on people’s faces, particularly all the young girls that probably never played in the FA Cup before this season, to then get this far and get into the stage where you have got the Super League teams and the Championship [WSL2] teams.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to push ourselves and get our team out there.”
But she won’t be able to watch the draw as it happens – because she’ll be on the pitch coaching her junior teams.
“Last time, when it was the third round draw, I had some of the players come down early and then they all ran to me to tell me who we had in the next round,” she recalls.
“So hopefully it’ll be the same again tonight – celebrating while they’re playing football!”
