Katrina Gorry, captain of West Ham United, says that when she returned to the club after spending the close season in Australia, it felt like coming home.
“The support we have here, not just on the field, but off the field too, the way they (the staff) look after me and my family, I don’t think I’ve ever felt this sort of love from a football team,” the 33-year-old told the club website..
“When I play, I leave everything out there because of how I feel off the field and the belief that the club has instilled in me. I’m so happy to be here.”
As an experienced international, Gorry has been pleased to see the squad develop ahead of the Women’s Super League season, with younger players making their way into the mix.
“The experienced players help the young ones settle in and make sure they know they always have a voice, because I think every player sees the game differently and if you can add a little bit from everyone, the team can just go from strength to strength.
“It’s been so exciting to see the younger players from last year really step up and grow in the position that they’re in. All of us come together as a squad, not just on the field, but off the field too.”
Gorry: We have belief in ourselves and each other
West Ham host Arsenal at the Chigwell Construction Stadium on Friday, 12th September – and Gorry is not phased by the prospect of taking on the UEFA Women’s Champions League winners. Indeed, she points to her team’s performance against domestic treble winners Chelsea last season – when they went 2-0 down at Kingsmeadow within the first 22 minutes courtesy of goals from Maika Hamano and Aggie Beever-Jones, but came back to take a point thanks to a Shekiera Martinez double.’
That match came in the middle of a great run of form, which included draws against Manchester United and Manchester City, a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur – and a 7-1 thumping of Crystal Palace.
“I think the end of last season was really enjoyable for us. One moment that stands out is when I had to come off early in the game away at Chelsea. I sat on the sidelines and watched the team come back and draw the game. That just showed where we were as a team and how much belief we had in ourselves, and each other.”
