The American collegiate system that has aided the careers of so many elite names in women’s football continues to offer a sporting, social and academic springboard for players from both sides of the Atlantic. Phoebe Hollin’s departure from Manchester United’s academy led her all the way to Philadelphia, and a transformative four years at Temple University.
Recently completing her senior season as an Owls player, the 21-year-old Oldham native shares her insight into a time of friendships, on-field captaincy, and a level of personal growth that even she hadn’t quite bargained for.
Tell us about the process to get your scholarship. What was your situation at that point with football, had you left Man United?
At the time, I was still at Manchester United, but I hadn’t been offered a contract for the following season. It was a really tough situation, as it meant I was likely going to have to leave all my friends and teammates. I had convinced myself that playing in England was my only option, and if it wasn’t with United, I’d be a failure. That’s when Jon (Maloney) from Go 2 College Soccer stepped in; he introduced me to the idea of college soccer in the U.S. at a time when I was feeling lost. It was a huge turning point. I joined the Go 2 College Soccer Winter Showcase and the exposure was immediate; I got interest from several schools right away. Jon was incredibly helpful throughout the entire process, offering his opinions and recommendations, which gave me the confidence to explore new opportunities. When I spoke to Temple University, I just knew it was the right fit; I could tell this was where I was meant to spend the next four years, both academically and athletically. Without Go 2 College Soccer and Jon’s support, I’m not sure I would have had the courage to pursue that path. Their guidance made all the difference during a really uncertain time in my career.
What did you study at Temple and how did you find the balance required to be a student athlete?
At Temple, I studied advertising, and at first, balancing the workload with being an athlete was definitely challenging. It was a big adjustment, especially with the intensity of college soccer and the demands of my coursework. However, Temple has an amazing support system that helped me a lot, and I was able to pick it up pretty quickly. My teammates played a huge role in my transition, too; they were always there to help and offer advice, making me feel more at ease in the process. It’s honestly a dream to be able to study something I love, like advertising, and play football every day.
I found the balance by leaning on my upperclassmen; they’d already gone through the same struggles, so I took a lot of advice from them. I never hesitated to ask questions, whether about managing time or how to handle the workload. That openness and willingness to learn from others made all the difference in finding my rhythm as a student-athlete.
You’d been a right-back with United. Which position(s) have you been playing in college? And is ‘free-kick expert’ on your CV now?!
I spent most of my youth career at right-back but I’ve definitely found that my game suits centre-back more here in the U.S. That said, during my time in the States, I think I’ve played nearly every position at some point; my junior year, for example, I ended up as the number ten for most of the season, due to a few injuries. Both coaches at Temple really believed in me, and they gave me the responsibility of taking all the set-pieces. With a lot of practice, I’ve managed to score a few decent ones, so, yeah, I guess you could say ‘free-kick expert’ is on my unofficial CV now – definitely a fun addition to my skill set! But, honestly, being versatile and getting a chance to play in different positions has helped me grow as a player, and I’m loving the challenge.
Our Captain!!! Congrats Phoebe for being named Third Team All- Conference🔥🍒🦉! #GoOwls pic.twitter.com/5LHn8L9xzi
— Temple Women’s Soccer (@templewsoccer) November 4, 2024
The college game is known for the physical aspect. How much have you developed that side of yourself in these few seasons? Are you lifting much more than you were back home?!
The physical side of my game has developed massively since I’ve been here. Back at Manchester United, we did lift, but it was mostly focused on injury prevention and just keeping us ticking over; we didn’t push ourselves to the extremes that I’ve had to here. Coming to college soccer, I was definitely pushed to my physical limits. When I first arrived as a freshman, I really struggled, especially with conditioning. I had no idea what I was doing, and it felt overwhelming at times, but I stuck with it, kept grinding, and now, physical conditioning is one of my strengths. The biggest thing I’ve developed is my mindset towards it. When I first got here, I wasn’t unfit, but I was always in the middle of the pack and would struggle with the mental toughness side of conditioning. Now, I actually love testing myself mentally and pushing through hard workouts. It’s become one of my favourite parts of being an athlete, seeing how far I can go and challenging myself to be better every day.
As for lifting, I’m definitely lifting a lot more now than I was back home. The intensity of the college game and the physical demands require a higher level of strength and endurance, and I’ve made huge strides in both. It’s been a huge part of my development, and I feel so much more confident and capable in my physical abilities.
Like many college players, you’ve also played at club level (in the USL W-League) during the summers – Asheville City down in North Carolina, and Eagle FC in Pennsylvania. How beneficial has that been?
I absolutely love playing at Temple but I’ve found that playing over the summer gives me even more exposure to a higher level of competition. It’s a chance to play with some amazing players from different backgrounds, and it also lets me see new parts of the U.S. Asheville was one of the best experiences I’ve had; it was so refreshing to meet so many new people and I still talk to all the friends I made there my first summer in America. Last summer, I played for Eagle FC and we made it to the Sweet 16, which was a huge achievement. I always tell people that playing over the summer really helped shape who I am as a player and a person. I couldn’t recommend it enough – if you ever get the chance to play over the summer, take it!
#eaglefcwomen Justyce Hollenbach and Phoebe Hollin back together again! pic.twitter.com/RXSdtzwZ0c
— Eagle FC Women (@EagleFCWomen) September 9, 2024
You were a huge part of the team at Temple, which included two seasons as captain. When you reflect, what has your time there done for you, on and off the pitch?
Temple has truly given me everything, on and off the pitch. It’s been a place of growth, both as a player and a person. I have no shame in saying that when I arrived, I was pretty immature and definitely stuck in my ways, but with the help of some tough conversations and the support of my teammates and coaches, I’ve been able to turn myself into someone freshman Phoebe really needed. The people around me, especially my teammates, have helped me become the best version of myself. They gave me a platform to voice my opinions, but also kept me grounded, and that balance was key in my development.
One of the biggest things that helped me was being captain. I always tried to be the person that my younger self would have appreciated; a leader who wasn’t afraid to have the hard conversations and make the tough decisions, even if it didn’t always feel easy in the moment. I think those conversations, along with a few sacrifices, are all worth it. They may not fully see it in the moment, but down the line, they’ll understand. Marissa DiGenova (who joined the NWSL’s Portland Thorns last year as a national-team replacement player), my captain freshman year, was a huge influence on me. At the time, I didn’t fully understand it, but she pushed me in ways that I didn’t know I needed. She held me to such a high standard, and even though I thought she was being tough on me, she was really just helping me see my potential; I owe her a lot for that. Being captain was such an honour, and looking back on my time at Temple, I can honestly say it’s made me who I am today. I’m a better player, a stronger leader, and, most importantly, a better person because of the lessons I’ve learned and the people I’ve met along the way.
Are there any teammates from your time coming up at United who are currently playing professionally?
Yes, a few of my teammates from Manchester United are playing professionally now, which is amazing to see. My really good friend, Poppy Lawson, is playing pro at Hibs in Scotland, and Niamh Murphy is playing for Blackburn Rovers. Another one of my best friends, Ella Kinzett, is at Sheffield United. There are lots of other girls from my age group playing in the Championship and various other leagues across England, which is really exciting. Fran Stables, who was with me at United, went out to the U.S. around the same time I did. She just graduated from the University of Cincinnati after transferring from Clemson, and I’m really excited to see where she ends up next; she’s got a lot of potential. It’s inspiring to see everyone doing so well!
Finally, what is your outlook as we speak now, in terms of what you want the future to look like with your football? Have you got any specific ideas about where you would want to start playing professionally, for example?
Right now, I’m really focused on looking at my options to hopefully play professionally in the States. It’s something I’ve been working towards, and I’m excited about the opportunities that might come my way. If that doesn’t work out, though, I’d love to pursue a career in coaching here in the U.S. – sorry, Mum, looks like I’m not coming home anytime soon! Coaching has always been something I’ve been passionate about, and I think it could be an amazing way to stay involved in the game while helping others develop.
As for the future with my football, I’m definitely open to what comes next. Ideally, I’d love to start playing professionally in the U.S. as soon as possible, but I’m also being realistic and staying patient with the process. I’m exploring different options and trying to figure out what the best move will be. Wherever I end up, I want to continue growing as a player and be in a position where I can make an impact, whether that’s on the pitch or coaching younger players down the line. Right now, it’s all about keeping my options open and working hard to make sure I’m ready for whatever comes next.
Go 2 College Soccer is the only company in the UK solely dedicated to helping female soccer players achieve their dream of becoming student athletes in America. For more information, contact founder & MD, Jon Maloney (jon@go2collegesoccer.com) or visit www.go2collegesoccer.com.
