TT INTERVIEW
“We really do appreciate all the support we can get, it creates an amazing atmosphere for us on matchdays“
We catch up with TT Sponsored player Rhi Bailey as she gets ready for an exciting new season at Torquay United Women
When did you start playing football and who were your heroes growing up?
I’ve been playing football for as long as I can remember, I always played football in primary school, after school with friends and also for a boys team on the weekends, it was a huge part of my life growing up. Women’s football was pretty much non-existent in the public eye when I was a kid (a long time ago sadly) but I always remember asking my parents about Kelly Smith and following her, she’s a legend.
The women’s game has grown immensely, why do you think that is?
I think things have changed massively in the last 10 years, the inclusivity of women in football especially. I think everyone has played a role in this including schools, social media, football clubs and so many more platforms. The more exposure the women’s games get, the more we get the crowds, it allows there to be more funding which in return is pumped back into the training and facilities the women get to use and improve their standard. I hope it continues to grow and I think recently the women’s games like the euros has shown we are well on our way to being as popular as the men.
When did you join Torquay Women and where else have you played?
I had a few spells at different clubs growing up like Plymouth Argyle & Newton Abbot, but the main club I played for was Stoke Gabriel. I was 18/19 and we had a great squad, we were getting promoted season after season but unfortunately we didn’t have the funding or the commitment from players/coaching staff to continue our journey into the National league. I had a break from football for a few years after that and never fully committed again for a long time but, I couldn’t stay away. I joined Torquay 3 years ago and decided to fully commit and it was the best decision I’ve made.
How would you describe yourself as a player, what’s your strengths and weaknesses?
I’m sure some people would have some strong opinions on this question! I would say I’m a nightmare to play against, I make myself known on the pitch, maybe a bit too much but it’s all part of the game. I like to challenge hard and put my body on the line for the girls, I think it’s important to be an engine in the middle of the park and that’s exactly what I try to be. We’re going into the National League, I can’t reveal my weaknesses but I’m definitely working on them!
How good was last season and what were your highlights?
Last season was incredible! We had a very full on pre-season and we ended up losing our first game of the season. We shook that off straight away and just focused on the rest of the season and we always aimed to finish top 3. As the season progressed, we kept on winning and I think it got to maybe halfway through and we started saying to each other “we could actually do this”. From that point on, we were gunning for the top spot. We all wanted it secretly but never applied too much pressure which I think really helped some of us.
Our FA Cup run was definitely one of my highlights, we made history within the club getting as far as we did and we will aim for better this season. Of course lifting the trophy when we sealed promotion will always be my favourite memory!
Tell us a bit about Steve Elswood – what has he brought to the team?
Steve is incredible! Since he has taken over as manager the dynamic at the club has changed. He has the perfect balance of authority and friendliness. He listens to us and appreciates our opinions and works with us to execute any plans we have. He is so invested and motivated to take Torquay to new levels and we all absolutely love him.
Also a special shout out to the rest of the management team, Al, Jim, Jake, Sam and Clare. The support we have from them all is second to none and this is definitely the best team I have ever played under.
Which team-mates should we look out for next season and who are the biggest characters?!
We have such a mixture of players in this squad, we have youth and experience which I think is really important, we are constantly learning from each other which is great. A lot of the younger players are flying at the moment, Ocean Latto is always a fan favourite, she will go onto big things!
There are definitely a few of us that are louder than the others but everyone has their own quirks, so it makes for a very fun changing room!
Are you confident the team can step up to the next division?
I think it’ll be a challenge for us but I know we all want to put the work in to show we are contenders. Personally, I would be happy to end the season in the top half of the table, staying up is the main aim and then we can build on that and show everyone that this is the standard we should be playing at!
And finally where are the games played and why should the Yellow Army come along and support the team?
Our home pitch this season will be Coach Road/Devon FA. We played at Plainmoor last season and the whole day was great, I want to thank for club for allowing that happen and hopefully we can play there again this season as a National League side.
We really do appreciate all the support we can get, it creates an amazing atmosphere for us on matchdays, I think a lot of people would be surprised at the standard and the desire we have for the game and hopefully we can build on the solid fanbase we already have. We are all extremely proud to wear the club’s badge and we would love to see some more of the Torquay fans supporting both the men and the women’s games.
We watch the men’s side as often as we can, as we feel it’s important to show support and show that football is for everyone. We are always happy to have a chat, so if you see us around Plainmoor come and say hi!
COYY
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