Published: 26 September, 2013
by STEVE BARNETT

AT just 20, talented young footballer Sophie Fogarty has the world at her feet.

The pacey left-sided defender is breaking through at a revolutionary time in the women’s game after being snapped up by Chelsea.

With more of the top clubs investing money in the sport, the Women’s Super League is on the verge of a massive expansion that will see the introduction of a second tier next season and, with it, 10 more teams battling it out on a weekly basis.

The speed at which the game is growing won’t be any more evident than on Sunday when Liverpool take on Bristol Academy in a title decider that will end Arsenal Ladies’ dominance within the sport.

Sophie, who lives in Queen’s Crescent, admits she never dreamed she’d be tackling the game at such an exciting time. “I never thought that I would play for a big club, it just didn’t seem possible,” she said. “I started playing for Hampstead when I was about 11 and when I turned 16 I joined Queens Park Rangers. I just wanted to play so I wasn’t really thinking where I would go from there.”

That all changed when she was invited to take part in trials by former Parliament Hill pupil Emma Hayes, who is now the manager of Chelsea.

Sophie quickly impressed the coaches and, over the summer, was offered a one-year deal.

And just how much Emma and her team rated Sophie became clear when she was handed a dream debut against Arsenal Ladies.

“I didn’t know until half an hour before the game that I was starting” recalls Sophie. “Emma just sprung it on me. I thought it was going to be a good game to watch from the bench.

“Because it was Arsenal I was extremely nervous but as soon as the game kicked off I settled down and just wanted to play and win. I hate losing.”

However the game ended in disappointment for Sophie as she was forced off at half-time with a hamstring injury, while Chelsea suffered a 1-0 defeat.

But the left-back still pulled the positives from what was, without doubt, a day she will never forget. “It showed that Emma clearly believes in me. I’ve only been at the club for a couple of months and already she’s had the confidence to start me in one of the biggest games of the season.

“Knowing that she has that much belief in me has really helped me settle in and gives me the confidence that I can play at this level.”