Moving to a new club can be daunting enough – but combining that with making the switch to full-time football is a lot for anyone to process.
But thankfully, they are changes that summer signing Georgia Robert has embraced.
The defender, who joined from Sheffield United in the close season, has quickly made her mark at Maiden Castle and admits she is loving life in the North East – in what is her first step into professional football.
“I’m loving it,” said Robert.
“The girls have been great and it’s been easy settling in.
“The transition to full-time has been good too, and the club have been great with that.
“It’s been fantastic training in the day and having football as your only focus. You look forward to a Sunday all week, and before you would get the game done and think ‘oh, I’ve got work tomorrow.’
“But now work is football, and it’s great having that as your focus.”
It’s been something of a stop-start opening to the season for Robert, with suspension and postponements meaning regular gametime was difficult to come by.
But with a run in the side now under her belt – does Robert think we’re starting to see the best of her abilities?
“Definitely.
“The suspension wasn’t great and then having the Birmingham game called-off was annoying.
“But I feel like I’m getting into a groove now, which is good.”
He run in the team has coincided with a switch in position – with Robert playing on the left side of a back four.
And it’s a change the defender has
embraced.
“I’m really enjoying playing left-back,” she admitted.
“I’ve always sort of wondered and thought could I play there? But because I’m tall, I’ve always been shafted to centre back.
“I love playing there, but I’m enjoying it in a slightly different position and being able to attack a little bit more.”
And while Robert brings plenty of her own experience to the table, she is also appreciating the opportunity to learn from others at Maiden Castle.
“Mac has got a boatload of experience,” she added.
“It’s great to see how she deals with things – she’s so calm and composed on the ball and the intensity she brings is great.
“There’s definitely always things to keep learning.”
Any player that comes to Durham probably knows the kind of side they are joining – but experiencing that intensity and passion first hand is something entirely different.
But we saw those qualities in abundance against Manchester United – giving Robert her first taste of a true ‘Durham performance’.
“I think that was the epitome of what I was expecting at Durham,” admitted the defender.
“I knew the crowd and the fanbase was good – but that was another level.
“It was brilliant, and is probably now top of my list for football moments.
“I don’t think anything has topped that.”
And it wasn’t just that sold-out crowd that has left Robert impressed.
Indeed, the backing of the Durham faithful throughout the campaign has left the summer signing impressed.
“It’s incredible.
“I love it – the drums, everything, is brilliant.
“The atmosphere they create is great and the fact they travel to away games too is the level of support you don’t get
everywhere.
“It means the world that they follow us everywhere.”