Having spent over a decade with Durham, there’s few better placed to reflect on the growth of the club than Beth Hepple.
And that’s exactly what we spoke to her about as we caught-up at the 2023/24 Awards.
Here’s what the midfielder had to say:
Hepple on the growth of the club…
“It’s amazing.
“It’s so nice to see all the kids and right up to the first team, how successful it has actually been.
“Year-on-year it gets better, so it’s amazing.
“It’s huge.
“Durham has become a proper name now and 10 years ago we weren’t that.
“Across the age groups it’s growing and young girls are really attracted to Durham now. It’s a name to be at.
“That’s really important and it’s going to be exciting in a few years time when they all hit the first-team!”
Hepple on her favourite moments of 2023/24…
“Obviously it was a funny season for myself because I missed quite a bit of it.
“But I just remember being back in the FA Cup at West Brom and that was huge for me – my first start after injury.
“Then probably the last game of the season. It was a huge relief for everyone and it was a deserved three points after months and months of trying.
“Ending the season on a high in front of our fans was massive.”
Hepple on the growth of our fanbase last season…
“Unreal.
“It’s still mad that people choose to follow us, but it just shows that the women’s game is growing so much and Durham has grown so much as well.
“We get such amazing every week, up and down the country, and we travel a lot so we really appreciate it.”
Hepple on her hopes for the 2024/25 campaign…
“Individually is just to have a solid run of games.
“Hopefully I can start the season from the start this time and as a team, it hasn’t been a great season for us.
“But we’ve had some really good strong and performances but maybe not the results, so next year it’s about getting them both.”
