We sat down with Anna King after she agreed a long-term professional contract with Durham Women.
Here’s what the stopper had to say:
King on the professional contract…
“It feels brilliant, to be fair.
“The hard work has paid off, but the hard work starts again at the start of the season.
King on her journey at Durham…
“I’ve been here since I was 14.
“I started in the RTC and built and moved up. I did a loan spell at a different club to get some game time and experience of senior football and then hit the ground running from the season after when I was 17.
“I was with the Devs and Cestria’s reserves and then Cestria after that. I got my chance two seasons ago with Cestria in the January and just took it.
“With the Academy, it’s been a really good step up as well and has got everyone that experience against top quality players from across the country.
“Each step has been a learning curve and something to learn from.
“Whether you’re the number two and battling against people ahead of you, who have all been absolutely brilliant goalkeepers.
“Each step has taught me something new so I’ll take that into the season and hopefully learn some more as well.”
King on her experience in senior football with Durham Cestria…
“What Cestria offers is brilliant for the club and the pathway.
“It gives players an opportunity to experience first team football and competitive league football where you’re constantly battling for promotion.
“You’ve always got that in your mind at the start of the season – can we push for promotion? Can we get the highest finish?
“To take that into this season at a higher level is really exciting for me.”
King on training with the first team…
“The goalkeepers that have been around over the last couple of years, they’ve really taught me a lot.
“They’ve taught me what acting and being like a senior goalkeeper is like – how you present yourself on and off the pitch.
“Brassy has been absolutely fantastic. He believed in me when I probably didn’t and for him to put his arm around me and push me has been really good and I appreciate that.”
King on becoming a professional footballer…
“I had a conversation with my Dad the other week and he said ‘you’re a professional footballer now’ and I was saying he was silly!
“I think when you get to the line in pre-season and you have to do that first run, that’s when it’ll sink in!
“When you play for the club you support the club, and being here for so long and watching it grow has been brilliant.
“Being a part of the journey has been really special and getting a contract here makes it even better.”
King on aims for the 2024/25 season…
“Individually it’s just to carry on growing and learning and pushing whoever is ahead of me.
“I want to push and help whoever is ahead of me as much as I can.
“For the team, we want to finish as high as we can and get as many clean sheets as we can.
“We want to be that solid defence we know we can be, and then score as many goals and win as many games as we can.”
King on the Blue Army…
“They’re brilliant and even through the Pathway you can see that.
“They go to Academy games, Under 16 games and that shows that the fans are here not just for the players on a Sunday but for every single member of staff and player in the whole club from first team to under-10s.
“Them as a group, there’s no-one like it really.”
Anna has signed-up for the 2024/25 season – so now it’s your turn!
Get your 2024/25 Season Ticket to back Anna and the Blues in the new Barclays Women’s Championship campaign, while securing the best value and ensuring you have a spot at every home game in all competitions!
Prices start at just £24 – so get yours HERE!
Because after all, those special moments would be #NothingWithoutYou!
Would you like to sponsor Anna, or another one of our squad, for the 2024/25 season?
Our player sponsorship packages are now available and include a number of benefits – including Season Tickets, invites to exclusive events, promotion via our website, social media and match day programme, and your player’s signed shirt at the end of the season!
Email mark.donnelly@durhamwfc.co.uk for more information.
