Lawley Looking to Make Her Mark (Melissa Lawley interview)

Melissa Lawley joined WSL champions Manchester City from Birmingham City in a quieter transfer than Carli Lloyd’s, though manager Nick Cushing said she was top of his list. Offered an Arsenal academy place by Laura Harvey after a trial, she played Champions League football for the club at sixteen, then developed under Mark Sampson at Bristol Academy before four seasons at Birmingham that she calls one of the best things she has done. Leaving was a wrench and a step out of her comfort zone into a bigger environment. She started alongside Lloyd on their shared competitive debut in the FA Cup win over Reading, and wants to be judged on footballing ability first.