Leader of the Crewe (Katie Nuttall interview)

Crewe Alexandra captain Katie Nuttall started at Burnley after signing at a friend’s football birthday party, moved to Blackburn Rovers at sixteen where her game developed, and now leads a side newly promoted to FAWPL Northern Division 1. She describes captaincy as involving the running of the club behind the scenes as well as instruction on the pitch, and admits the role can make you overly harsh on yourself after a poor game while still having to motivate others. Asked how promotion felt, she says her team-mates will tell you she was miserable: it was clinched on a Wednesday night away in a scrappy game, and the celebration came only at the last match at Bloomfield Road.