Sport

Man City Women’s Stanway reflects on ‘whirlwind’ start to career after FA Cup triumph

Manchester City starlet Georgia Stanway is already racking up winners’ medals, and, at just 18 years of age, has set her sights on reaching the very top.

The Barrow-born teenager completed her treble of domestic trophies after City’s 4-1 win over Birmingham City Ladies in the SSE Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley in mid May.

And the former Blackburn Rovers youngster, who signed terms with Nick Cushing’s side in 2015, is hoping to continue her rapid rise, with a place in City’s starting eleven and a senior England debut top of her wish list.

“The past few years have been a whirlwind,” said Stanway. “To win all three domestic trophies at 18 – some players can’t say that after 20 years in the game – is fantastic.

“Ahead of the FA Cup final, we had a tour around the stadium before the game, it was absolutely mind-blowing.

“As a child, I always wanted to play in that stadium.

“Before the game I was thinking: ‘Today is the day you’re going to do it, you’re going to walk onto the pitch in front of 35,000 people and you’re name is on the barriers around Wembley’. It was just unbelievable.”

Stanway shares a star-studded dressing room with several big names, led by England and City skipper Steph Houghton.

Toni Duggan, Karen Bardsley, Lucy Bronze and Jill Scott are all seasoned performers on the world stage, and Stanway admitted she hangs on their every word.

“I’m like a little sponge,” Stanway said. “I just try and soak up everything the girls tell me.

“I’m so intrigued about football and I think that’s what has helped me so far, in that I’m willing to learn anything.

“I don’t think the girls mind me asking questions all the time – it becomes a bit of a joke!”

City are the first women’s side in England to hold all three domestic trophies, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the FAWSL 1 Championship.

They are currently third in a hotly-contested Spring Series, one point behind leaders Liverpool with a game in hand.

And Stanway said she and her team-mates are hungry to add to their ever-growing cabinet of silverware, at home and in Europe.

“We’ve had a positive Spring Series,” Stanway said. “We’ve been up there at the top and we want to win it.

“The main one we need to get our hands on is the Champions League trophy. This season was the first time we’ve competed in the Champions League, so it was a big milestone for us to get to the semi finals.”

Stanway was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year, and is expected to lead the line for England at the UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship in Belfast later this summer.

As a fledgling player, she was picked for the SSE Next Generation scheme, which provides promising athletes with financial aid and benefits to help them on their quest to the top, support Stanway said was vital in her development.

“Everyone is trying to achieve their dream and with SSE, you know you’re not alone in what you need to do to get to the top,” she said. 

“They’re doing a lot to help with younger athletes and younger people to fulfill their dreams and get them to the top.”

Since 2013, SSE is proud to make a difference to young people, their families and their communities, by investing in the future of sporting talent through the SSE Next Generation scheme. Keep up to date @YourSSE

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