NEW Town signing Emily Heckler has already made her mark on the world of women’s football – and she says the work ethic is tough at the club.
The 20-year-old former Doncaster Belles centre back already has an England call up, a ‘man of the match’ award for the British Universities final and has played in Women’s Premier League Cup Final.
And now two games into her Terriers career she is loving life at Town – and she now has a sponsor.
“It’s fantastic,’’ she said. “We’re doing really well, we won 6-2 the other day.
“I really enjoy it at Huddersfield.
“I’ve never played with better girls. It’s much more professional than anywhere I’ve played before.
“We get on with training and have a laugh afterwards. There’s no giggling like at other places, we just get on with it.
“The coach Micky is by far the most organised I’ve worked with.”
Club spokesman Dave Mallin said: “Due to Emily being a high profile player it was decided to try to find a sponsor for her for the 2009/2010 season.
“Michael Fleetwood of Hair Design 9, St Georges Road, Scholes, stepped forward and is delighted to help Emily on in her career at Huddersfield Town Ladies.’’
Barnsley-born Emily comes to Town with an illustrious junior career already under belt.
Finding a love of football through her dad – who was once invited for trials at Manchester City – she progressed from kicking a tennis ball round her garden at five to captaining the Hemsworth Terriers boys’ team at eight.
She was scouted and later joined Barnsley Ladies School of Excellence and eventually was picked from talent camps in the Sheffield area for the England Girls junior training squads.
Emily moved on to play junior football at Leeds United and from there represented England at under 17 and under 19 level in La Manga in Spain.
Her previous team was the Doncaster Belles and she made her premier league debut for them in October 2007, scoring a goal in their win over Birmingham City.
Emily said the highlight of career so far was playing against Arsenal Ladies last February.
“I was playing for Leeds Met University but the coach at Doncaster didn’t like it,’’ she said.
“He told me not to play for them but I had to because I was on a scholarship.
“So he put me on the bench for the game and I was gutted. I came on as a sub on about 70 minutes when we were two nil down and I pulled it back to two all.
“I scored twice in 10 minutes and it was from that I got called up to England.”
The Belles eventually lost the game 4-3.
Earlier this year Emily also scored two goals in Leeds Met’s 3 – 0 BUCS Final Championship win over Northumbria at QPR’s Loftus Road. Emily was voted Lucozade Sport player of the match.
Club spokesman Dave Mallin said: “Due to Emily being a high profile player it was decided to try to find a sponsor for her for the 2009/2010 season.
“Michael stepped forward and is delighted to help Emily on in her career at Huddersfield Town Ladies.’’
