A highly promising women’s keeper has turned down the chance to join West Ham Ladies, as Lucy-Rose Huggins reports.
For five years in a row Jessica Huggins has won best-player award, most-improved player twice and the all-important manager’s player too. For 10 years she has performed and excelled, keeping goal for Meridian F.C and Gillingham ladies F.C. It led to her receiving an offer from West Ham Ladies – a dream come true for many, but Huggins has declined the opportunity of a lifetime to follow her real dreams and ambitions.
From childhood to adulthood Huggins, 20, has been devoted to training on a Wednesday night at The Holcombe Hockey Club and performing on matchdays. Travelling near and far for tournaments and cup games, she did not miss a single one. She was a mainstay of her teams. But for her, football has been more a leisure activity. Now in her second year at Middlesex University she has decided to concentrate on her studies in sports and exercise science.
Passion
“All my life I’ve been seen as the physically talented person when it comes to being on the pitch. But it was all for fun, and yes, as a child it was my passion, but as I’ve got older it’s more of a leisure thing. That’s why I have turned down West Ham Ladies.”
West Ham have grown and improved over recent years. And with a move into their new stadium at the Olympic Park, it can surely only mean better and bigger things to come for both men and women at the East London club. But Huggins has still declined the opportunity.
“I was inspired every time I watched Jessica play,” says Shannon Redhouse. A close friend, teammate and former midfielder for Gillingham F.C Ladies, she saw first-hand Huggins’ qualities: “She never seems to make a mistake and when she does, she just recovers and makes a tremendous save and it’ll be like the mistake never happened. She can go far. But she has other dreams in mind and I support her all the way.”
Redhouse encourages Jessica to ‘do the thing she does best.’ Tracey Crouch, government minister and former manager for Meridian Girls F.C says: “Jessica never failed to give 100% on the field, leading to many awards along with recognition from other top club.”
Huggins’ dreams won’t end after her three years at Middlesex University. She intends to do a master’s degree, as she focuses on that life dream, rather than a footballing one.