West Ham United Ladies defender Hannah Wheeler hopes the club can make a winning start to their new era.
The Ladies were brought into under the Hammers’ wing this week, marking the club’s 25th anniversary by becoming fully-fledged members of the West Ham family.
It has been a challenging start to the season for the Ladies, who have won just two of the ten matches they have played in all competitions, but Wheeler and her teammates hope the announcement will be followed by a morale-boosting victory over Crystal Palace in the London FA Capital Cup on Sunday afternoon.
“The changes can only be for the better,” said the 18-year-old, who has recently started a sports science degree at the University of Kent. “We have worn the shirts and the badge, but we have not formally been part of the Club.
“We have always wanted to be part of the family and be more involved with the Club, like the Ladies teams are at clubs like Manchester City, Arsenal and Crystal Palace, and now that is going to happen.
“It’s about building on the new arrangements and boosting the profile of the Ladies team, increasing our support and winning matches.
“When we played Tottenham at the Boleyn Ground earlier this year, it showed the potential of the Ladies.”
The Ladies were brought into under the Hammers’ wing this week, marking the club’s 25th anniversary by becoming fully-fledged members of the West Ham family.
It has been a challenging start to the season for the Ladies, who have won just two of the ten matches they have played in all competitions, but Wheeler and her teammates hope the announcement will be followed by a morale-boosting victory over Crystal Palace in the London FA Capital Cup on Sunday afternoon.
“The changes can only be for the better,” said the 18-year-old, who has recently started a sports science degree at the University of Kent. “We have worn the shirts and the badge, but we have not formally been part of the Club.
“We have always wanted to be part of the family and be more involved with the Club, like the Ladies teams are at clubs like Manchester City, Arsenal and Crystal Palace, and now that is going to happen.
“It’s about building on the new arrangements and boosting the profile of the Ladies team, increasing our support and winning matches.
“When we played Tottenham at the Boleyn Ground earlier this year, it showed the potential of the Ladies.”
Having a bigger profile will hopefully mean more fans come along to support us and that, in turn, will motivate the players to perform to a higher level on the pitch
Hannah Wheeler
The teenager joined West Ham from local rivals Millwall Lionesses a little over a year ago, swapping U18 football for first-team football.
Last season proved difficult for the Ladies, who won just five of their 22 matches to finish tenth in the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division.
The new campaign has also seen more lows than highs, but Wheeler says it is still early days and there is plenty of opportunity for the squad to turn things around.
“Last season was my first year with the club and it was a bit of a rollercoaster, and it has been the same again so far this season,” she confirmed. “It’s been a real experience playing senior football at such a high level, for sure.
“We have got some really talented players, but we have been playing as individuals rather than as a team, so if we can start playing better as a team, then the results will come, I’m sure.
“I travel from Kent to train at Chadwell Heath and the girls all over the country to play matches, so I and all the girls are really committed to the club.
“Having a bigger profile will hopefully mean more fans come along to support us and that, in turn, will motivate the players to perform to a higher level on the pitch.”
Sunday’s game will see the Hammers host the Eagles for the second time this term, with Palace scoring a 4-0 Southern Division victory at Thurrock FC a month ago. Centre-half Wheeler is hopeful of a more positive result second time around.
“It’s a massive game for us,” she said. “Palace have a very attacking team. They came up from the division below in the summer and have played well so far this season.
“They are a team to look out for but we have got the personnel and the capability to give a good account of ourselves and get through to the next round.”
Kick-off at Ship Lane is at 2pm on Sunday 16 October. Free parking is available, with tickets priced at £5 for Adults and £1 for Under-16s.
Last season proved difficult for the Ladies, who won just five of their 22 matches to finish tenth in the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division.
The new campaign has also seen more lows than highs, but Wheeler says it is still early days and there is plenty of opportunity for the squad to turn things around.
“Last season was my first year with the club and it was a bit of a rollercoaster, and it has been the same again so far this season,” she confirmed. “It’s been a real experience playing senior football at such a high level, for sure.
“We have got some really talented players, but we have been playing as individuals rather than as a team, so if we can start playing better as a team, then the results will come, I’m sure.
“I travel from Kent to train at Chadwell Heath and the girls all over the country to play matches, so I and all the girls are really committed to the club.
“Having a bigger profile will hopefully mean more fans come along to support us and that, in turn, will motivate the players to perform to a higher level on the pitch.”
Sunday’s game will see the Hammers host the Eagles for the second time this term, with Palace scoring a 4-0 Southern Division victory at Thurrock FC a month ago. Centre-half Wheeler is hopeful of a more positive result second time around.
“It’s a massive game for us,” she said. “Palace have a very attacking team. They came up from the division below in the summer and have played well so far this season.
“They are a team to look out for but we have got the personnel and the capability to give a good account of ourselves and get through to the next round.”
Kick-off at Ship Lane is at 2pm on Sunday 16 October. Free parking is available, with tickets priced at £5 for Adults and £1 for Under-16s.