West Ham United Ladies have completed the signing of highly-rated centre-half Chenise Austin.
Austin joins the Hammers from FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division rivals Swindon Town, where she enjoyed an outstanding 2016/17 campaign.
Now, the 24-year-old is looking forward to continuing her career in Claret and Blue after being inspired by a meeting with manager Greg de Carnys and general manager Karen Ray.
“Greg and Karen came to see me and their plan for the next five years for West Ham Ladies is something to look forward to,” Austin told whufc.com.
“I played a couple of friendlies for the Club previously, so I know the staff are amazing and the quality of the squad is really good.
“With the Ladies being part of the main club, the foundations are there for the future.”
Greg and Karen came to see me and their plan for the next five years for West Ham Ladies is something to look forward to
Chenise Austin
Austin was voted Player of the Match by her opponents eight times in just 22 league appearances, despite her Swindon side winning just two of those matches.
Born in Bath, she played for Chippenham Ladies as a schoolgirl before continuing her career as a student at the University of Gloucestershire, where she won the British Universities & Colleges Sport Western 1A title and FA Futsal Cup.
After leaving university, Austin joined Swindon Town Ladies, combining football with her job as a teaching assistant at a school in the Wiltshire town.
She enjoyed three seasons with the Robins before choosing to continue her career with West Ham – despite the fact she will have to undertake a 230-mile round-trip to train twice a week.
“I play football for enjoyment, but I also want to be the best I can be, so the step up to playing Women’s Premier League football with Swindon last season was a big one but one that I enjoyed,” said Austin, who describes herself as a ball-playing centre-half who ‘puts in a good tackle and can win a strong header’.
“Now, West Ham have given me the opportunity to be part of their project and I thought ‘I won’t know if I don’t try it’, so I’m looking forward to joining up with the girls and playing some matches.
“As long as I am playing football, then I am happy!”
The defender becomes West Ham’s seventh new arrival of a busy summer, following Amber Stobbs, Dayna Chong, Chantelle Mackie, Amy Cooper, Paige Anderson-Jones and Molly Peters.
General manager and first-team coach Ray is looking forward to working with her.
“We believe Chenise’s ability to deliver under pressure will help take West Ham United Ladies to the next level,” said Ray. “The quality of players we are signing are important, Chenise’s desire to develop in to a top centre-back is evident after helping Swindon gain promotion to the FAWPL two seasons ago.
“Her experience of winning titles is something really important for our five-year plan and we are excited she wants to join us.
“Chenise is a composed, experienced and reliable player with a winning mentality who will thrive under the competitive environment created at West Ham United Ladies.”
West Ham United would like to welcome Chenise to east London and wish her the very best for her career in Claret and Blue.