For Rosie Kmita, a quiet afternoon visiting family would turn into the beginning of a new, unforeseen chapter of her footballing career.
It was the day Kmita was told she would be becoming a professional footballer. The first women’s professional footballer in West Ham United history.
“I was around my aunt’s house with my whole family, when my phone buzzed and an email popped up,” the 24-year-old fondly recalled. “I just remember opening it, and seeing that West Ham wanted to keep me on and were offering professional terms.
“I was just absolutely buzzing. I didn’t want to tell my whole family straight away, but I pulled my Mum into the other room and quietly told her. I also called my sister straight away, and they were both really excited.
“Honestly, that moment will be one I’ll never, ever forget.”
I didn’t ever expect all of this when I came to West Ham, but being in this team and this environment has shown me that I can be a player in top flight football
Rosie Kmita
While that email was the start of Kmita’s career as a professional player, it also meant her journey with West Ham would be continuing.
With West Ham being accepted into the FA Women’s Super League came huge change for the club. Fourteen new players joined the Irons in the summer, a group that includes international regulars and title winners, and Kmita recognises how fortunate she is to work with this team.
“I feel like Vyan [Sampson] and I have been put in a very lucky situation. We both knew that the calibre of players coming in were only going to make us better players, and working with them has done exactly that. We both really wanted to take that chance.
“I knew people like Gilly [Flaherty], Raff [Claire Rafferty] and Becks [Becky Spencer] before they joined, which was nice. All three of them have played at this level for so long, and they’ve been so supportive of me.
“Kate Longhurst is someone I’ve really clicked with. Our personalities are very similar, but I think she’s ten times more of a nutter than I am! I love people like that though.”
Last month, West Ham’s No16 made her first competitive start as a professional footballer, scoring in a Continental Tyres Cup group-stage win over Millwall Lionesses.
Since then, Kmita has been a part of all three WSL matchday squads and continuing her dream ascent to the top flight of English football with the winning goal in West Ham's first-ever victory at that level, 2-1 over Yeovil Town last weekend.
“I was filled with pure excitement when I started against Millwall,” she laughed. “It’s mad how everything has worked out!
“I didn’t ever expect all of this when I came to West Ham, but being in this team and this environment has shown me that I can be a player in top flight football.
“Our head coach Matt Beard has been so good with me. He’s so likeable. He wants me to believe in myself and trust in my ability. I have a lot to learn and it’s a privilege for me to be working under him and his coaching team.”
“As a team, we have very high expectations of ourselves. We’re on a journey and I’m loving it.”
*West Ham United women's team return to action on Sunday 14 October at 2pm, when they travel to last season's WSL runners-up Manchester City. Tickets for that match are available here.