Above Laura Vetterleins’s seat in the West Ham United women’s home changing room hangs a plaque, on which is written a phrase: ‘Always remember the girl who fell in love with the game’.
It’s the mantra the German international leads her career by. Everything she does, she does with the young woman she once was in mind.
Stepping out at London Stadium, ahead of its historic first-ever Barclays FA Women’s Super League match on Sunday 29 September, the defender’s first thought is back to the ambitions she had growing up.
When West Ham United play Tottenham Hotspur at the home of West Ham United at the end of the month, it will be a realisation of those aspirations.
When I started playing football, I dreamed of playing in a big stadium like this. Now it’s a dream come true and I can’t wait.
Laura Vetterlein
“This is everything a little girl would dream of,” Vetterlein said. “When I started playing football, I dreamed of playing in a big stadium like this. Now it’s a dream come true and I can’t wait.
“When you think about it, I get goose bumps. It’s everything we work for day-in and day-out. Now we want to prove we deserve to play in a big stadium with a big crowd.
“The whole team is really excited for this game. It’s a really big occasion in a wonderful stadium. Hopefully we have a big crowd behind us cheering for us that day.”
Grab your tickets for West Ham United's first-ever Barclays FA Women's Super League match at London Stadium now here!
Stratford has already seen some unforgettable West Ham United memories. Wins against the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are just a few of the occasions that are recalled with excitement by supporters.
With this first women’s match against Spurs as well, Vetterlein is looking forward to adding even more memories at London Stadium.
For West Ham’s No26, the game and the occasion cannot come quickly enough.
She continued: “It’s important to have in mind that this Club has a big tradition. We want to follow the example the men have set and show we are capable of doing great things as well.
“The Spurs match makes it even more special for us and I think, for the fans, it’s a big game against a rival. It’s even more exciting.
“This is really special. I am counting the days until we step on that pitch and play for West Ham at London Stadium.”
