Then and Now | Bec Thomas

STARTING OUT

First team

As is the case with many of the girls at the time, we had to play with the boy’s teams, and that started when I was around eight-years-old. After playing in one of my school games, I was asked whether I wanted to play for the girl’s district sides. Then, Andy Butler (a scout for Wolves centre of excellence) asked me to come down and have a trail.

First ground

I believe it was one of the local Wolverhampton girls division leagues. The facilities weren’t bad at all because we used to train at the school behind Compton, near to where we train now. We used to train at the Jenny Lee centre as well, but it’s nothing in comparison to what we get to play and train on now.

First icon

David Beckham always has and still is my footballing idol. It’s a weird one though because I used to play outfield up until I was 14. I just wanted to play like him. Regarding female footballing idols, I must admit there wasn’t really anyone as such. It was more a case of looking up to the women who played for Wolves at the time, as the game for us wasn’t so inclusive or open during this period.

First challenge

I think growing up when I did was more difficult that it is now. There was clearly a hesitancy surrounding female football and opportunities to grow and progress were rarer for us than for the lads. Although those barriers still exist today, they have been crushed somewhat by the successes of the Lionesses this summer. The opportunities for girls to get into football now are everywhere, and they have paved the way for future generations.

Progression

It’s honestly crazy how much it has progressed. When I first started, my mom was so against it because ‘girls didn’t play football’. I remember my dad and I told her that I was going to a dance lesson on the day of my first Wolves trial, because I think my mom just wanted me to be her little girl if that makes sense, and the stigma surrounding it made that difficult. But, within weeks she was over the moon to hear how passionate I was about the game, and I think that’s being translated onto such a big scale now – it’s just mad.

CAREER

Best moment

Obviously, the promotions and getting into the play-off last season. As much as last season wasn’t the greatest season for me personally, as a club it was incredible to get to that stage, but it was also gutting when we missed out by the finest of margins.

Best result

I think it must be against Fylde in the FA Cup. Even recently, Dan McNamara mentioned that performance to me, and used it as an example for me to reach again, saying, ‘That’s the Bec we want back’. I remember it being 2-2 and we had a freekick in the last minute, scored it and we all went crazy. But on a personal note, it was such a good performance from myself, and it only motivates me to reach those standards once again.

Best opponent

Man City. It was when I was at West Brom, and we played against them in the FA Cup. As you can imagine, it wasn’t easy, during a time when they had the likes of Steph Houghton and Lucy Bronze. Losing 2-0 doesn’t sound too bad in hindsight but we essentially parked the bus for the entire game! To play against them and to see what many of that same squad has just managed to achieve during the summer is amazing.

Best stadium

It has to be Molineux. As a girl I didn’t really support any team and that’s still true today to an extent. But my first football kit was a Wolves kit because my grandad was a huge Wolves fan, so the background behind playing at Molineux is always a proud moment for me. Despite not being a ‘fan’ as such, the connection I have with the club always stays with me when we play at Molineux.

Advice

The main thing is to enjoy it. If you’re not enjoying it, then you can’t expect to progress and achieve anything. I have learnt this from personal experience when I have had my low moments as a player, it isn’t always smooth sailing but the reward for pushing through the bad times will always outweigh the struggles you faced before. It will always happen if you have that dream.