Page 14 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.20 2020-21

Swansea City Women have had a magnificent week
and on Sunday, they picked up the point they
needed to seal the Orchard Welsh Premier
Women’s League title to add to their League Cup
success four days earlier.
We talked to Swansea defender Ria Hughes,
who spoke of her pride at lifting the league title and
is relishing the chance to play in the UEFA
Women’s Champions League once again next
season:
WSS: Many congratulations on winning
the league title, how does it feel to be
Champions of Wales once again?
RH: I am extremely proud to be apart of Swansea
City Ladies and to be champions of Wales. It has
been a tough season for us but we are a strong
team and always power through until the end.
WSS: To win the league with an unbeaten
record and conceding just one goal all season is a phenomenal achievement,
one which the team is really proud of?
RH: We work hard in our units and as a whole. To only concede one goal all season is
amazing, we strive to concede as little as possible.
WSS: That said, it must have been frustrating game against Abergavenny on
Sunday, coming up against a determined side and an inspired goalkeeper,
were you always confident it would be your day though?
RH: We have played a lot of games in a short period of time and we knew Abergavenny were
going to come at us and give us a good game. As a team you have to be confident going into
any game and games like Sunday are what we play for!
WSS: This success comes on the back of your League Cup win last week, when
you needed to come from behind against Cardiff, how pleased were you on the
night with a really strong second half display?
RH: Going one nil down can knock a team’s confidence and they can become defeated easily,
but our second half performance showed what a team we are and what we can do. We rolled
up our sleeves and played the Swansea way.
WSS: Have there been any players, or people off the pitch, who have played an
important but unsung part in the team's success this season?
RH: I believe everyone in the club has played an important part this season. The background
staff have been working tirelessly and us as players knew what we had to do to win the
league cup and the season.
WSS: Winning the title will of course mean you qualify for the UEFA Women's
Champions League next season. How much are you looking forward to having
another crack at European football?
RH: It’s always exciting to be able to play in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Getting
the opportunity to experience and play against women in Europe is something girls dream
of doing and we are fortunate to be able to be able to do it again.
Our thanks to Ria! Photo - Will Cheshire
Issue no. 20 - 3 June 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk