City in focus | Hannah Power: “The best squad we’ve had”
Defender Hannah Power continues to be a crucial player for Cardiff City FC Women.
Having joined the Bluebirds for the first time in 2011, Hannah is currently in her second spell at the Club, having returned in 2015.
Despite featuring at the heart of defence in a number of successful squads, the City centre-back feels the current team is in a class of their own.
“Personally, I think this is the best squad we’ve had,” she began. “The way we’ve started this season has shown that. Everyone has bought into how we want to play this season and we all believe that we can continue on this positive run with the squad that we have. It’s great to have this group of players.
“The talent in the squad is unbelievable. We’ve got some young, exciting players coming through, but also a balance of experienced players, who are role models to the younger girls. I think that’s really important to have in the team. Every individual brings something different to the squad and the team has gelled so well together in the last year. There’s so much talent there.”
During Hannah’s time representing City, she has seen first-hand the growth of the Women’s programme. She added: “It was so different when I first joined. The team was newly-formed, so it was just finding its feet. We would only train once a week, the kit was hand-me-downs from the men’s first-team; I think at one stage I had Craig Bellamy’s shorts! It’s just really night and day to what it is now.
“We’ve definitely got more of a professional culture around us now. Our manager is full-time, we train three times a week and introducing the U16s and U19s, which is just brilliant for the development of aspiring players, who one day want to play for the first-team. It’s been amazing to see how much it has developed over the years.
“The Women’s programme is 100% the best it’s ever been. It’s clear to see that it’s only going to get better as well with the interest in Women’s football now and how much support we’re getting from the club. The growth is definitely going to get even bigger.”
From winning the league in 2013 to competing in Europe, Hannah has had many memorable moments in a City shirt. However, the defender expressed that culminating last season by winning the FAW Women’s Cup is her career highlight to date.
“There’s been loads of highs over the years like winning the league in 2013, having the chance to play in the Champions League in Bosnia, but my top highlight has to be winning the FAW Women’s Cup at the end of last season.
“It meant so much. It was so special. I think one of the main reasons because it was with all my friends. All the girls that I play with, I’ve become so close with all of them, they’re like family to me, so to win with teammates that have been through so much together over the years was such an amazing feeling.
“Because we’ve been at the club for so long, it was something that we had been waiting to happen. We’ve worked so hard for the last few seasons to build up to that day of winning the cup and it just meant so much to us.”
Hannah has played her part in a fantastic start to the season, which has seen the Bluebirds win every game so far this campaign.
Speaking about her time at the Club so far, she concluded: “Cardiff City has definitely got a special place in my heart. I’ve grown up playing for the Club. I was actually eight when I first started training at the Development Centre, so it’s always been a part of my football journey. I’ve loved every minute of being a part of it and I’m really thankful for how it’s helped me to develop as a player.”
