On November 21st, 2021, Hollie Smith was announced as a Bluebird and has since impressed in a City shirt.
From consistent performances at the back to gaining silverware, Hollie’s time at the Club so far has been memorable.
We caught up with the defender to reflect on her three years with the Bluebirds.
Becoming a Bluebird
Having gained experience at international level for Wales’ age-grade sides, Hollie joined City at 17 years of age in the next step for her development.
“It was really good for to sign for Cardiff City, because I already knew a few of the girls from international camps with Wales,” she began. “Everyone was so welcoming and I slotted in pretty quickly. The staff helped me settle in. I was still a young player, only 17 at the time, so they made me feel very comfortable in the environment.
“Speaking to all the girls that I already knew, they said that the environment was really good and that was something that I wanted. I saw that the Club was going to be good for me.
“The Club were giving a lot of gametime to young players and that was something that I wanted too. I thought it would be good for me to come here to play and develop here, because the girls I knew were really progressing here.”
A significant cup win
Hollie’s first season at the Club culminated in winning the Bute Energy Welsh Cup with a 2-0 victory over Cardiff Met, with Seren Watkins and Lily Billingham netting crucial goals. The cup win provided a great amount of momentum for the success that has followed.
Hollie continued: “We had lost against Cardiff Met in the Adran Trophy Final that year, so going into half time at 0-0, it was tough and we knew that we needed a goal. When Seren’s goal went in, it was an unbelievable feeling that we had scored in a final and we were on top. We were all ecstatic.
“That day was massive because it was the last game of the season, so to end the year on high put us in a good position for the next season. Without that win in the final against Met, I don’t think we would have been as successful as we have been, it was a really important win.”
Change of system
Ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, there was a change of playing style for City, which included switching to a back three, which suited Hollie's game.
The system would go on to have great success, as the Bluebirds repeated the feat of winning the Bute Energy Welsh Cup, as well as securing top spot in the Adran Premier, winning the league for the second time in our history.
“That benefitted me massively," Hollie added. "It was my preferred formation and I could play on the left-hand side with a bit more freedom to go forward. That really helped me and I really enjoyed playing in that system.
“Even with the girls moving into positions that they weren’t necessarily used to, it just worked and it definitely got the best out of us. I think other teams struggled to adapt to our change because it came out of the blue and took everyone by surprise. In pre-season, it took us a while to get used to it, but once it clicked, we felt unstoppable.
“It was brilliant to be a part of that success. To get two trophies, it showed that we were the team to beat and all our hard work had paid off. Lifting the trophy at Cardiff City Stadium against Swansea in front of our fans was special. We knew that we had the Champions League to look forward to as well, so everyone was over the moon."
Going one better
While the 2022/23 campaign was a success, City narrowly missed out on all three trophies in an Adran Trophy Final defeat to Cardiff Met.
But, Hollie explained that the loss was crucial to the next season, in which City produced a remarkable campaign to win the treble for the first time in our history.
“Missing out on the treble in the previous year definitely gave us motivation," she said. "We had gone from winning one trophy to winning two, so the next step was adding a third. It was massive for us to have that hurt from the Adran Trophy Final, it really drove us to not feel that way again.
“It was an unbelievable season. It was so positive and to come away with three trophies, it was something that everyone at the Club had been working so hard towards. All our effort showed on the pitch in our performances."
European experience
During Hollie's time at the Club, she has represented the Bluebirds in the UEFA Women's Champions League in two campaigns, providing excellent learning experience at an early stage of her career.
She continued: “The first year, I didn’t play as much as I wanted to, but I saw that as motivation to push on and win the league again, so that I’d get the opportunity again. To go to the Netherlands and play two 90 minutes, it showed me personally how much work I’ve put in to improve, get in that starting XI and stay there. Playing against some of the best teams I’ve ever faced was special.
“FC Twente were the best team we’ve ever played. The level of physicality and technique was off the charts. The second match, we should have won that game, but now we know where we need to put things right so that it doesn’t happen again."
Aim to succeed
The Bluebirds are currently top of the Adran Premier table, whilst also making progress in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup and the Adran Trophy.
After gaining six pieces of silverware during her time at the Club so far, Hollie has set her sights on adding to that tally.
“This season has been positive so far," the defender said. "To still be top of the league when we haven’t been playing at our best is good for us. It was expected when we had as many changes as we did, because players needed time to gel, but now, we’re really starting to click.
“It is really exciting that we haven’t got to the levels we can yet. It is starting to come together and hopefully, we can continue to stick to it, because that will bring us the results and the performances that we need."