Ipswich Town Women's season is fully underway, so Ross Halls takes a look at the squad and finds out who they are...
POPPY SOPER - GOALKEEPER
The 21-year-old joined Town on a season-long loan from Championship side Charlton Athletic this summer, becoming the Blues' new number one for the 2023/24 season.
Soper started her career at Cardiff City in her native Wales, before joining Plymouth Argyle in 2020 and her form in Devon earned a move to Chelsea in February 2022.
She spent six-months at Kings Meadow as part of the Chelsea side that won the Women's Super League title before joining Charlton on a two-year deal in August of last year.
LAURA HARTLEY - GOALKEEPER
The 22-year-old joined Town on a one-year-deal this summer, having spent the majority of pre-season training with Joe Sheehan's side.
Hartley began her career at Norwich City in her native Norfolk before moving on to join Brighton & Hove Albion's WSL Academy setup, where she started in Brighton's first ever game in the Women's Super League in September 2018.
She went on to join Championship side Lewes on loan, before joining them permanently in the summer of 2020 and made 10 appearances for the Rooks before a succession of elbow injuries saw her miss a significant period of time.
NINA MEOLLO - GOALKEEPER
The 19-year-old joined the Blues in the summer of 2020 from local rivals Norwich City, having played for their academy and ACC from U12 to U16.
Meollo made her first team debut in September last year in a League Cup victory over QPR, but spent the majority of the 2022/23 season as understudy to Sarah Quantrill.
She is currently on loan at Cambridge City, who play in the league below Town and can play for the Philippines at international level.
MARIA BOSWELL - DEFENDER
The 20-year-old joined the Blues from the Essex RTC in the summer of 2019, initially as part of Town's WSL Academy squad.
Boswell went on to make her senior debut in a 3-0 league win at Billericay Town in September 2020, but her appearances were limited from there due to injuries.
She has since become a mainstay in the defence in the last two seasons and recently made her 50th appearance for the club in the 2-1 defeat at Oxford United.
MEGAN WEARING - DEFENDER
The 18-year-old joined the Blues from the Essex RTC in the summer of 2021, initially as part of Town's WSL Academy squad.
Wearing previously had spells at Arsenal and Millwall's academies, before she broke into the first team at Town last season and has since become a mainstay in the defence.
She won the Supporters’ Player of the Year award in her debut campaign and has since captained Scotland at U19 level.
LEAH MITCHELL - DEFENDER
The soon to be 18-year-old is another player who has joined Town from the Essex RTC, signing last summer to join up with the academy squad.
Mitchell made her debut last season in the 1-0 home win over Bridgwater and was a regular for the U21s side last season, before making a few more senior appearances last campaign.
She scored on her first start for Town in the opening day win at Cardiff City and was given the number five shirt this season.
SUMMER HUGHES - DEFENDER
The 19-year-old joined Town in the summer of 2020, having spent time at the Essex RTC, where she was coached by Town boss Joe Sheehan.
Hughes started her career at local club Capel Plough before moving on to the Arsenal PDC, spending one year with the Gunners.
She broke into the first team at Town during the 2021/22 season, making her debut against Crawley Wasps in August 2021 and has since made over 50 appearances for the club.
MAISY BARKER - DEFENDER
The 21-year-old joined the club on a one-year-deal this summer, after leaving West Ham.
Barker started her career at the Middlesex RTC, moving on to Oxford United and Chelsea before joining the Hammers, where she would go on to make her Women's Super League debut.
She has been unfortunate with injuries during her young career so far, but since joining Town she has got back to full fitness and been able to complete 90 minutes multiple times.
EVIE WILLIAMS - DEFENDER
The 17-year-old joined the club last summer to join up with the academy squad.
Williams is another player who had a spell at local rivals Norwich City, playing for their ACC.
She made her senior debut on the opening day of this season at Cardiff City and scored her first goal in the 7-1 win over Plymouth last month.
BLUE WILSON - MIDFIELDER
The 21-year-old joined Town from Manchester City in July 2019, becoming Joe Sheehan's first ever signing as manager and went on become club captain in 2021.
Wilson started her career at Norwich City and the Essex RTC, before signing a deal with City in 2018, but left to join the Blues, making her debut on the opening day of the 2019/20 season.
She suffered a torn ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) which required surgery in October 2021 and made a brief return to action last season. She is still on the road to recovery after suffering another set back during pre-season this summer.
BONNIE HORWOOD - MIDFIELDER
The 36-year-old joined Town from London Bees in the summer of 2021, after making over 100 appearances across the Women’s Super League and Championship.
Horwood began her career at Colchester United, before spells with Fulham, Chelsea, Birmingham City, Notts County, Watford, Reading, Millwall and Yeovil.
She has been wearing the captain's armband due to Wilson's absence and has made over 60 appearances for the club, scoring on her debut on the opening day of the 2021/22 season.
KYRA ROBERTSON - MIDFIELDER
The 21-year-old joined Town in the summer of 2021, having spending time in the youth system at rivals Norwich City.
Robertson progressed through Town's academy and went on to make senior her debut on the opening day of the 2021/22 season, after a year of injury set backs.
She had a breakthrough campaign during the 2022/23 season, where she was named Players' Player of the Year and has since made her 50th appearance for the club.
ELOISE KING - MIDFIELDER
The 21-year-old is a product of Town's WSL Academy setup and is a lifelong fan of the club.
King made her senior debut against Southampton in August 2019 and has since gone on to become a key figure within the Tractor Girls' side.
She is currently on the sidelines with a injury, having made 70 appearances for the club, scoring 23 goals in the process, including a hat-trick against Norwich in the East Anglian derby in 2020.
LUCY O'BRIEN - MIDFIELDER
The soon to be 20-year-old joined Town in the summer of 2020, having spent time at the Cambridge United ACC and MK Dons RTC.
O'Brien progressed through Town's academy and went on to make senior her debut against Billericay Town in April 2021, producing many memorable performances since.
She has recently returned from injury and is close to making 50 appearances for the club.
NIA EVANS - MIDFIELDER
The 19-year-old joined Town from the clubs foundation programme in February 2022.
Evans started her career at Needham Market, where she spent three seasons, before joining the clubs Post 16 Football and Education programme in September 2020
She went on to progress through Town's WSL Academy setup and made her senior debut on the opening day of last season, while scoring her first goal against QPR in a 7-0 win.
SOPHIE PESKETT - MIDFIELDER
The 20-year-old is another player to join the club from the Essex RTC in the summer of 2019, initially as part of Town's WSL Academy squad.
Peskett made her debut as a 16-year-old on the opening day of the 2019/20 season and became the the clubs first professional women’s player in the summer of 2021.
She suffered a torn ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) which required surgery in November 2021, but has returned to full fitness and plays a key role in the side, having scored 25 goals in 58 games so far.
RUBY DOE - MIDFIELDER
The 18-year-old joined the Blues for the 2023/24 season on a dual-registration agreement from WSL side Arsenal.
Doe starred for Arsenal's Academy in recent years, netting 14 goals in 22 WSL Academy League appearances, while spending time with Watford towards the end of the last campaign but didn't feature for the Golden Girls.
She made her debut on the opening day of this season at Cardiff and has since scored twice and assisted four in her opening six games for Town.
ABBI SMITH - MIDFIELDER
The 18-year-old joined Town from Arsenal in the summer of 2021, initially as part of Town's WSL Academy squad.
Smith went on to progress to the first team, making her senior debut against Gillingham in August 2022 and has feature mulitple times since.
She made her Republic of Ireland U19s debut against England in February this year.
ERIN WILLIAMS - MIDFIELDER
The 16-year-old started training with the club at the start of 2023, before signing fully for the club this summer.
Williams is another player to have spent time at the Essex RTC, having been at the programme for nine years.
She made her senior debut for Town in the 4-2 cup win against Billericay Town in August.
NATHASHA THOMAS - FORWARD
The 27-year-old joined Town from Lowestoft Town in October 2015 after starting her career by progressing through the grassroots level at Waveney.
Thomas is the Tractor Girls' all-time leading goalscorer and longest serving player, scoring 137 goals in 188 games for Town so far.
She was made a trustee for Ipswich Town's foundation alongside Conor Chaplin in 2021.
HOLLY TURNER - FORWARD
The 23-year-old joined Town from Billericay Town in February 2023, after eight months with the Essex side.
Turner started her career as a youth player with both Colchester United and West Ham United, before making her senior breakthrough at C&K Basildon (now Hashtag United) .
She suffered a torn ACL during pre-season in 2021, but returned to full fitness last summer and has since made 10 appearances for the Blues.
LENNA GUNNING-WILLIAMS - FORWARD
The 18-year-old joined Town on a season-long loan from WSL Tottenham Hotspur for the 2023/24 season.
Gunning-Williams joined Spurs at U16 level and progressed through their WSL Academy setup, where she made her senior debut last season and scored in a 5-1 win against Coventry United in the League Cup.
She scored twice on her Blues debut in the 7-1 win over Plymouth, while away from football, she was once a successful children's TV actor, starring as 'Jack' in the hit CBBC show Jamie Johnson.
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