Player: Courtney Sweetman-Kirk.
Club: Doncaster Rovers Belles LFC.
What a breakthrough year for Courtney Sweetman-Kirk, 25, this has been. The star striker bagged her biggest brace of the season, picking up two awards at the FA Women’s Football Awards. The FA WSL 2 Players’ Player of the Year and FA WSL 2 Top Goalscorer has now signed a full time deal with the club, despite fierce interest from many FA WSL 1 rivals.
“It’s a dream come true to be signing a professional contract and it’s one of the best Christmas presents that I could have wished for,” said Courtney, when speaking on her new contract.
The former Notts County forward sealed the club’s promotion with a brilliant brace against the London Bees, which secured a top two finish for the South Yorkshire side.
Courtney, who won gold with the Team GB squad at the World University Games in 2013, worked her way up through the leagues, displaying her talent in the FAWPL with Coventry City Ladies, before securing a move to Lincoln Ladies. Featuring prominently in Lincoln’s cup run Sweetman-Kirk was gathering attention, but upon the relocation of Lincoln to Nottingham she realised her first team opportunities were limited. The Belles manager at the time Gordon Staniforth recognised this and swooped to sign the pacey striker from Leicester, and the rest is history.
Courtney had the choice of deciding between a full-time job as a Sport Development Officer at Warwickshire College and full-time professionalism for Donny, which was really a no brainer.
“I love the club and have always said from day one, [Doncaster] is where I have felt the most at home and I feel I owe them a lot for that,” said Courtney as she is delighted with her new deal.
The Lionesses continue their Euro 2017 qualification campaign, and Courtney is hopeful for an England call up.
“I have always said that representing your country is the biggest honour you could have and I always aim for that international call-up.
“Since Mark Sampson has been in charge he has shown that he picks player on form, so I would like to think if I have another good season, the right people will be looking,” said Courtney. If her great goal scoring form continues – 25 goals in 24 games, then it is only a matter of time for the England call up. The famous “salute” celebration shall definitely be making a return in the 2016 season.
