Adding Experience To The Group – Whelan’s Foxes Mission
- Aileen Whelan joins LCFC Women after five years at Brighton
- The versatile attacker can play in midfielder or as a forward
- Whelan, 30, brings plenty of WSL experience to the Foxes
- She is looking to help the team push on after their WSL debut
Joining from Brighton & Hove Albion, the 30-year-old signs ahead of the 2022/23 Barclays Women’s Super League season, feeling equipped to start a new, exciting chapter in her career.
A player who has seen the women’s game grow exponentially during her time as a player, the impressive facilities at Belvoir Drive had a major part to play in deciding to make Leicester her new home and she feels they will only benefit the squad.
“I’ve been looking forward to getting in and meeting everybody,” she told LCFC TV in her first sit-down interview. “I’m just excited to get started. The facilities are obviously brilliant so let’s hope that has a positive impact on the season ahead. It’s definitely going to help in terms of the team.
“If you’ve got state-of-the-art equipment, in terms of gym work and everything in one place – it’s amazing that you don’t have to travel here and there. I think it will have a massive impact on development on and off the field.”
Following five years on the south coast, part of the Seagulls side that successfully transitioned from the second tier to the top flight under former Lionesses head coach Hope Powell, her WSL experience, which also includes spells at Notts County and Everton, could prove vital.
Now embarking on a fresh challenge, knowing what it takes to make forward steps at this level could be important to pass on to some of the younger members of the squad and enhance the understanding of what is required.
“When I started at Brighton, it’s a similar situation to the one Leicester are in,” she explained. “They retained Super League status for the first season and then I think the second season is always the hardest, so hopefully I can bring some experience and help grind out some results where they maybe fell short last season, to help build and grow.
“Hopefully I can just come in and help push that little bit more over the edge, we can ride out some more results, get those wins and we can be finishing higher up the table. I can hopefully help guide some of the youngsters who are breaking into Super League football and the next generation of WSL players.”
Whelan Hoping To Bring Knowledge & Versatility
Summer signing Aileen Whelan discusses her move to LCFC Women with LCFC TV.
Whelan believes it is an exciting group to join and become a part of, with a good style of football being implemented.
Gaining promotion into the WSL in their maiden campaign as a professional outfit, before maintaining WSL status, the forward has been impressed with what she has seen from Leicester. The attacker was on the pitch when the Foxes defeated the Seagulls at King Power Stadium in January.
Reflecting, she commented: “I think they did really well (last season). It looks like there’s no fear on the pitch, which I think is important because in their first season in the Super League, they had nothing to lose, so just went out and enjoyed it, which I think showed.
“Playing against Leicester was always a difficult game. I think ball retention was always very good and I know that there is a variety of ways they can play. When I was at Brighton, they obviously beat us, which really shone through for them.
“I know a few of the girls already who I’ve played with in previous teams so it’s nice knowing that when I come into pre-season with the rest of the team, I’ve got that relationship with some of the players already and feel comfortable coming in.”
Able to operate in the midfield, or in more advanced, forward areas, Whelan’s versatility is a key asset of her game. She aims to be able to contribute at the top end of the pitch to assist in firing City to positive results.
“It’s helpful in some respects,” the ex-Evertonian added on her positional adaptability. “In terms of tactical detail, depending on what the formation is, it potentially gives me more opportunities to get more minutes. Hopefully that will be a positive in terms of helping the team out as well.
“I've spoken to her (Lydia Bedford), got some more time with her this afternoon, so we’ll see what the aims and goals are for me moving forward in the season. Hopefully I can get on the scoresheet as well and help in that way.”