I’m Growing Stronger With Each Season, Says Howard
- Sophie Howard signed a one-year contract this summer
- The Scotland international has made 100 appearances for LCFC Women
- We caught up with the defender during the summer break
- City’s centre-half explains how she likes to wind down during this period
Throughout the past few seasons, Howard has been a mainstay in a team which has continued to grow, recording their highest points tally in the Barclays Women’s Super League last term.
The Scotland international, who made her 100th appearance for the Club against Liverpool on the final day, shared her thoughts on City’s previous campaign, and how she manages to unwind during this period of time off.
“I’ve had a nice break,” Howard explained. “Straight after international camp, I went to the US to surprise family that I lived with many years ago. From there, I travelled to see my brother and sister and then went on a city break, so it's been very wholesome family time.
“It was good to switch off, but I’m back in Leicester now and training to prepare for the next camp with Scotland which is coming up.
“I switch off best when I’m with my family or travelling or both. Seeing different places, getting away from the daily routines of going into the training ground. It doesn’t have to be going abroad, but getting out and thinking about something else, switching off with the family.”
Speaking on last season, Howard was happy with aspects, but admits their quality did not reflect the league table, as the Foxes finished 10th for a second year running.
The Scottish defender believes those disappointments can be used to fuel more inspiring performances come the start of a fresh WSL challenge.
“I’m still proud of what we achieved with everything going on, because the season was a battle,” City's No.5 admitted. “But I’m disappointed with the league standings because I think we could’ve produced more and been higher.
“We let ourselves down in terms of results, but that’s all positive in terms of knowing what we can do to turn that into positive results next season.
“We had a week of debriefs before we split off into summer. After that week, the football chat was done. I’ve stayed in contact with a few of the girls to see what they’re getting up to, but to be honest it’s not daily contact.
“In a nice way, I think we’re enjoying the time away from each other. We spend so much time together throughout the season, and I think everyone needs this to get away from one another and switch off with their own families. We trust that when we come back we’ll pick up where we left off with team chemistry and the togetherness we had built.”
Howard has, of course, had a busy summer with Leicester, having penned a new one-year contract, keeping her at King Power Stadium until the end of the 2024/25 season, which she was delighted to commit to.
An integral part of Leicester’s development in recent years, she’s seen big changes within the setup, both on and off the pitch, and hopes that a bright future lies ahead, using the Foxes' impressive Adobe Women’s FA Cup run into the final four as an example.
The 30-year-old added: “I’m very excited to have signed and continue this journey together with the Club. I’m glad we got it over the line. I know it’ll be a season with challenges, but that’s what I embrace and I’m fully ready for that.
“As a team, we’re moving in the right direction. I live it, see it, and breathe it every day. Sometimes it can be hard to see from the outside, but we are making big strides. But we must stay patient because we have to grow sustainably.
“Personally, I’d say I’m growing stronger with each season. Not only on the pitch but off the pitch by building connections with the community and the fan base.
“I’m really excited for the next season because I got a glimpse of what we can produce when we’re on it. We will focus on turning those performances into more regular performances.
“We want to turn those into results and then I think our season will look very different to what it did this year in terms of league standings.
“I think the semi-final of the FA Cup last year also showcased where we want to be in terms of competing for cups, for medals and silverware and I think we're due to win something next year.”