-Charlie Devlin has signed a contract extension at LCFC Women to stay at the Club until 2023
- The forward helped City claim the FA Women’s Championship title for the first time in 2020/21
- Her time at Leicester has been a journey of improvement that will only continue in the future, Devlin says
- She is excited to go and test herself in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League next season
The former Arsenal youngster has agreed to an extension on her contract which will see her remain at Leicester City until at least the end of the 2022/23 season.
And with the new challenge of playing in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League just around the corner, Devlin believes exciting times are ahead.
She is appreciative of the support she has received from the manager to get her into the position of preparing to take on the game’s elite on a regular basis.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for me to develop my game,” Devlin commented. “I feel like after winning the Championship and obviously beating Man United, it’s just showing that we’re on a journey.
“I’m excited to be on it and I want to continue my journey at Leicester. When Jonathan [Morgan] signed me, I was part-time at Charlton, and he got me on this journey and said he wanted to win the league and wanted me to be a part of it.
“Now, winning the league, I’m now developing my game to a different level and that’s all because of Jonathan and I’m very grateful for that. I’m excited to play in the Women’s Super League and hopefully there’s more to come and for me to prove from me.”
To secure the FA Women’s Championship title in Devlin’s first full season at the Foxes and in the Club’s maiden campaign as a professional outfit was some achievement.
The 23-year-old says she will always cherish the memories of an unforgettable 2020/21, despite it being the second time she has lifted the trophy.
The ex-Manchester United forward continued: “It was so special, it’s an incredible moment in LCFC Women’s history as well because it was 23 players all getting to know each other, it wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine.
“It was a tough experience. It just shows all that belief that we had in each other and in the coaching staff to get to our goal.
“I think it was a different experience with Leicester because I had more of a role to play in the team and playing week in, week out, it made me appreciate winning the trophy more than when I won it at United.
“My standout moment has got to be Durham away, 100 per cent! That win was so good, that feeling was so good because it was obviously against second place, we had a few injuries so to win that was such a special day.”
The versatile attacker made several key contributions in the title success, notably scoring the winner at Liverpool and also setting up one of Sam Tierney’s goals in a crucial away success against Durham.
Not only have the team now got top flight fixtures to look forward to, but also a Vitality Women’s FA Cup Quarter-Final against Manchester City. It’s a game everyone will relish, Devlin says.
“I feel I did have a good season,” she added. "And I think that’s because of how important the team was. I was up for the challenge; I was willing to show what I can do and now I have.
“I just need to keep going on that up and hopefully get what I deserve and win more trophies and get more successes in my career.
“We played Man City last season and only lost 2-1. It’s given us loads of confidence; I don’t think we have anything to be afraid of.
“We are going to be underdogs and a lot of people are going to be watching how we do in the league, but with the team we have now, the players that are going to add to our team, it’s only going to strengthen our team.
“I do believe we can do well in the Women’s Super League. I just want to do keep doing what I can for the team, scoring, assisting and if we finish mid-table then that’s a success for me.”