Sleaford stalwart Steph swaps playing boots for referee’s whistle

At 35, the former Lincoln City Ladies and Sleaford Ladies player feels injuries have caught up with her but wants to stay in the game she loves and which saw her spend 15 years in the USA after being offered a scholarship at the University of North Alabama.

Her final game as a player will be for Rangers this Sunday against HBW United Ladies in the Lincolnshire Women & Girls Football League Championship, having played over 50 games for the club.

“It does feel surreal to stop playing – very bittersweet as it's been such a big part of my life,” she said.

“But injuries have crept up on me and I get a bit more injured than I used to, so instead of stepping away from the game I will be looking at it from a different perspective.

“I have loved the game my whole life and it has given me so much, so I want to give back a little bit.

“Without playing any more, refereeing was the next step. And with having knowledge of the game, I think that will help me more than if I had not played before becoming a referee.

“Everything I have done in my life has helped me get to this point. Becoming a referee is daunting but exciting at the same time.”

In then past Steph has largely had a very good relationships with referees and said: “I have been pretty good – I've only ever had two yellow cards in my whole life.

“One was in America where it poured it down at half-time. There were a few standing puddles on the field and the ball got stuck, I swung and I took the player out, though I didn't mean to.

“But more recently this season I argued back with a referee, which I shouldn't have done and was shown a yellow. So I can't complain about that.

“Generally I try to see things from the referee's perspective and that has largely helped keep me out of the book.”

But Steph is ready for the abuse she is likely to get at some stage in the middle, saying: “It is a part of the game – and that is something a referee does that want to hear - but it's always there and, being a referee, you have to have a bit of a tough skin. I think I can handle it for the most part.

“I have done the Lincolnshire FA refereeing course so I already have my refereeing licence.

“And I have already done some U13 games and charity matches this year, so I am now ready to go for next season.”

Sunday's farewell game brings down the curtain on Steph's playing days which began aged six for Sleaford Junior FC and then turning out for Kesteven and Sleaford High School and winning the National Girls School trophy.

Looking back, she said: “I started at Lincoln City with the U12s and worked my way up to the first team.

“Then Sleaford got a girls team so I worked my way up with them as well.

“When I was 17, I went over to America and played a couple of games with an EXACT Soccer team, and when I got home there was an email waiting for me from a scout who'd seen me saying they were interested.

“I went over there and played in college on a scholarship and got my undergraduate degree in exercise science.

“After that I stopped playing and went into the coaching side of things and I was assistant coach at university level and also got my masters in health and physical education.

“Had I not gone over there I probably wouldn't have gone to university. But getting to play alongside education over there was a bonus and a no-brainer really.

“I then went into teaching and coaching at a soccer academy at a boarding school which had people from all over the world and some really talented players.

“So I did stay in the game that way. But I came back to England at Christmas 2022 and decided to start playing again as I didn't think I was done – and I wasn't.

"I was a left back my whole life and a natural left footed player. But since I’ve been back in England, the team needed a striker and I was happy to score goals rather than defend them and I have scored over 20 each season since I’ve played for Rangers.

“I have played for the last three years, but injuries have crept up on me and I can't really handle that any more.”

She added: “I would like to thank Sleaford Town Rangers for putting up with me and my old body, and also thank my parents, Paul and Jane, as without them I wouldn't have been able to do any of this.

“They made so many sacrifices to take me to games and training sessions growing up and then supported me and my adventures in America.”

Away from football, Steph works as an individual giving officer for the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance charity.

A Rangers spokesperson said: “Steph has been with us since the very start in the 23/24 season, becoming our top goalscorer for two seasons straight.

“Despite being an out and out goalscorer, she’s put shifts in at centre back and even in goal.

“But we believe she found her mark as our central attacking midfielder, setting up most goals or putting them away herself.

“This season’s taken a real toll on Steph’s body, meaning she decided it’ll be her last competitive season playing.

“I’m not quite sure we can or will ever replace her presence, but that just proves how important she has been to the team.”