London City’s Freya Godfrey Set To Become Lioness For Club And Country

Freya Godfrey in action for London City Lionesses

NINA FAROOQI

London City Lionesses’ Freya Godfrey became the first player from the club to be called up for the senior England team and could represent the other Lionesses this week.

The 20-year-old was the headline inclusion in Sarina Wiegman’s latest England squad for two friendly international against China and Ghana. The Lionesses’ coach described the moment she phoned Godfrey to tell her the news, revealing that Godfrey was “a little bit flabbergasted” to hear of her call-up.

Speaking to me after her club defeated her former team Ipswich Town in the Women’s League Cup, Godfrey confessed she did not initally answer the call from the England head coach. “It was an unknown number and I’m quite a shy person so I don’t tend to pick up unknown numbers. So I actually didn’t pick it up and then she text me and I was like ‘oh gosh, I better ring her back!’ So I rung her and she was lovely. She was very complimentary. Obviously, I was in quite a bit of shock.”

“I didn’t really know what to say, so I kept saying ‘thank you’, because that’s what it is. I’m just grateful for the opportunity, I’m still young, I’m still have time, especially in the U23s as well. I didn’t expect it to come so soon. So yeah, I was definitely surprised.”

Wiegman was full of praise for Godfrey who has represented England at every other age group. She captained the U19s, before making her first U23 appearance against Portugal last October. “She’s technically very good, she has pace and she does unexpected things for the opponents. I really want to see her in our environment and she what she can bring.”

After loan spells at Ipswich Town, Charlton Athletic and London City Lionesses, Godfrey finally made the difficult decision to leave Arsenal, the club she had been part of since the age of 12. She departed shortly after the club won the Champions League in May, Godfrey having made her only Arsenal appearance of the season in the competition’s group stage win away to Vålerenga.

She told me “leaving Arsenal was never an easy thing to do. I think, at the time, it was taken out of my hands a bit, and not what I wanted. Once I’d settled on the idea, I realised it was probably what was best and it was the right thing to do to take the next step in my career towards game-time in a consistent environment.”

“I knew that London City was the place where I wanted to do that. At the start of the season, I had some time out injured, but since I’ve been playing, the manager has put faith in me and started me in games, so I’m grateful for that, and grateful to have the game-time. To just have consistent minutes where I can actually start to get in my flow and get my confidence, which has obviously led to my call-up.”

Confidence seems like the key to Godfrey’s game. Her club coach Jocelyn Prêcheur said this month that when Godfrey joined from Arsenal, that belief was all she was lacking to make the most of her enormous potental. Godfrey was honest enough to admit to me that not playing at Arsenal was beginning to affect her.

“I struggled a lot with it, not being in a consistent environment and having consistent game-time, which I think has helped me most this season, just having the faith put in me from day one. As soon as I came back and I got back fit, Joce’s put that trust in me to go and do my thing.”

She was also quick to praise the positive environment at the club, newly-promoted to the Women’s Super League. “It’s such a good team, it’s such a good group of girls to help me and make me feel good about myself. That’s definitely starting to come out in my performance, every time I come out on the pitch, even in training, I just feel more confident.”

Godfrey scored her first two WSL goals and provided an assist during a match-winning performance against Tottenham Hotspur this month. Tall, pacy and genuinely two-footed, her second goal, which involved a devastating step-over and searing left-foot finish, was also nominated for Goal of the Month. Prêcheur believes that game was “just the beginning for her”.

Godfrey told me that she believes her versatility is her strength. “As a forward, it’s important that you’re able to have that flexibility, the ability to play wherever the manager wants you, to get in those threatening positions to try and either score goals or create chances, get assists. I’ve been used more in the wide role here which is obviously based on the formation as well.”

“I’m happy with where I’m at, if I’m called upon wherever, I’ll just try and do my job and just create something or get a goal which I’ve had success with so far this season. I’m feeling positive, wherever I play I feel I can impact the game.”

Part of an international squad with players of vast experience means that Godfrey can call on the knowledge of several team-mates who have played in various attacking positions during their career, not least former England forward Nikita Parris.

“I look up to Keets a lot,” Godfrey told me. “She’s an incredible player, with an incredible history. She made her 200th WSL appearance the other day which is an amazing accomplishment. Everything she has done for the women’s game in England – it’s incredible to be around her, just in the same environment, let alone being on the pitch with her, playing with her. She’s a big inspiration for me and a lot of the other younger players in the squad.”

Set to become, the club’s first-ever England international, Prêcheur hopes Godfrey will similarly become an inspiration for others in the squad. “Everyone knows her talent, but not everyone knows how disciplined she is for such a young player. She is a great example for the younger players. She is the first Lioness to be called up in London City’s history, and I hope we will have more.”