Eight goals in six games. Not a bad return for any player, and it’s particularly pleasing for Esme Kilburn-Thompson, in her first season at Cardiff Met.
Since the start of February, she has scored one against Wrexham, a hat-trick against The New Saints, one against Pontypridd United, two against Barry Town United, and another against Ponty – drawing a blank only against TNS away.
“The girls have all been so welcoming and have made it very easy for me to settle into the team,” says the 20-year-old. “The coaches have also been very encouraging and shown that they believe in me and are definitely developing me as a player.”
Kilburn-Thompson had to wait until December for her first goals in a Cardiff Met shirt, but she did it in spectacular style, scoring half of her side’s goals in a 10-0 Genero Adran Trophy win over Coed Duon – which she says boosted her confidence from that point on.
“This is the most goals I have scored in any season I’ve played in which is definitely something I’m proud of and grateful for Met for pushing me to achieve that,” she says.
That’s quite an achievement for a player who caught the eye in the south west of England during her junior years with Exeter City and Torquay United. Last year she decided to take up a football scholarship in the USA – something she had always dreamed of – but as things were not progressing as she had wanted, she headed home to take up a place studying sports management at Cardiff Metropolitan University and to sign for their team as well.
As well as playing in Wales’ top tier, the striker also loves the opportunity to be able to give back to the grassroots – she is hugely grateful to the players she watched when she was a junior, and is glad she can now be a role model for the next generation.
“It’s always nice to see younger girls coming to watch our games as I have been in their position before!” she explains.
And fans might get the chance to watch Kilburn-Thompson in Genero Adran Premier action for some years to come yet.
“I really enjoy living in Wales – apart from the weather – and if after completing uni I found a job in the area I wouldn’t turn it down!” she says with a grin.
