Niamh Duggan thought her playing career was over, but now with Cambrian United, she is rediscovering her joy for the sport.
Having left Cardiff Met in the summer, Duggan was without a club and believed she would not kick a football again.
However, after attending a university training session, the midfielder is back playing, this time with third tier Cambrian United.
“I thought I was completely done with football after the end of last season. I was convinced I’d never kick a football again. It wasn’t anything to do with Cardiff Met or what had happened during the previous seasons, but injuries and getting concussion made me want to stop playing.
“For university, I’m now at the University of South Wales, and I went to a training session at the university and Claire O’Sullivan is the manager. I did one training session and she asked if I wanted to join Cambrian, and from there, I’ve fallen back in love with football.”
Former Pontypridd United manager O’Sullivan took the job this summer, and Duggan was keen to heap praise upon her for helping her back into football.
“When you speak with Claire, you know exactly what she’s about. She’s played the game at a very high level, and she makes you feel good about yourself as a player and as a person.
“She wants you to do your best, but she doesn’t put so much pressure on you that you feel that weight during a game, you can make mistakes and won’t get on your back. Claire wants you to enjoy football first, and if you enjoy it, she knows you’ll perform.”
O’Sullivan and her team are in the second round of the Bute Energy Welsh Cup for the first time in their history, and they will be facing off against Genero Adran Premier side The New Saints on Sunday.
Bute Energy Welsh Cup
Duggan has played against the Saints on a number of occasions during her career, and she knows how difficult the task on Sunday will be.
“It’s going to be a really hard game against TNS. I’ve played against them so many times before, and I’ve never had an easy game against them. Normally they are a team who do give you a chance to attack and it’s quite an open game with TNS.
“Obviously, it’s a different team with different personnel now, but we’re really looking forward to the challenge of facing a difficult team.”
Cambrian are one of the most intriguing sides left in the competition.
Bute Energy Welsh Cup
Preview the key games in Round Two
Their squad has a good mix of youth and experience. Former Wales international Kelly Isaac certainly knows what it takes to win in cup competitions, while other former Genero Adran Premier players like Sophie McMullen and Lucy Keane know too well the threats TNS pose.
However, if the third-tier side are to come through this tie, Duggan says it would mean the world to everyone at the club.
“It would be amazing if we could beat TNS and reach the quarter-finals. Nothing is impossible, but we know how hard the challenge is going to be. With the team we’ve got, we can make anything happen.
“It would mean so much to players, staff, people behind the scenes, and people who have worked hard to make sure the women’s setup is where it is now.”
