Her Team Her Dream

It has been over half a season since we last wrote a post here, and that is not something we want to gloss over. The gap was not intentional, and it certainly was not because we stopped caring.

The truth is, there were a number of reasons. There was writers block, the kind where you know what you want to say but cannot quite find the words. There were health issues. And there was also a big change at home, with Andrea starting high school. That has brought more homework, more pressure, and less time for her to write the blog herself, which has always been a huge part of what Her Team Her Dream is about.

Rather than forcing ourselves to write something that did not feel right, we stepped back for a while. But stepping back does not mean stepping away.

As we return, it did not feel right to jump straight into a this week’s match post. Too much has happened since the summer, and that context matters.

A Summer That Felt Flat

Over the summer, Liverpool FC Women found themselves without a permanent manager. Amber stepped in and did a brilliant job, but there was uncertainty. We did not know whether she would become permanent, or whether someone else would be coming in.

We lost players, and not just squad players, but big players and fan favourites. Names like Taylor Hinds and Olivia Smith leaving hit hard. For Andrea especially, losing Olivia was the first time she had experienced her favourite player leaving the club.

As fans, it left us feeling flat. Waiting for direction. Waiting to understand what this next chapter might look like.

Rumours, Reality, and Cautious Optimism

Eventually, rumours began circulating that Gareth Taylor might be coming in as manager. Alongside that came a lot of noise, stories, opinions, and speculation based on past experiences elsewhere.

As I often tell Andrea, and sometimes need to remind myself, rumours are not facts. Unless you hear something first hand, unless you understand both sides of a story, it is important to be careful about what you accept as truth. So we went into Gareth’s appointment with cautious optimism, open minded, but measured.

That caution eased when, through friends at Liverpool, we were invited to an interview session at Anfield with Gareth Taylor and several of the players. Andrea wrote a brilliant write up of that day, and for me it was a real turning point.

Hearing Gareth speak in person, not through headlines or second hand quotes, made a difference. The focus on culture, communication, and togetherness came through clearly. Just as importantly, the players themselves looked aligned, engaged, and supportive of one another.

Why Togetherness Matters

One of the things we have always loved most about Liverpool FC Women is the sense of togetherness. This is not just a group of players who train together and turn up on matchday, it feels like a genuine team.

There is support for new players coming in. There is care when things go wrong, on or off the pitch. There is a sense that people belong and are valued beyond their performances. Walking away from that interview, the concerns we had carried through the summer felt lighter. Not gone entirely, but eased.

When Optimism Meets Reality on the Pitch

From that point onwards, though, the football itself has been shaky, and there is no real way to dress that up.

As of today, we still have not won a match. Until last weekend, we had not had a game where we did not concede a goal. What has been particularly frustrating is how strong so many matches start. The first twenty minutes often look promising. You can see what Gareth is trying to do.

And then something drops.

The standard dips, momentum shifts, and games start to slip away.

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We have lost several matches and drawn a couple, and just before Christmas came a result that was incredibly hard to watch, a nine one defeat to Chelsea. Yes, they are the reigning champions. Yes, they are one of the strongest teams in the league. But there is no avoiding it. We were thrashed.

In the league, we are still searching for our first win. In cup competitions, however, we have fared a little better, managing to score goals and pick up some much needed victories.

That result did not stand alone. It was the culmination of a very difficult run, and it made being a supporter feel particularly heavy.

Supporting Through the Hardest Moments

I have never been a fair weather fan. I do not only support this team when results are good or performances are comfortable. Supporting a club means being there through the difficult periods too, and this season has tested that resolve.

It has been a tough watch. But the hardest part of this season has not actually been what has happened on the pitch. It is what has happened off it.

Earlier in the season came the devastating news that former manager Matt Beard had passed away. It was a shock to fans, but an even greater one to the players. Many of them had played under Matt for years. He was not just a former manager. He was a mentor, a supporter, and a constant presence in their professional lives.

What followed spoke volumes. Tributes came not just from those he coached, but from across the footballing community. People shared stories of his kindness, his encouragement, and his willingness to support others even if they did not play for him. That says everything about the man he was.

As a fan, I only met Matt a handful of times, but every interaction left the same impression. Genuinely kind, warm, and supportive. The footballing world, and the world in general, is poorer for his loss.

And yet, football did not stop.

The players still had to train, prepare, and perform while grieving someone who meant so much to them. That kind of loss does not neatly fit into a fixture list. Millie Bright summed it up perfectly when she spoke about how players often do not get the chance to grieve properly because the work does not stop.

We cannot expect everything on the pitch when, off the pitch, life is so painfully hard.

And in many ways, that feeling of carrying on when things are heavy is something we recognise ourselves.

Writing about this team has always come from a place of care and connection, not just for the club, but for the players themselves. Through everything, we want to support them as people as well as athletes, to be there behind them as fans during a very difficult time, celebrating their effort and resilience on and off the pitch.

Finding Our Rhythm Again

As writers, we have also had to acknowledge that sometimes the hardest thing is knowing how to start again.

So for now, we are easing ourselves back in. Over the coming weeks, we will be sharing shorter posts to help us get back into the rhythm of writing, and to take some pressure off Andrea as she balances school and homework.

Many of these posts will be collaborations between the two of us.

Collaboration feels like the right approach for now. It keeps Andrea involved without overwhelming her, and allows us both to enjoy writing again.

Reasons to Look Forward

And finally, because football always has a way of renewing itself, there are reasons for hope.

We are now in the January transfer window, and it has come at a crucial time. Injuries have hit us hard this season. At the Chelsea match, we could only name five players on the bench, two of whom I believe were academy players. That alone shows how stretched the squad has been.

The club has clearly recognised the need to strengthen, and movement in the transfer market has already begun. There is a running joke in our group chat that Liverpool FC Women are quietly assembling a Scandinavian XI. And honestly, if any Scandinavians are reading this and fancy signing, you would be more than welcome.

So far, we have brought in Alice Bergstrom, Jennifer Falk, and Anna Jøsendal. There are also rumours linking us with Irish international Denise O’Sullivan, which would be another exciting addition and proof that we are not only shopping in Scandinavia, just mostly.

Transfers will not magically fix everything. They will not erase grief, injuries, or a difficult run of form. But they do show intent. They show belief. And they offer the possibility of turning a corner.

This season has not been easy, for the players, the staff, or the fans. But we are still here. Still watching. Still writing. Still believing.

And we are really glad you are here with us.