Classy Campbell stars in City Cup success
MEGAN Campbell’s stellar soccer career hit new heights at Wembley on Saturday as she played a pivotal role in Manchester City’s maiden Women’s FA Cup success in front of 35,000 fans.
The 23-year-old defender, from Fire Station Cottages in Drogheda, assisted two of City’s goals and went close to scoring herself in the 4-1 victory over Birmingham, a result that means the 2016 Women’s Super League champions now possess all three main domestic trophies in the English game.
The fact that the Republic of Ireland international has suffered injury torment since joining the Blues has made this success all the sweeter, and there were emotional scenes as the former Grove Rangers, Boyne Rovers and Moneymore youth team player celebrated after the final whistle.
As she relived the events of the previous day, Campbell told the Drogheda Independent: ‘It’s an unbelievable feeling to be back on the pitch with the girls wearing the Man City badge and representing the club on the biggest stage in England in Wembley Stadium.
‘For me personally it’s been a tough year and a bit and most recently the eight months with the latest injury, but overall it’s all worth the months and months of rehab to be able to play in the FA Cup Final and take home a winner’s medal.
‘It’s also all worth it to see my dad’s face in the crowd when the whistle blew! I ran up the stairs to him to give him a big hug before we went up for the cup.
‘He knows the struggles I’ve been through this past year and many more, and so he knows that the hug meant a lot and was a way of saying thankyou to him for all he and Mum have done for me.
‘To be able to give that back to my mum and dad was something that always drove me to keep going and push to succeed, because I know that without them - and my sisters having to deal with all the travelling and time given to my football, and all of their time
and effort spent getting me to training and games for years - I wouldn’t have been able to achieve that dream and goal of mine.
‘It was also nice to be able to do it for the rest of my family, and obviously to be representing Ireland. I made sure to have my Irish flag at the end for the celebrations. Hopefully it’s the first of many in Wembley!’
Campbell supplied the cross for City’s first goal, scored by England right-back Lucy Bronze, and another ball whipped in by the Drogheda star was finished off by World Player of the Year, World Cup winner and two-time Olympic gold medallist Karli Lloyd to make it 3-0.