DREW BLUES
SUNDAY’S final game of the 2021-22 Women’s Super League season at Kingsmeadow will mark the close of Drew Spence’s over decade-long run at Chelsea.
The Reggae Girl, who made her debut with The Blues back in 2009, has enjoyed an illustrious career with the Londonbased club, making over 238 appearances with 50 goals to her credit.
Spence, 29, a product of Chelsea’s Centre of Excellence and one of its longest-serving players, was instrumental in the club’s 11 titles won over the years, the first two coming in 2015 when they took the League and Cup double.
For Spence, the journey with Chelsea represented a wild ride filled with a mixed bag of emotions, as the club went from strength-to-strength in establishing itself as one of the powerhouse teams in Europe.
“It’s been a whirlwind journey, so many great memories where we went from training twice a week and getting half-line when the lights are out to now being one of the best teams in Europe, is just amazing and I am so proud to be a part of it,” Spence said during an emotional interview announcing her pending departure at the end of the season on the club’s website.
While reflecting on her journey, the midfielder, who sports the number 24 jersey, recalled the disappointment of 2012, when they reached the Women’s FA Cup final for the first time and lost to Birmingham City in a penalty after twice taking the lead in what ended as a 2-2 stalemate.
Interestingly, Spence had her 12-yard kick saved by now Reggae Girlz teammate Rebecca “Becky” Spencer.
“The amount of trophies that we have won is such a proud achievement for me and I’ll probably say the first Cup final was such a big moment for us because we lost it late and it was just dramatic and everyone was so distraught,” Spence recollected.
“So to win that first trophy (in 2015) was so important for us and to get over that line, to hear that final whistle was just such a proud moment for everyone and from there we just kicked on and every year we got better and better,” she added.
Now with five WSL titles, three FA Cup wins, two Continental Cup and a Community Shield under her belt, Spence bids the club farewell, knowing she ran the race in Emma Hayes’s side and finished well.
And, as fate would have it, Spence’s 50th goal for Chelsea came in a 5-0 FA Cup quarter-final win over Birmingham City in March.
“This is one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make and it’s like I’m leaving family,” Spence said before breaking into tears.
“It’s been an amazing journey and I’m so proud of everyone, I’ve made family for life and I just want to say thank you to the fans, to Emma and Paul and the friends I’ve made and I just can’t wait to be your biggest supporters in the future,” she said.
“Thanks to the fans for the support, you guys have grown so much over the years I’ve been here and been with us through tough times and every triumph. So hopefully at the end of the season, we can give that back to you by winning the FA Cup,” she ended, referencing the May 15 final where Chelsea will lockhorns with Manchester City, the club of Reggae Girlz Captain Khadija Shaw.
Spence is expected to play a crucial part in the Reggae Girlz’ push for a second-consecutive World Cup qualification at this summer’s Concacaf Women’s Championship in Mexico.