‘Taking the captaincy was an honour’: Hendrix reflects on season of survival

READING FC Women’s captain has reflected on the season after the Royals secured survival in the Women’s Championship.

Liam Gilbert’s side finished the season in 10th position, six points above the relegation zone.

Hendrix was handed the club captaincy in January after former skipper Lily Woodham departed in the transfer window to head stateside.

“It’s not how we wanted the season to end,” said Hendrix following a final day defeat to bottom side Watford.

“But I think as a team our commitment to fight until the very end, we didn’t give up until the very end which is kind of the perfect summary of our season.

“I think what we’ve done over the last month or so, people need to remember the run we had, the work we’ve done to recover, bounce back and put us in a good position for next season is a real credit to everyone.

“It would be fair to say this hasn’t been the easiest season, there’s been plenty of stuff going on off the pitch, as well as on it, but we found a way to come together to get the job done.

“After these circumstances, I think we can all be really proud of what we’ve achieved, and I’m just really proud of the team.”

Hendrix spoke about the decision to accept the captaincy after Woodham departed and described it as an honour.

She continued: “Since taking the armband in January, it’s been manic, but also a massive, massive honour.

“If you got to know these girls like I do, they’re all incredible, and I just feel very blessed to be a part of the team, let alone captain.

“There’s a lot of camaraderie, a lot of laugh, we all love each other, and I think it would be hard to find a team like this.

“Once the full-time whistle went on Sunday, it was a feeling of bittersweet, because we know in football, it’s never the same team twice in a row.

“But that’s part of being a footballer, you have to get used to the goodbyes at the end of a season.

“You go through so much as a team, you see so much of each other you are essentially a big family, where you put an arm around each other when someone is down, or all celebrate the good times together.

“But I know we’re all happy in the job we’ve done this season, keeping Reading in the league and best place to move forward.”