Bance only appeared three times for Brighton & Hove Albion last season. (Photo: Kyle Hemsley/Brighton & Hove Albion)
Midfielder Libby Bance is looking forward to receiving more opportunities in the new Women’s Super League season.
Brighton & Hove Albion are coming into the competition with consecutive mid-table results. Last season it wasn’t able to reach the same amount of points in the 2020-21 season. With this result there has been frustration in the squad. The players are disappointed in their results and believe they can do better.
18-year-old Libby Bance is one of these players who feels frustrated with their lacklustre results. Even though she feels frustrated she feels the team will dramatically improve their position on the table this year.
“It was frustrating to fall just short of the record points tally because we were so close and last year we didn’t pick up points where we feel we should have, such as the Birmingham game right at the end of the season,” Bance said.
“We have a really good foundation that we’ve built on over the past couple of years and we need to keep doing that.”
Signed when she was just 12-years-old in 2015, she has progressed into a quality midfielder. After nearly five years in the youth academy she made her professional debut in 2019, followed by her Women’s Super League debut at the end of 2020.
Starting on the bench and coming on as a late substitute, she has helped guide the team to victory six times in her 13 appearances. Bance signed a two-year contract extension in August 2021 which will keep her there to the 2023-24 season.
As Brighton invest in their younger players she is aiming to be given more opportunities this season. Brighton has lost a considerable amount of talent this season as their look to their youth players to make an impact.
In June 2021, she was invited to a training camp for the England Under 19s squad as er skill and talent was recognised.
“We have lost some good talent over the summer, but the club are looking to invest and that could potentially strengthen areas that can help us hopefully surpass our record finish [of sixth].”
“I want to play more games this year and I haven’t scored yet, so it would be good to get on the scoresheet. I am not an out and out goal scorer but I am looking to add goals and more assists to my game.”
When Bance does get on the score sheet there will be plenty of celebrations in the change-room.
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