Linsey Mochan has recently joined Hartlepool United Women and has made a fantastic start to life in the blue and white.

Mochan has gained a host of experience throughout her career in the game before taking a break due to family reasons.

Ahead of our Her Game Too dedicated fixture, Mochan has opened up on her career in football and her journey to Hartlepool United Women.

“My playing career started at the local boys club in Merthyr where I’m from, with a team called Penydarren BGC in the South Wales valleys. I was the only girl on the team and after five years, when I reached the age of 16, females could no longer progress with boys in the same team.

At 15 I got scouted for Cardiff City Women and then scouted to represent country and county, playing regularly in Cardiff at Sophia Gardens. There was then a merger with one main team being introduced as Merthyr because women’s football was gaining popularity and I signed for them in 2006.

In August 2007, I was scouted for Arsenal Ladies who were then top of the women’s game with the likes of Jayne Ludlow, a former Wales international and future manager, being one of the senior women in the squad.

It was a pivotal moment in my career at 18 going on 19. My career excelled from there on playing in cups, plates, league battles, Champions League group stages, knockout stages and other various competitions.

Further on down the line, I also had the opportunity for a scholarship with a large University in America but declined the opportunity given I wanted to stay at home.

My career then continued in Wales with Swansea City, but then the sudden death of my father changed the direction of football in general.

Now I’ve had the desire and bite back at 36, I’m looking forward to pressing on with Hartlepool United Women and winning trophies again and being able to put back everything I’ve learnt throughout my journey to the younger generation in the side.

I’ve been very fortunate to experience what I have and I also couldn’t have thanked my parents enough for all the sacrifices along the way.

The welcome I’ve had so far at Hartlepool has been amazing and I’ve really enjoyed it so far.

I’d like to thank my partner Laura for the support, helping me get back into the sport, and all the players for getting me settled into the team with ease.

I hope to pass my experience onto the younger players in the team and we can have a lot of success.”