Southampton defender Paige Peake says that the club want other teams to be fearful of their threats as the new side in the Barclays Women’s Championship this season.
The Saints have only been operating as a senior women’s side since the 2017/2018 season, climbing the pyramid from the Hampshire Women’s Football League Division 1 to the Barclays Women’s Championship at rapid speed. The club have terrified opponents throughout their development, proving their quality and class time and time again.
This season will bring Southampton’s toughest challenges so far, however, defender Peake says that the team have high ambitions and want to continue the theme of being feared opponents.
“We want to compete in our first year in this league and we want to finish as high as we possibly can,” Peake said when speaking to FAWSL Full-Time. “The club have got ambitions of reaching the WSL but that is a very big ask in our first year.
“We want to establish ourselves in this league, make it a difficult place for clubs to come to and keep that Southampton fear factor of being the new kids on the block. We want to do as well as we can and compete.”
Peake joined Southampton from their former FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division title rivals Ipswich Town in the summer. Like her new club, the defender is set to embark on her first adventure as a full-time professional in the Barclays Women’s Championship. Peake says that she is delighted with the support offered to her by manager Marieanne Spacey-Cale and the club since arriving on the South Coast.
She said “The fact that Marieanne brought me in shows trust and she tells us players that she trusts us and has a lot of faith in us.
“I was ready to make the step up to the Championship and to do that with a club like Southampton will be special. It’s a family club and it feels very tight-knit, not only within our squad but the club as a whole, it’s a one-club mentality.
“We’re looking forward to getting the season started on Saturday and let’s see what we can do.”
Southampton host Charlton Athletic at St Mary’s Stadium in the opening game of the 2022/2023 Barclays Women’s Championship season. Peake is looking forward to walking out at the 32,384-capacity arena while she expects the club’s fans to play a big role in the stands again this season.
“It will be special, I had the chance to experience Southampton’s fans last year with Ipswich and got heckled but a few of them have apologised to me,” the defender joked. “They make themselves known, they get right behind the team until the final minute and they were a big part of Southampton winning the league last year. Hopefully, they will get behind us again this year, make themselves known at St Mary’s and keep increasing those numbers.”
Southampton’s opening game of the season against Charlton Athletic kicks-off at 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon. Tickets remain available and can be purchased by clicking here.