Everton’s loan goalkeeper Emily Ramsey received her first senior call-up to Sarina Wiegman’s England squad for the 2023 Arnold Clark Cup.
Ramsey has joined what is already a rock-solid ‘Goalkeeping Union’ which also includes Mary Earps, Ellie Roebuck and Sandy MacIver.
When speaking in a recent England media session, Ramsey spoke about the pathway from The Young Lionesses to the senior side. The keeper was full of praise for all areas of the national team for pulling in the same direction.
“I think the pathway has been really important,” Ramsey said. “Sarina has put a lot of time and investment into that with Mo Marley and we’re now seeing the rewards. The message is consistent at the under-23s and the seniors.
“It’s really important that it’s bleeding down from the top and everyone’s following in that same direction so when you do get players step up, they’re ready to perform.
“A lot of work with the under-23s has gone into bridging that gap, so that’s really helped me.”
Since joining her first England camp in the under-15 age group, Ramsey has spent the past eight years playing through the levels before making it to a senior camp. In FIFA Women’s World Cup year, the keeper must now prove herself to senior boss Wiegman if she is to make the final 23-player squad.
“I’ve been involved since the under-15s when I made my debut,” Ramsey said. “A lot of those players that I’ve played with along the way are in the senior team now. Some are also still in the under-23s or playing in the WSL. I think the importance of that experience is huge.
“It’s great to step up to this level and go in and train with Sandy (MacIver) and Ellie (Roebuck) who I know really well, and then obviously, Mary’s (Earps) got more experience. We’ve been working well together and it’s been a really positive environment.”
Since taking the helm, England boss Wiegman has handed a number of players their senior debuts, championing the youth that has come through the ranks. Ramsey believes that the door has always been open for any player to have their moment at senior international level.
She said “Sarina’s always been very open to the fact that if you’re playing regularly and you’re playing well, then you’re in with a chance of being selected, I think that’s proven with some of the players that she’s selected over recent camps. It keeps everyone believing that they’ve got that opportunity so ultimately, the training on the pitch is really competitive.”
England begin their 2023 Arnold Clark Cup campaign against the Korea Republic in Milton Keynes this evening.