Labelling her debut as an 'amazing opportunity', Soraya Walsh was delighted to make her first senior appearance for West Ham United women’s team in their 3-0 dispatching of Southampton in the Women’s League Cup.
The 18-year-old was named in Rehanne Skinner’s starting XI that took on the Saints and she impressed on the left wing, linking up well with full-back Kirsty Smith and receiving raking balls over the top from centre-back Shannon Cooke to cause the opposition's backline problems.
Walsh signed her first professional contract with the Club in the summer after moving to the Hammers from Charlton Athletic at the beginning of the 2022/23 season.
She spent last term on loan at Billericay Town, making 25 appearances for the FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division outfit, and has since featured in many of the Hammers’ matchday squads this season.
The midfielder has had to be patient, but was rewarded at Chigwell Construction Stadium on Wednesday evening in what was a surreal experience for her - featuring alongside players she grew up watching.
“I’m really happy to make my debut,” she exclaimed. “I was just so excited to be back on the pitch, and to be playing with the players that I’m playing with is such an amazing opportunity.
“It just feels crazy when I think about how far I’ve come over the past two years, coming through the Academy and playing with the people I grew up watching.
“I definitely feel like I’m improving. The level in training is so high that when I came into the game, because I’m training with such good players, I felt more confident, and confident in the players around me.
“I enjoy creating problems for the opposition. Maybe I could’ve done a bit more, but I’m still happy with my performance.
“I’m just focusing on training and hoping that I can keep working towards more minutes as time goes on.”
