Academy player Bailey on ‘incredible’ debut against Palace | OneFootball

Zara Bailey couldn’t wipe the smile off her face after making her senior debut against Crystal Palace in the Women’s League Cup clash on Wednesday night.

Having joined the Club’s academy from Oxford United in the summer, the young defender came on for Charlotte Grant in the closing stages of our 2-0 win over Palace as we secured our place in the quarter-final of the competition.

Speaking to SPURSPLAY after the game at VBS Community Stadium, Zara couldn’t hide her delight on a special evening in Sutton.

“It was absolutely amazing!” she said. “I literally have no words for that, it was just incredible.

“I was buzzing when Robert called me over, I wasn’t expecting it as I looked over to the time on the scoreboard and we had about eight minutes left, so I wasn’t expecting to get on but it was a great feeling and I was so excited.”

After returning from a long spell on the sidelines through injury in October, she has featured regularly for the Under-21s since and her performances saw her called up to first team training over the latest international break.

“Training with the first team, at the start, I was like ‘oh my god, I’m training with the first team’,” she added. “Then to be called up to be on the bench and I was especially not expecting to get on the pitch.”

Watch - Bailey reflects on memorable night