Getting to know: Shauna Legge | OneFootball

Football clubs are often the beating heart of their communities. Leeds United Women’s star Shauna Legge knows that well, growing up in the shadows of Elland Road just around the corner in Beeston.

“When we could get there, we were going,” the defender tells us. “It is the main point of that area and it becomes normal that such a big stadium is right on your doorstep, so we were lucky in that sense that we could just walk down the hill to the games when we could get there.”

The centre-half, now 30, has gone from idolising those in white to becoming one; a mainstay in Simon Wood’s side at the back since joining the club from Halifax Women last summer. A sense of pride is more than evident as she explains the “no-brainer” decision in linking up with the squad.

“I was ready for a change so it was quite an easy choice, really. Knowing the players that they had and hopefully what I could bring to the team, I was happy to be asked and go with it.

“Personally, it was massive. I had never played for Leeds, so to finally pull that shirt on, it was a great feeling. It was a proud moment for myself and my family.”

Family, clearly, is what kick-started Shauna’s love of the sport as a youngster. With two older brothers equally as obsessed, the Legge household could be chaotic come Saturdays and Sundays: everyone rushing to different matches with football consuming their lives.

“We would be running round to three games on a weekend, trying to be on time for all of them, which obviously is a bit impossible. But it has always been the same. And even now, we just love it. I would say thanks to them too, really, and obviously my parents for taking us to all the games back then. I think it is ingrained in us!”

Now, the towering defender is an imposing figure at the back for her childhood club. Yet to miss a minute so far in this season’s FA WNL Division One North, not only has Legge brought vast experience from playing in the division above with her, but a winning mentality who leads from the front.

“It can change the momentum of a game, can’t it? Like one big tackle or a block off the line,” she laughs. “It can give you that little bit of extra push. It is part of it though I think as well, getting stuck in on a bit of a wet day and you can get a good slide tackle in, so I don’t mind it!”

Like many of her teammates, limited opportunities for girls back in her youth meant Legge lined up for Beeston Juniors, a boys’ team, at first before moving on to Leeds City Girls and then Rothwell Town.

“I played through there until I got to open age and then I went to Leeds City Vixens. Oh God, that was a few years ago now! That then turned into Guiseley Vixens and from there I went to Bradford City, Huddersfield Town and Brighouse Town, which then became Halifax Women.”

We discuss what it was like back then playing for a boys’ team, but it is clear that those early battles helped shape the defender’s steely and hardened approach.

“I wouldn’t change it. I loved playing for that team. It is great to see how much it has changed though and how many more girls’ teams there are around these days now. It is lovely to have that support from some of those teams and to see the same faces coming week on week to support us at Garforth.

“It is nice to see and, like I say, I didn’t really have those opportunities as such when I was growing up. It is great to be part of that and hopefully be a little girl’s, or little boy’s, role model!”

On that Garforth pitch, the Whites have been in impressive form this campaign, currently third in the standings and know they can cut the gap to leaders Cheadle Town should they win their game in hand. The Cheshire outfit also happen to be Sunday’s opponents...

“The goal always was promotion and how we are doing is sort of on track,” she adds, taking a brief moment to explain the painstaking hours that go in at Thorp Arch. Training is where she is headed next after a tiring, long shift at work, but the fight at the top of the division means there is no time to let up for Shauna and her teammates.

“There have been a few results that didn’t go our way, which wasn’t not helpful. But if you look back at the past few seasons, we are probably in the best position that we have been in for a little while.”

For Shauna growing up, Leeds United, being a stone’s throw from the Legge household, dominated – as it does for thousands in and around the city. Just a few months after realising her childhood dream and pulling on that famous white jersey, the defender took to the Elland Road pitch in the Whites’ 3-0 victory over York City.

“It was amazing. To even look back now, on that day, it was special and I don’t think I have ever really had a feeling like that, walking out onto the pitch when you can see all the fans in front and ‘Marching On Together’ is playing.

“Even now, when I am at work, I bump into people and they will tell me they were at that game. It is mad and definitely a memory to look back on forever.”

Represent her club, play at Elland Road and achieve a promotion with Leeds. Two of Shauna’s three biggest goals have already been ticked off…

Legge and her teammates are back in FA WNL action tomorrow as they host Cheadle Town. Kick-off at the Bannister Prentice Stadium is at 2pm. Read our match preview HERE.