Brentford Women captain Mollie Holmes retires | OneFootball

Following an historic season captaining Brentford Women to this season’s LSE Division One North title and promotion to tier five, Mollie Holmes will depart the club after 10 years and retire from football.

Holmes was essential to the Bees' remarkable campaign, which saw them win a league and Capital Cup double, having also led the side to two trophies last term.

The battling midfielder joined the club when she was 17 and has spent a decade in the middle of the park for the west Londoners.

Taking on the role of captain in the 2018/19 season, Holmes has worn the armband for the past seven seasons and became a pivotal part of Brentford's success.

"It’s been amazing to go out on a league and cup double," said Holmes.

"I’d made this decision in my head for quite a while so I was a little bit more determined to get the wins.

"There was no better way to finish my football journey than with a double win. I’m extremely sentimental about it, I was just focusing on one game at a time and you just go through the motions.

"It’s only when you start realising that you've only got two games left and then finding out that Bromley was the last game of the season that it hit home.

Over her time with the west Londoners, Holmes reminisced about how far the women's game has come, as well as discussing her hopes for the team going forward.

"The development has been crazy in the facilities and opportunities we get," she added.

"The fact that we train three times a week and frankly the quality of the football that we now play... the growth that I’ve seen from when I began until now is unbelievable.

"I can’t wait to come down and watch the group kick on. I won’t be a stranger - the girls know I’ll always be supporting them.

"It will be nice to support from a different perspective and hopefully I’ve played a small part in Brentford’s history. I’m going to miss all the girls but I know they’re going to smash it next year without me."

She continued: "I still coach and I love it and I hope to give them some inspiration, but I’m going to focus more on my work and get my qualifications.

"I’ll still have my hand in the game as I can’t fully give it up - if anyone needs a five-a-side player then I’ll be there - but it’s a retirement from football for me.

"I’m happy with the decision and sad at the same time but what a 10 years it has been."

Holmes also reflected on what it meant for her to pull on the red and white shirt since August 2015.

"We won two cups last year and that was amazing but genuinely it’s just been my whole time and seeing it develop," she said.

"It's changed so much and it's not just about winning the trophies, it's the development of the club and the fact you can see that we are progressing in the women’s game. I’m so proud of that and that I got to experience it for such a long period of time.

"It’s been a honour to wear the badge. I played for Brentford when I was about eight years old so Brentford’s been a part of me for pretty much my entire life.

"The fact I got to play for them for a decade and for the chance to be the captain and the leader and hopefully help a lot of players on their journey has been really important to me.

"Brentford will always have a special place in my heart and I’ll always support them. You can’t fully get rid of me but my playing days are done."