Women's Team winger Yvette Loukes hoping Reds' can keep up winning momentum
Six goals in her opening five games since joining the Reds has seen new signing Yvette Loukes quickly settle into life at Broadhurst Park. The winger, who made her FC debut in the opening day 17-0 league win over City of Liverpool last month, has scored in all three of United’s league games this season including a hat-trick in last week’s 13-0 home win over Northwich Vixens.
It was a performance that Loukes was happy for on both a personal and collective note. "I was buzzing to have scored my first FC hat-trick, and it was even better that we won from a class team performance!"
Loukes has been a big threat in the Reds’ attacking force, in and around the box this season and has often shown her lethal touch in-front of goal. This was most apparent in Sunday’s win with her hat-trick goal being something of a talking point after a superb individual run to set it up before a fine finish into the far corner. A goal that Loukes recollects well. "I’ve always liked running with the ball at my feet, so when I saw the space and the gaps to run into beforehand, I thought why not have a go!"
As mentioned earlier, Loukes has wasted no time in making a name for herself in this FC side and has really hit the ground running, with six goals in just five appearances. The winger believes that the team as a whole have been the most important factor to her successful start. "I wouldn’t be able to score or do anything without the teamwork we all put in each week, I think the way we all play together and work together means that we can all be successful".
It wasn’t just Loukes who got on the score-sheet three or more times in last weekend’s win, fellow new signing Fran Sullivan scored her first FC double-hat-trick to follow up her first hat-trick in the victory at Liverpool Feds the week before. And just like Sullivan did last week, Loukes admits that manager Luke Podmore was a big influence in her move to Broadhurst in the summer. "I knew that Luke [Podmore] had great prospects for the club, and I really liked how he’s so committed to the team in everything that he does. As well as this, I wanted to be a part of the great success FC have had and help towards future success for the club. So when Luke said there was an opportunity for me to join, I didn’t want to turn it down".
Since completing her move from Manchester City, Loukes has been impressed with the togetherness of the club as a whole. "The whole family feeling has really impressed me; everyone is so together - it’s like a second family! The support we get from the fans is just brilliant and the support I get from Luke [Podmore] and Mark [Partington] in training right through to matches helps me personally, to become a better player each week. For the team, it helps us perform to the high quality that we have done in previous weeks".
The winger, who has been sponsored by the club’s Trafford supporters branch in the last week, has already had a number of memorable moments in a red shirt...but one stands out as a clear personal favourite.
"I’d have to say the goal on Sunday, the last one. When I was younger, I always loved dribbling with the ball, being able to still do that today and it play a big part in the goal for my first FC hat-trick makes it my favourite!", said Loukes.
Looking ahead to tomorrow’s game, the Reds are at home again with Stockport County Blues the visitors. It’s a game that Loukes wants to keep the Reds’ strong start to the season going in. "We all want to keep performing the way that we have [in previous weeks], and to get better each week with each performance. It means that the hard work in training is paying off and it means we can give another positive performance back to our fans who come and support us week in-week out. It will also send out a message to everyone else about how good a club FC United is".
You can see Loukes and her FC team-mates take on Stockport County Blues in the league tomorrow at Broadhurst Park (3G) – 2pm KO!
We hope to see you there!
By Mikey Partington
It was a performance that Loukes was happy for on both a personal and collective note. "I was buzzing to have scored my first FC hat-trick, and it was even better that we won from a class team performance!"
Loukes has been a big threat in the Reds’ attacking force, in and around the box this season and has often shown her lethal touch in-front of goal. This was most apparent in Sunday’s win with her hat-trick goal being something of a talking point after a superb individual run to set it up before a fine finish into the far corner. A goal that Loukes recollects well. "I’ve always liked running with the ball at my feet, so when I saw the space and the gaps to run into beforehand, I thought why not have a go!"
As mentioned earlier, Loukes has wasted no time in making a name for herself in this FC side and has really hit the ground running, with six goals in just five appearances. The winger believes that the team as a whole have been the most important factor to her successful start. "I wouldn’t be able to score or do anything without the teamwork we all put in each week, I think the way we all play together and work together means that we can all be successful".
It wasn’t just Loukes who got on the score-sheet three or more times in last weekend’s win, fellow new signing Fran Sullivan scored her first FC double-hat-trick to follow up her first hat-trick in the victory at Liverpool Feds the week before. And just like Sullivan did last week, Loukes admits that manager Luke Podmore was a big influence in her move to Broadhurst in the summer. "I knew that Luke [Podmore] had great prospects for the club, and I really liked how he’s so committed to the team in everything that he does. As well as this, I wanted to be a part of the great success FC have had and help towards future success for the club. So when Luke said there was an opportunity for me to join, I didn’t want to turn it down".
Since completing her move from Manchester City, Loukes has been impressed with the togetherness of the club as a whole. "The whole family feeling has really impressed me; everyone is so together - it’s like a second family! The support we get from the fans is just brilliant and the support I get from Luke [Podmore] and Mark [Partington] in training right through to matches helps me personally, to become a better player each week. For the team, it helps us perform to the high quality that we have done in previous weeks".
The winger, who has been sponsored by the club’s Trafford supporters branch in the last week, has already had a number of memorable moments in a red shirt...but one stands out as a clear personal favourite.
"I’d have to say the goal on Sunday, the last one. When I was younger, I always loved dribbling with the ball, being able to still do that today and it play a big part in the goal for my first FC hat-trick makes it my favourite!", said Loukes.
Looking ahead to tomorrow’s game, the Reds are at home again with Stockport County Blues the visitors. It’s a game that Loukes wants to keep the Reds’ strong start to the season going in. "We all want to keep performing the way that we have [in previous weeks], and to get better each week with each performance. It means that the hard work in training is paying off and it means we can give another positive performance back to our fans who come and support us week in-week out. It will also send out a message to everyone else about how good a club FC United is".
You can see Loukes and her FC team-mates take on Stockport County Blues in the league tomorrow at Broadhurst Park (3G) – 2pm KO!
We hope to see you there!
By Mikey Partington
First Posted ~ 21:03 Sat 14 Oct 2017
News ID ~ 7628
Last Updated ~ 00:47 Tue 16 Feb 2021