A football star in the making

My Sevenoaks Community recently met with Kent resident Josie Longhurst to have a chat about her inspiring journey so far in the world of women’s football. Enthusiastic and full of determination, Josie exuded a passion for the game as she told us all about her remarkable accomplishments in this notoriously tough sport for women to succeed in.

Having tried ballet classes age three, Josie quickly decided that kicking a ball around a pitch was far more appealing! Before she knew it, she had started at Charlton Community Club where she began training once a week in a sports hall. However, age nine, she was disappointed to learn that she was no longer able to play with the boys, so determined to continue with the sport she loved, Josie signed up for Chelsea ladies under 11’s and played for a season.

Over the course of the next six years, Josie was a member at Millwall before moving to Wales to train with the national team whilst studying at college. During this time, her talent for the game opened doors for her to also play for Cardiff City Ladies, before accepting an offer from Brighton under 21’s to play the 2019/20 season, where she has stayed up until this year.

During her time at Brighton, Josie was training with the first team and made the bench for multiple team games. She recalled one of her stand out moments which was scoring a header in the Sussex cup with the under 21’s, a game which her team proudly won!

Half way through last season, Josie’s football dream became an even bigger reality when she went on loan to Lewes who are a team in the championship league (second division in England). Here, she managed to accumulate some game time and train double days with Lewes and then Brighton. A tremendous stepping stone for any aspiring player!

With a history of accomplishments in the locker so far, having represented Wales under 17’s, under 19’s and at senior level, Josie has recently signed her first professional contract for Lewes for the 2022/23 season. Over the moon to now be training full time, she is ready to embark on an exciting new chapter to further her sporting career. With women’s football having recently been highlighted at the European Championships with England’s win, My Sevenoaks Community have no doubt she will go far and conquer many more mile stones in this sport where women are often underrepresented. We are behind you Josie!