AVLFC and England U-20 star: “I’ve grown up at this club”

All week here at 7500 to Holte, we’ll be featuring news, interviews, writing, and podcasting about the Aston Villa Ladies team. On Sunday, they get to play their first Super League 2 match at Villa Park, and we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to highlight the squad.

Sarah Mayling is one of the brightest rising stars in the Aston Villa Ladies system. The young striker is quickly making a name for herself in WSL2 but she’s also getting called up regularly for the England U20 team. If manager Joe Hunt’s prediction that AVLFC should challenge for promotion next season is to come true, it will likely have a lot to do with Sarah scoring important goals all the time.

We got the opportunity to ask her a few questions, and here’s what she had to say.

You recently returned from international duty with the England U20s. While out, you scored the decisive goal in a victory over Brazil. What was that experience like? And did having fellow AVLFC player Elisha N'Dow with you on the team make it even better?

The tournament out in LA was really good, the team played well and put in some good performances. It felt good to come on against Brazil and get the winner. I wanted to impact the game so I'm glad I did it that way.

Having Elisha out there with me is always good, she was actually my roommate ha! But yeah it was a good experience to share.

You've come up through the Aston Villa ranks for years now. What was that like, and what is it like to be breaking through on the club and international level?

Yeah I've been at Villa since I was eight years old so it feels good to be in the first team. I've grown up at this club and they've taught me everything I know. It's good to be continually selected for my country, that's the pinnacle for me so hopefully, in time, I can make the seniors - that's the dream.

If you could score a goal in any stadium in the world, which would it be and why? If it's not Villa Park, does VP at least make the top 5?

I would most like to score at Barcelona's stadium – the Nou Camp. I've been there and it's massive and the atmosphere was crazy. I have scored at Villa Park when I was younger and it is always going to be in the top 5 so hopefully I can bag myself a goal on Sunday 6th!

Thanks so much to Sarah for taking the time to talk with us! If you want to get the chance to watch her and the rest of the AVLFC squad play, you can see them at Villa Park this Sunday at 2 PM. Tickets can be found here, and most are only £5. If you’re in the over-65 or under-18 groups, your ticket is only £1! Go out and support the ladies in the last match of their season!