AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth are delighted to announce that new signing and experienced forward, Gemma Hillier, will take up the role of women's team captain.
Having re-joined the club this summer, Hillier previously spent the 2021/22 season with the Cherries before moving to Dubai for a two-year teaching post.
The striker possesses a wealth of experience, spending 17 years at home-town club Portsmouth, making a total of 293 appearances and scoring 99 goals in a spell that also saw her win the National League South.
Having spent eight years as captain of the Blues, Hillier was then the first female to be inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame, before going on to represent Team GB in beach football at the World Beach Games.
She will be supported by Cherries full-back Abby Jones, who has been handed the role of vice-captain.
Having spent four years in the women's set up and a member of staff in the Community Sports Trust, the defender knows the club well as she takes on her new role this season.
AFC Bournemouth would like to wholeheartedly thank Maisy Smith, who made the decision to step down as captain following the conclusion of the 2022/23 campaign.
In her four years with the armband, she skippered the side to promotion in the summer of 2021 and lifted the Hampshire Cup back in May as the Cherries won the competition for the first time.
Speaking to afcb.co.uk about the decision, Smith said: "It wasn’t an easy decision to step down as captain. I really appreciate the opportunity Steve gave me to lead this team, it has been one of my greatest achievements.
"I have had the experience of being captain to such an amazing bunch of girls, they really are something special. I will continue to do my best for this team and I'll still be a leader in any way I can.
"I am delighted for Gemma to be named as the new captain, I look up to her and I'm sure she will help to grow this team even more."
Manager Cuss also commented: "I'd like to say a huge thank you to Maisy for all she's done for this team as captain. We sat down at the end of last season and she made the decision to step down in order to focus on her football. It's a decision that I completely support and I'm looking forward to continuing our work out on the pitch together.
"Gemma is a player who has plenty of experience and is really well suited to the role of captain. She's played at a very high level and worn the armband for previous clubs she's been at, so I have no doubt that, alongside Abby as vice-captain, it will benefit the team going forward."
