AFC Bournemouth
It’s been a busy few days for lifelong AFC Bournemouth supporter Angie Smith.
On Wednesday, she headed to The Hawthorns to watch AFC Bournemouth face West Bromwich Albion.
And on Saturday, she will take her place on the supporters’ coaches to Sheffield United, getting up at four o’clock in the morning and leaving an hour later.
Sunday, however, will arguably be her proudest moment when her granddaughter Maisy Smith leads out the Cherries women’s team in their historic first competitive game at Vitality Stadium.
Grandmother Angie, who has been following the Cherries home and away for more than 30 years, will be surrounded by family and friends to see Maisy and her team-mates lock horns with National League rivals Chesham United (2pm kick-off).
Defender Maisy, who is in her fourth season with the club having joined from Poole Town, has played a starring role as Steve Cuss’s team have sustained a promotion challenge in their first year in the fourth tier of the women’s game.
Speaking at a press conference earlier this week, she said: “The season has been excellent and it couldn’t have gone any better. I’ve been so impressed with how we’ve done.
“I’ve played a couple of friendlies at Vitality Stadium but this is a league game and a big game. It will mean so much to lead out the girls.
“To think we’ve sold more than 1,600 tickets is crazy. Every year, we are seeing more fans come to our games. We want to put on a show for them.
“It will be amazing to have so many fans there but we need to focus on our game. I have never played in front of so many people.
“It will be daunting and having family and friends watching will put the pressure on a bit. But you’ve just got to focus on your game and stick to your routine.
“I’m a sucker for a routine so I’m not changing anything! I will eat the same things, do the same things on the morning of the game and the night before as well. No matter where I’m playing, I will always do the same things.”
Asked about the progression of the Cherries women’s team, Maisy said: “It’s crazy! If someone had said to me four or five years ago that I’d be playing in the National League and fighting for promotion, I just wouldn’t have believed them.
“I played in the National League for Poole but it was completely different. I was paying subs to play, that’s how much I love playing. I would happily pay £6 a week…actually, they were chasing me for money most weeks!
“It was a great experience at Poole Town. I remember training on sand and having to buy a pair of Astros because I was slipping up every five minutes.
“I’m in such a good position now. The support we get from the club, the training facilities, playing at Vitality Stadium – I’m very blessed and I feel lucky.
“One of my coaches at Poole came to AFC Bournemouth and a couple of us wanted to go with him because he was a very good coach. I ended up trialling and was lucky enough to get in.
“When I came to AFC Bournemouth, I never imagined being here and I never imagined being captain. I think we’ve proved this season that we can keep going.
“Over the years, it’s just got bigger and bigger. The training has got better, the facilities have got better and so has the level we play at. We’ve come a long way.”
Asked about her captaincy style, she replied: “I’m more of a leader in the way I play and the way I train. I train hard, I keep fit so I’m more of a role model in that sense.
“I wouldn’t say I’m a massive talker. I talk to the girls individually, I’m not the loudest. I like to set examples. We’ve got a lot of leaders in the team. Although I’m captain, we’ve got some big voices in the squad.
“I’m a very calm player, maybe too calm. I should probably get a bit more feisty. I try to keep the hot heads cool and get them going when we need to get going.”
Maisy combines playing with working for the NHS as a rehab support worker and says her employers have been very supportive.
She added: “I help elderly people get back on their feet after they’ve had an injury or an operation. It’s busy but I like to be busy.
“Fortunately, I’ve got supportive managers at work and they understand how much I love football. I say football comes first and I’d rather be jobless and still play football!
“They understand my love for football and have always supported me. It’s hard but you do it because you love it.”
And asked whether she had a message for supporters, she said: “My nan is a huge supporter of the club and watches the first team home and away. I’ve got other family members coming who don’t even like football!
“It doesn’t matter if it’s women or men, if you enjoy watching quality football, come along and watch because we can play.
“Our style is quite similar to the men’s team. We like to play out from the back, we like to play football and it’s quality.
“The support has been massive this season. We’ve been really grateful and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“Hopefully, a lot of people will come to this game, realise how good it is and will want to come back.
“I know my nan will come back whatever happens!”
Click here to book your ticket for the big game.
