Ipswich Town Women have announced they have signed their first player on a professional contract.
Winger Sophie Peskett, 18, is the first female player ever to sign a deal with the club and has been retained on a two-year deal.
It's unusual for players in Town's league to be signed on a professional contract with players in the league above, the Women's Championship, usually considered semi-professional.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” said Peskett.
“I can’t describe it.”
Peskett has become a key part of the Tractor Girls team since she joined the club in 2019 and was an important part of the squad that steamed to an unbeaten streak in the league before it was cancelled earlier this year because of the pandemic.
She was also part of the history-making team that took on Manchester City in the FA Cup in 2020.
“I haven’t been here that long but we have done so well as a team,” she said.
“So much has happened in the last two years where it feels so surreal. It’s a really good way to start off what we are trying to do at the club.”
Before signing her deal, there had been interest for the player from top tier Women's Super League teams to sign the player.
“Obviously it is nice,” she said.
“It’s motivating to get that recognition but I think it was always a no brainer for me to stay at Ipswich.
“All the support I’ve had from all the staff and players and the relationships I’ve formed in the last two years – it wasn’t too much of a hard decision for me to make.”
The news comes just over a week since the club announced it had been promoted to the third tier of the women's footballing pyramid.
Peskett said that the players were looking forward to the challenges that lay ahead of them next season and believed that town could do the double and head up to the Women’s Championship at the first time of asking.
“We are looking to perform as best as we can as a team from the scores, we have had in the past with the teams in the league above we have done really well,” said Peskett.
“We are really looking forward to seeing how we get on against them.
“How it happened is not ideal but we are still pushing for promotion. I don’t see why we can’t do that.”
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