Lauren Hemp's Drive for More Titles
Norfolk star Lauren Hemp insists success has made Manchester City hungry for more after they lifted the Women's Super League and FA Cup double last term.
In the decade since their last league crown, City had finished runners-up five times before getting over the hump last season. They will begin their title defence at home to newly-promoted Birmingham on September 6.
Pressure Fuels City's Ambition
“Naturally you've got a target on your back,” said Hemp, who started her youth career at the Norwich City Girls Centre of Excellence. “We know that teams want to come and compete against us. We're the reigning champions and we deserve to be that.”
“It's important for us that we don't settle, we want to keep pushing, we want to win it year on year. We don't want to just win it once and not again.”
Hemp joined City in 2018 and was part of four sides that finished as runners-up. She insisted she was always convinced success was coming, which arrived in Andree Jeglert's first season at the club after he replaced Gareth Taylor last season.
New Faces and Future Focus
City will change again this season, with England stars Beth Mead and Niamh Charles arriving as they gear up for a return to the Champions League. “Obviously they are new faces, but they're not new to me,” Hemp said. “They're great to be around with England so I'm really happy we've now got them at City. I know they'll be a great addition. Niamh is one of my best mates.”
Hemp is going into the last season of the three-year deal she signed in 2024. “It's not something I've particularly thought massively about recently,” she said. “Every season's different so I look forward to the start of this season. When the time is right I'll think about my future.”
“I love this club, I think everyone can see that now, and the ambition of the club matches mine. It's an exciting time ahead. Full focus for me now is this season and making sure we start as we mean to go on.”
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