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Lucy Quinn: If I'm honest, I really never thought that I'd see that during my career

Lucy Quinn of Republic of Ireland is keen to make her mark in Australia and New Zealand. (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

LUCY QUINN'S had high hopes of being a footballer as a child and her dreams have become a reality since becoming a professional in 2010.

Quinn from Southampton began her journey in 2010 playing for clubs like Portsmouth, Tottenham Hotspur and others before finally making the move to Birmingham in 2019. She has now returned to the club after a spell away.

She also received her Irish passport and FIFA approval to play for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team in 2021 and has even played for Vera Pauws side in the latest qualifiers just past.

Her focus now is helping the women's game go from strenght to strenght, women's football has seen an exponential growth over the years thanks to broadcast deals and a wider effort to grow the game on social media and other platforms.

Dublin , Ireland - 20 October 2021; Lucy Quinn (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Quinn: Birmingham always had a special place in my heart

Quinn spoke to Kathleen McNamee and Karen Duggan of the The COYGIG Pod about her time at Birmingham and helping the women's game go even further.

My first spell at Birmingham was my first professional contract, my first club," Quinn said. "They really took a chance on me I guess; they gave me the opportunity to play at this level.

"So, Birmingham always had a special place in my heart and I never left on any bad notes at all. I just wanted to go and test myself, develop and pot myself in new environments.

"I always said to the club that I would never be against going back. So, when I found out that they were interested during the summer, it was definitely a conversation that I wanted to have.

"They made me feel valued, just as they did before. They made me feel like they appreciate me both as a player and a person.

"I was looking for a new challenge in my career. Obviously I am a bit older now, so being a senior player, I felt that that is what Blues needed."

Lucy Quinn tells myself & @KarenDuggan91 what it was about the Birmingham City set up this season, after all the trouble they had last season including sending a letter to the owners over their poor treatment, that attracted her back this summer #COYGIG pic.twitter.com/JY6WbY5mBu

— Kathleen McNamee (@kathleen_mcn) November 2, 2021

Quinn's dreams

Women's football is something she had dreamed of, but felt was a pipe dream as a kid, but a number of broadcasters like the BBC and Sky Sports have attempted to show the Women's Super League matches on TV, as well as the women's clubs across the country in England.

"When you are growing up and you love football and you want to be a footballer, you dream of playing in front of thousands of people," Quinn said.

"You dream of TV cameras, scoring in a stadium and Sky Sports. If I'm honest, I really never thought that I'd see that during my career.

"I thought that it wouldn't happen on the scale that it has for many years. I thought there was always a market there for women's football, especially off the back of the women's World Cup.

"We saw that viewing figures were very popular, and everybody appreciated the game a lot more, they saw the players as athletes from every country. It was just great exposure for the women's game.

"But I honestly didn't think that I would see the day that I would be a professional footballer; that I would be paid to go and do what I love.

"Let alone to go and eat lunch and have Sky Sports pop up with your name or your face. It is an absolute dream come true.

"I am really grateful for the journey that I've had. I've experienced amateur football, semi-professional football, and now professional football with massive exposure. It has been an absolute dream."