New Albion Women signing Harriet Grimshaw has cited the team’s prospering “goalkeeper union” as a deciding factor in making her move to The Hawthorns.
The 20-year-old swapped FAWNL Northern Premier rivals Stoke City for the Baggies, as she became Martyn Irvine’s second summer signing.
Grimshaw relished her best senior season back in 2023/24, when despite Stourbridge’s relegation, she claimed the division’s Player of the Season award after several impressive showings.
And she’ll look to continue adding to her personal accolades, as well as aiding the team’s efforts in 2026/27.
She said: “I’m delighted to be here. It’s been a great first week so far, I feel I’ve done well and the girls have been fantastic with me, they’ve made me feel really welcome and I’m excited to see where we go this season.
“The whole unit has made me feel on board from the moment I arrived. I’ve had some great conversations with both Martyn Irvine and Siobhan Hodgetts-Still, they’re both incredibly positive people and we have the same vision for where we want to go. Their ambitions met well with mine and it was the right move for me.
“We all share the same goal, and that’s to see the team towards the top of the table. The league’s changed a lot, but it’s going to be interesting to see who’s up there.
“The goalkeeper union is a really tight one here, we get on really well. Charlotte Clarke used to coach me at college and when I joined Stoke in the development team, she was there too. She’s been a big part of my career and it’s been nice to catch up with her so far, she’s a real mentor for me.
“I had a great season with Stourbridge in this league a few years ago. I faced a lot of shots, and it was a good personal campaign, but a bit of a rocky one for us as a team. Across the last two years I’ve managed to learn so much about the game and this is a great environment to continue developing in.”
