During Female Football Week, we highlight some of the players from our League One Women’s team. Next up, is Chloe Smith.
The Central Coast Mariners have the next Kylian Mbappe in their ranks – or so she hopes.
“He’s so rapid and he’s fast, he’s great with the ball, he absolutely breaks ankles! He’s so creative. You’ll be watching the game and he’ll just do something completely unexpected. It’s so cool to watch. I like to be creative like that as well!”
“I like to dribble, I like to create opportunities and play through balls… just being creative and trying to catch the opposition off guard.”
18-year-old Chloe Smith has been a revelation during the Mariners Football NSW League One campaign this season. The youngster, who plays her game in the attacking third as a number 10 or a number 9, has raced out of the blocks in her Mariners career. She has scored ten goals in ten games so far, including two hattricks in a row against South Coast and Inter Lions.
“That was pretty exciting because it was kind of a turning point for the whole team. We had been playing really well but sometimes we weren’t getting results. After those two great team performances, everything was coming together, everyone was gelling really well. That was probably my favourite moment so far because it was really cool to be a part of. Obviously scoring is exciting as well.”
The Swansea Swans Junior arrived at the Mariners this season after spending nine years in the Emerging Jets programme. After her fast start in the yellow and blue, she says she is “definitely a Mariners supporter now – and I didn’t have to say that!”
Smith is thriving in her new environment.
“I loved it there [at the Jets Academy] but it was very repetitive year to year, just because it was consistent. Getting new people’s opinions and just different styles and that sort of thing, a fresh outlook, new energy, a new team – that’s exciting! It’s good to switch things up sometimes.”
During her time at the Jets, she had the opportunity to train with their A League Women’s team. Being in that elite environment helped to improve her game, and she is excited for the opportunity to be able to replicate that as the Central Coast Mariners look to become an expansion team in the A League Women’s next season.
“You can already feel it in training, the energy is just rising, everyone is pushing that little bit harder. It’s so cool having that next goal that’s another step that we can aspire to. It’s a clear pathway to the A League Women’s. It’s more in reach and it pushes the team. It’s exciting to be able to see who’s going to get there.”
“Even for the younger ones, if they’re able to go to games and watch women’s players in the same jerseys, that’s so exciting. I remember when I used to do that [at the Jets], I used to be like oh my gosh, that can be me one day.”
If she continues to improve on her fine form this season, Smith will certainly be one to look out for in the yellow and blue in the Liberty A League.
