Lenna Gunning-Williams: “My first contract is a surreal experience”

Lenna Gunning-Williams is over the moon to sign her first professional contract with the Club. A local player, the contract is a result of everything she’s worked towards with the help of her parents’ sacrifices.

“I’m buzzing, especially because it’s at Spurs,” said the 18-year-old. “Growing up in Enfield, everyone has always known Spurs and the training ground. I went to the last game at White Hart Lane and going to the new stadium, it’s a surreal experience.

“I joined Spurs a couple of years ago with the under-16s. Going through the pathway to the under-21s and now a First Team contract, it’s crazy. I didn’t think it was going to happen, to be honest!

“How do you even put into words what it means? Genuinely, it’s weird! My mum and dad were driving me to my grassroots team for years, so now for that all to be worth it - the dark days, the ups and downs - to put pen to paper and become a professional footballer is unreal and I can’t wait to get started.

“My friends had to make sacrifices too. I couldn’t always meet up with them because I might have training the next day. My mum would be dropping me here and have to quickly rush to work, my dad would be dropping me here and there. You only realise those things when you sit and take a minute, the other people in your life who have sacrificed as much as you, the player.”

Lenna initially entered the First Team environment when she joined our pre-season tour in Louisville ahead of the 2022/23 campaign and went on to embrace everything the season had to offer, making her First Team debut and scoring in a 5-1 win against Coventry United in the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup.

“I wasn’t expecting to go on tour with them,” she explained. “I found out on a Monday and we were flying out on a Thursday, but I knew as soon as I went there that it was what I wanted to do for life. Being in and around the girls every single day while I was away, and then being in as much as I could around school last season, the level is something else. I’m not there yet but I’m very much looking forward to being in and around that environment every day.

“I was envisioning that debut. When I found out I was in the squad, I was like ‘you’ve got to score on your debut. It would be so memorable for your life.’ I saw a ball come over that So-hyun Cho crossed, I headed it and remember hearing the crowd cheering. Then I saw my mum and dad and two of my best friends came after the game. It was wicked, it was amazing.”

With the news that Robert Vilahamn was appointed as our new Women’s Head Coach last week, Lenna is really excited to get to work with a former striker and Golden Boot winner in Sweden who has a reputation for developing young players.

“It’s hard to find managers nowadays in first team environments that really want to push the youth and academy players, but Spurs are amazing at it, bringing players through,” she said. “Working with him is going to be amazing, one because he’s into bringing youth players up, but also the fact that he used to be a striker, we’ll bond on that level.

“Then there’s Bethany England. It’s unreal. She’s a Lioness and on her way to the World Cup right now. When she was announced in the squad, I messaged her, and she messaged me back. It’s weird feeling like you’re close with these world class players. Being in and around her every day, even just sitting and eating lunch with her is a dream come true for me.

“Of course, I’ll be watching the World Cup! We’ve got so many internationals. I’ll be switching to this game, watching that game, and not having an opinion because our players will be playing against each other! It’s going to be exciting.”

How has Lenna spent the summer so far? Well, as much as the time off has allowed her to recharge her batteries, she’s already hungry to get back into the training routine.

“I didn’t realise how much I needed a break mentally and physically,” she explained. “Doing my A-levels alongside training was tough, but now I just want to get back. We’ve had a month off and now I just want to get back into my routine of training, nutrition, physio and everything. I miss it quite a lot to be honest.

“I’m done with A-levels and finished with school! I can now fully focus on football. I’ve got my qualifications if I ever need them, but I’m saying goodbye to school!”

So, what do Lenna’s school friends make of all of this?

“They’re like, it’s just weird! You don’t expect to say your mate’s a professional footballer! We’re all 18, 17, so they’re buzzing for me, but it’s not settled in for me or for them yet!”