Exclusive interview | Gunning for the top

Once an on-screen footballer, Lenna Gunning-Williams is now starring in her own football career having progressed through our Academy into the First Team.

The 19-year-old, who signed her first professional contract with the Club in July, 2023, is enjoying a breakthrough season in our colours, making five appearances in the WSL and a first competitive start in our Women’s League Cup victory over Charlton Athletic already this campaign.

Almost exactly two years ago, Lenna made her senior debut for us in the Women’s League Cup and even scored her first goal at senior level at 17 years old, netting the fifth goal in the 5-1 win over Coventry United, so our Lilywhite fanbase have closely been following the progress of our number 31.

The young forward has felt that support all the way through to now, especially hearing the loud cheer from over 28,000 supporters at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the second half of the north London derby when she stepped onto the pitch in N17 for the first time.

“It’s just a nice feeling even though my face isn’t necessarily always on the pitch, people still know who I am, support the journey I’m on and look forward to seeing how far I can go,” beamed Lenna.

“I did also notice there was a loud cheer when I came on last Saturday and I must have had a little grin when I stepped on the pitch from hearing that.

“It was really special moment, one to play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in any game but, more specifically, the north London derby and to have my best friends there, I could hear them shouting when I came on. Even though this might seem like a small thing for some people, it was really special for me.”

This article has been taken from an exclusive interview with Lenna in the latest edition of our Matchday Programme and continues in full below.

Lenna spent the 2023/24 campaign with Ipswich Town and made 26 appearances in all competitions last term, scoring 14 goals overall and finished as the club’s second-highest goalscorer.

She even scored her first senior hat-trick in an 8-0 win over Sutton Coldfield Town in the Women’s FA Cup almost exactly a year ago and, reflecting on her time at tier three level, she believes her first full season at senior has helped build her confidence on her return to Spurs in the summer.

“People underestimate the quality at tier three level or even the Championship but, physically, it was so much more demanding than academy football,” she explained.

“In tier three, my team-mates and I really experienced that game plans can make or break matches, getting the right press, and I have noticed how important those aspects are in the WSL.

“It also helped a lot with my confidence as I was playing most weeks for Ipswich, building relationships with the senior players there.

“I feel that’s what I have brought back to Spurs, the confidence that I belong in this environment and I will keep doing my best to continue to improve so that I fit in more with the senior players on the pitch.”

Having progressed through our Academy, the forward’s journey in football is slightly different to most.

At 12 years old, Lenna made her acting debut in CBBC’s football drama show ‘Jamie Johnson’, starring in 31 episodes as ‘Jack Marshall’, before choosing to make football her reality instead, but her time in front of the camera has helped her become the outgoing individual we see on and off the pitch.

“I got into that very randomly,” she said. “They saw me play football and they were looking for a mixed-race girl who could play football and I fitted the bill.

“I went to an audition and got the role, I was in the show for two whole seasons and then on and off for three seasons after that, but I think doing that role has helped me with building relationships with strangers, being confident within myself, talking to people and doing interviews on camera.

“Although it probably hasn’t helped on the football side because it was acting and some of the shots took quite a few takes! But the social and confidence side helped me massively.”

Reflecting on the crunch decision between the two, she explained: “I was around 15 years old, my family and I sat down and was like ‘I’m never going to be able to do both perfectly’ and I don’t really like doing things half-hearted.

“So I said to the production team ‘I loved this whole experience, I would never change it for the world but you know my head and my heart is with football, so if you could write me out, I would really appreciate that’ and they didn’t even hesitate.

“They still support my journey now, they repost whenever I do something well or drop me a message… it worked out perfectly.”

Watch - Lenna visits Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with Olga Ahtinen, Clare Hunt and Hayley Raso

Her positive start to the campaign was also recognised by those outside of the Club as, last month, Lenna received her maiden call-up to the England Under-23s and made her debut for Emma Coates’ side as a second-half substitute in a 1-0 win over Portugal.

Following her first cap for the young Lionesses, the forward took to social media to post her Year Six ‘Yearbook’ with one of the lines saying ‘my dream job: professional footballer for England’ and Lenna has always manifested to achieving that dream.

“It was a big moment for just wearing an England badge, nothing really prepares you for that and, although it was just Under-23 level, I have never been in and around the England set-up before that,” she said.

“It was just a proper fist pump moment to myself. As I stepped on to the pitch, I knew that when I posted images from the game afterwards, I was going to add my little Year Six ‘Yearbook’ quote because I believe in manifestation, and I have manifested everything I have achieved so far.

“I have learnt this year that I’m just hungry, I’m hungry for minutes, I’m hungry to be in the squad, I just want to be in and around it, and if I can show that in training, then that’s what I will do.”