Inside Molly Pike's progress at Newcastle United Women

However, first-team opportunities were limited so she moved north to Merseyside to sign her first professional contract with Everton - a decision that would soon see her return to a familiar place.

"It was unreal to just be in and around the set-up at Chelsea, and that was certainly where I grew up the most, especially as I got to train up with the first team when I was only 15 or 16," she says.

"I was playing in my first pre-season friendly with the first team, and I got the chance to start, so I was absolutely buzzing. But I only lasted 20 minutes before tearing my ACL, so that wasn't a great start for me."

With a pathway into the first team not presenting itself after her injury, Pike decided to jump into the WSL.

She said: "I signed my first professional contract at Everton, and I just thought it was a good option for me at that stage of my career, because I got to move away from home and play first-team football.

"In my first year, I got to play a lot of football before Covid hit but then when we returned to playing - in front of no fans though - I was so excited, and we had a great run in the FA Cup."

Before turning 20, Pike returned to Wembley with the Toffees when they reached the Women's FA Cup final in that 2019/20 campaign, coming off the the bench to face Manchester City Women - and a future teammate and captain in Demi Stokes - just before extra time in their eventual 3-1 defeat.

"When I got called from the bench to go on in an FA Cup final at Wembley, it really did feel like a full circle moment for me, having done so with my school earlier in life," she adds. "Obviously, the result didn't go our way, and I wasn't able to lift another trophy at Wembley, but to have played there, on a full-size pitch this time, was amazing.

"It was during Covid so nobody was allowed to attend the game. Not even my parents could come and watch me, which is still sad for me to think about now as it would've been nice for them after everything they did for me growing up.

"But when I think about it, not many people can say they played at Wembley twice in their whole careers, so for me to have done it so quickly is a good feeling."