Latest news with #RachelRowe
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nottingham Forest sign Welsh international midfielder Rowe
Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of Welsh international midfielder Rachel Rowe on a two-year deal. The Tricky Trees announced news of the deal via a post on their official club website this afternoon. The 32-year-old joins Nottingham Forest after spending last season with Southampton. Rowe was a regular starter for The Saints and was one of their most experienced players. Rowe has enjoyed a long career in the game. After spending her early years with both Cardiff City and Swansea City, the player moved to England where she represented Reading over an eight-year spell. Rowe then spent a year in Scotland with Rangers before joining Southampton last summer. On the international stage, Rowe has been capped by Wales on 79 occasions while she has scored eight goals for her country. After joining Nottingham Forest, Rowe said 'I'm really happy and excited to be joining Nottingham Forest. 'It's clearly an elite and ambitious club. The continued success is admirable and shows a huge commitment to invest in the growth of women's game. 'I believe I can bring a wealth of experience to the team, and I can't wait to get started.' Rowe is Nottingham Forest's ninth signing of the summer transfer window.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales midfielder Rowe joins Forest from Saints
Wales international Rachel Rowe has joined WSL2 newcomers Nottingham Forest from rivals 32-year-old midfielder is the ninth signing of the summer transfer window for last season's National League title winners."I'm really excited to be joining Nottingham Forest," said Rowe. "It's clearly an elite and ambitious club. The continued success is admirable and shows a huge commitment to invest in the growth of the women's game."Rowe joined Southampton in June 2024 saying she was leaving Rangers after one year in Glasgow in order to be closer to home."We are absolutely delighted to welcome Rachel to the club," said Forest Women head coach Carly Davies."Rachel joins us with a wealth of experience, leadership, and technical quality at both domestic and international level. Her qualities fit seamlessly with our vision for this team and the direction we are heading." Having come through Swansea City's youth academy, Rowe began her senior professional career with Cardiff City and was part of the team that won the Welsh Premier Women's Football League in joined Reading in February 2015 on a part-time basis before agreeing full-time terms in December that year following the club's promotion to the WSL, going on to make more than 100 appearances for the Reading's relegation from the WSL at the end of the 2023-24 season Rowe played one season with Rangers before returning to England to play in the Championship - now rebranded WSL2 - with Southampton."Her versatility and know-how at the top level will be invaluable, both on and off the pitch," added Davies."She enriches our squad with her winning mentality and strong work ethic."I'm confident she'll make an immediate and lasting impact for Forest Women as we continue to create history and build a legacy for women's football in Nottingham."
Daily Mirror
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
'I used to work in a prison, now I'm playing at the Women's Euros'
Rachel Rowe used to fall asleep in her football kit after driving 300 miles after a long day working in a prison to follow her dream of playing football professionally Women's Euros wildcard Wales have produced another surprise after qualifying for their first major tournament - as it emerged that one of their players used to work in a prison. In a remarkable move from an apprentice business administrator at HMP Swansea, Rachel Rowe, will now be part of the team making their historic debut at the tournament. Speaking about her journey, the 32-year-old said: "I had multiple jobs. I came out of college and had to work. I worked in B&M, then went to the prison service. "There are different generations in our group who have had different experiences. There are those who go to college and become full-time footballers from that. "My journey was completely different, but it's moulded me into the person I am today." Rowe was working for the Welsh government at the 16-year-old nick in Swansea Bay when she had the chance to go semi-pro with Reading. Three times a week, she would drive the 300-mile round trip from Swansea to Berkshire after a full day's work. Crashing into bed after midnight, the dedicated player told how she'd wake up still in her football kit ready to do it all over again. "I did it for a year and I was exhausted," she says. "Fortunately, we won the league which meant we went up to the WSL." Before her full-time deal came, Rowe considered giving up on her footballing ambitions. But the professional contract was life-changing, even if the salary was nothing compared to top-flight men's players. She said: "It's been 10 years since [turning fully professional] which really seems strange. "It's been a decade and now this happens and we're at the Euros. "When we arrived here and saw the bus with all the Euros logos on it, it hit home. "It was a case of gulp it down and don't get too teary because it really did feel real." When they play their first match against the Netherlands on Saturday, Rowe admits it will be hard not to cry. "I think every game is going to be like that because it's such a precious moment for us all to be part of," she says. "But that doesn't mean we're not going to be composed. "It hasn't been easy getting to this position. You stand on the shoulders of many people who put in a lot of effort for two or three decades to get us to this position – and we bring them with us. "We're building towards Saturday, keeping this nerves at bay. We'd be doing ourselves an injustice if we come here, feel all of the pressure and not enjoy being here."
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
From working in a prison to playing at Euro 2025
Southampton midfielder Rachel Rowe has been one of Wales' mainstays since her debut in 2015 [FAW] From working in a prison to playing in Switzerland. There will not be many players at Euro 2025 with a journey to the tournament quite like that of Wales' Rachel Rowe. Lucerne, where Wales' women will make their major championship bow against the Netherlands on Saturday, is a long way from HMP Swansea, where Rowe used to earn a living. Advertisement During the aspirational days of her playing career, Rowe combined football with a role in operational support within the walls of the 160-year-old Victorian prison which sits on Swansea Bay. "I had multiple jobs," says Rowe, who was still semi-pro when she won the first of her 76 caps in 2015. "I came out of college and had to work. I worked in B&M, then went to the prison service. "There are different generations in our group who have had different experiences. There are those who go to college and become full-time footballers from that. "My journey was completely different, but it's moulded me into the person I am today." Advertisement Rowe will have a big role to play in Switzerland, having been a key part of Wales' side during their growth over the past decade. But even after she left the prison cells behind, the path to the pinnacle that is a major tournament with her country was hardly straight and narrow. Rowe was an apprentice in business administration with the Welsh government when she had the chance to go semi-pro with Reading. Three times a week, Rowe used to make the 300-mile round trip from Swansea to Berkshire on the back of a full day's work. She would eventually get home after midnight, and has previously described how she would wake up on top of her bed in her kit ready to do it all again. Advertisement "I did it for a year and I was exhausted," she says. "Fortunately, we won the league which meant we went up to the WSL." The offer of a professional contract was life-changing, even if the salary involved was nothing like those paid to male top-flight players. Before the full-time deal came, Rowe had considered giving up on her footballing ambitions. "It's been 10 years since [turning fully professional] which really seems strange," she adds. "It's been a decade and now this happens and we're at the Euros." 'Don't get too teary' Rowe was still juggling a job with her football career when she signed for Reading in 2015 [Getty Images] Rowe spent eight years at Reading, before a spell with Rangers preceded a move to Southampton in 2024. Advertisement Along the way she has won silverware in Glasgow, had new experiences at Saints and dealt with serious injury. But the one constant has been her influence with Wales. After being named in Rhian Wilkinson's European Championship squad, the bubbly Rowe posted a social media video of her in a series of Wales shirts. It emphasised her status as a Wales mainstay who, along with the likes of Jess Fishlock, Sophie Ingle and Angharad James, has gone from fighting for recognition to front and centre of the nation's sporting summer. Little wonder, then, that it is now emotions that the former prison worker wants to keep locked down. Advertisement "When we arrived here and saw the bus with all the Euros logos on it, it hit home," she says. "It was a case of gulp it down and don't get too teary because it really did feel real." There will surely be a similar feeling on Saturday, when Wilkinson's players line up for the anthems before facing the Dutch. Rowe concedes it might be difficult to keep eyes dry. "I think every game is going to be like that because it's such a precious moment for us all to be part of," she says. "But that doesn't mean we're not going to be composed. "It hasn't been easy getting to this position. You stand on the shoulders of many people who put in a lot of effort for two or three decades to get us to this position – and we bring them with us. Advertisement "We're building towards Saturday, keeping this nerves at bay. We'd be doing ourselves an injustice if we come here, feel all of the pressure and not enjoy being here." That may be especially true for someone whose journey to this point has been more unusual than most, given that she has gone from Swansea prison to Swiss pinnacle. "I've got some amazing memories throughout that time to get here and I don't think it would feel quite as special if I had not have gone through all of that," Rowe says.
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
From working in a prison to playing at Euro 2025
From working in a prison to playing in will not be many players at Euro 2025 with a journey to the tournament quite like that of Wales' Rachel where Wales's women will make their major championship bow against the Netherlands on Saturday, is a long way from HMP Swansea, where Rowe used to earn a the early, aspirational days of her playing career, Rowe combined football with a role in operational support within the walls of the 160-year-old Victorian prison which sits on Swansea Bay."I had multiple jobs," says Rowe, who was still semi-pro when she won the first of her 76 caps in 2015. "I came out of college and had to work. I worked in B&M, then went to the prison service. "There are different generations in our group who have had different experiences. There are those who go to college and become full-time footballers from that."My journey was completely different, but it's moulded me into the person I am today."Rowe will have a big role to play in Switzerland, having been a key part of Wales' side during their growth over the last even after she left the prison cells behind, the path to the pinnacle that is a major tournament with her country was hardly straight and narrow. Rowe was an apprentice in business administration with the Welsh government when she had the chance to go semi-pro with times a week, Rowe used to make the 300-mile round trip from Swansea to Berkshire on the back of a full day's work. She would eventually get home after midnight, and has previously described how she would wake up on top of her bed in her kit ready to do it all again."I did it for a year and I was exhausted," she says. "Fortunately, we won the league which meant we went up to the WSL."The offer of a professional contract was life-changing, even if the salary involved was nothing like those paid to male top-flight players. Before the full-time deal came, Rowe had considered giving up on her footballing ambitions."It's been 10 years since [turning fully professional] which really seems strange," she adds. "It's been a decade and now this happens and we're at the Euros." 'Don't get too teary' Rowe spent eight years at Reading, before a spell with Rangers preceded a move to Southampton in the way she has won silverware in Glasgow, had new experiences at Saints and dealt with serious the one constant has been her influence with being named in Rhian Wilkinson's European Championship squad, the bubbly Rowe posted a social media video of her in a series of Wales shirts. It emphasised her status as a Wales mainstay who, along with the likes of Jess Fishlock, Sophie Ingle and Angharad James, has gone from fighting for recognition to front and centre of the nation's sporting wonder, then, that it is now emotions that the former prison worker wants to keep locked down."When we arrived here and saw the bus with all the Euros logos on it, it hit home," she says. "It was a case of gulp it down and don't get too teary because it really did feel real."There will surely be a similar feeling on Saturday, when Wilkinson's players line up for the anthems before facing the concedes it might be difficult to keep eyes dry."I think every game is going to be like that because it's such a precious moment for us all to be part of," she says."But that doesn't mean we're not going to be composed. "It hasn't been easy getting to this position. You stand on the shoulders of many people who put in a lot of effort for two or three decades to get us to this position – and we bring them with us."We're building towards Saturday, keeping this nerves at bay. We'd be doing ourselves an injustice if we come here, feel all of the pressure and not enjoy being here."That may be especially true for someone whose journey to this point has been more unusual than most, given that she has gone from Swansea prison to Swiss pinnacle."I've got some amazing memories throughout that time to get here and I don't think it would feel quite as special if I had not have gone through all of that," Rowe says.
