Adekite Fatuga-Dada hit a big milestone earlier in the season, reaching the 100 appearance mark with Watford.
There have been plenty of highlights during that time, and we sat down with Ade to look back at those and reflect on her career so far.
The full video is certainly a fantastic trip down memory lane and can be viewed above. We’ve picked out some of those key moments from Fatuga-Dada’s time with the Hornets to date, and you can read her reaction below.
Her Debut (v Doncaster Rovers Belles in August 2015)
“That day what I remember most is walking into the changing room and seeing my name on my shirt, that for me was the biggest moment.
“When I was growing up, I used to go to the games when they were at Northwood I think, watching the girls and wanting to be out there, dreaming, and hoping, that I would be one day.
“For me to walk in the changing room and see my shirt hung up, and then John [Salomon – manager at the time] to call me to tell me I was going on, that was something I could have never fathomed or imagined, so it was a great day.”
First Goal (v Millwall Lionesses in October 2017)
“What’s funny about this goal and the celebration, I was fuming because I wanted to take the free-kick and Anneka [Nuttall] our captain at the time told me no and to get in the box.
“As I was walking, one of the girls was like ‘why don’t you just tell her you want to take it?’ and I just said forget about it.
“Then she’s delivered the ball in, there’s so much space between the ball and the front post, and I just thought, you know what, I’m just going to run at the ball and try and make contact and see what happens, and it went in.
“We ended up winning the game which always feels nicer, so it was a good night and I’ve enjoyed night games ever since that.”
Four Assists (at Middlesbrough in January 2019)
“This was the season I fell in love with assisting. Everyone knows I love it now, but I always used to love scoring goals. This game more than anything, made me fall in love with that.
“This was probably my favourite one of the day [watching second assist back]. It was a good day, especially to go away to Middlesbrough, it’s not an easy place to go and travel to.
“We didn’t know anything about them, we’d never played them or anything like that, so it was a tough game when you’re playing the unknown, you kind of just have to play what’s in front of you.”
Dramatic 5-4 Win At Home Park (at Plymouth in December 2019)
“I’m worried about what picture is coming next – I knew it was that picture, ha! I remember it was an overnight stay, it was freezing cold, and I think it was us and Plymouth kind of battling at the top, it was such an important game.
“2-0 down and came back to 2-2. Ryah [Vyse] got put in the sin bin and we all had a go at her for that! Because at the time it was 4-4 and we were like ‘what are you doing?!’
“For us to score the fifth goal, being a player down, just showed the resilience in that team. That was one of the best teams I think I’ve ever been a part of if I’m being completely honest, everything just clicked and we all just kind of knew exactly what we were doing, we were drilled down to a tee.”
Black Lives Matter Squad Numbers (First worn at MK Dons in September 2020)
“It was so important, especially at that time when everyone had all this time to think and really sit with themselves, everything that was going on in the world with George Floyd and everything like that.
“It was Meg [Chandler] that really wanted to push it, she had the idea and brought it into fruition. We all changed our shirt numbers and they all had meaning, which I think was very important. Having a shirt number like 96, kind of gets people talking.
“It was notable that we had quite a bit of attention from it, which I think was a good thing. Now it’s important to keep that going, I think it has kind of carried on, maybe lost a bit of momentum, but the conversation is still there.”
Promotion To The FA Women’s Championship (June 2021 via upward movement)
“It was two years of work, so much went into it. I can still remember it now; it was hard work every day in training from all of the girls.
“That’s why when we did get promoted, it was important to say thank you to everyone that was there within those couple of years, everyone got us there.
“As a club and as a team we learnt a lot about ourselves and built up a lot of momentum and confidence, and for me as a player, that’s when I really came into my own I think.
“Those seasons were very important, but very exciting to now finally be in the league that we felt we deserved to be in.”
Hitting 100 Appearances & The Future
“Like I said before, when I was younger and going down to Northwood to watch the women play, it was a dream for me to even think I would be on the pitch playing even one game, let alone 100.
“It’s crazy to think I’ve reached 100, especially at this club that means a lot to me, so it’s a great feeling and hopefully 100 more to come.
“I can never say what the future holds because that’s not down to me, but I’m very excited, the group of girls are amazing here, we’ve got a good thing going.
“The results may not have been going our way, that one did [watching video from London City game], and it was a great result, especially with the occasion with it being at The Vic and everything, it’s stuff you dream of.
“I think we’ve got more things like that to come in the future, when we do click, it clicks really well. I’m looking forward to it and as long as the club will have me here, I’ll be here, so I’m very excited.”
