Annabel Blanchard speaks to Ian Wright about Arteta, promotion, and the WSL
Crystal Palace Women's midfielder Annabel Blanchard recently spoke to Ian Wright and Steph Houghton on the Crossways podcast, where she discussed her football background, promotion to the WSL as well as her favourite players, stadiums and more.
You can watch the full interview, embedded above!
Blanchard was a crucial part of Palace's midfield last season, playing in every single Barclays Women's Super League 2 game as the Eagles earned automatic promotion to the top-flight.
She was voted as the Player of the Season by the fans, with her scoring six goals and getting three assists throughout the league campaign.
Blanchard recently sat down with Palace hero Ian Wright and Lioness legend Steph Houghton on the Crossways podcast to discuss her career so far, as well as the dramatic WSL2 season and what the future holds for her.
She began by discussing her roots, and how she grew to love the game in her hometown of Liverpool.
"I've got three brothers - one older and two younger. The middle out of the three, he played football.
"He played for Preston Academy as well. So we were all just in the garden when we were young. It was like two 2v2's.
"Liverpool in general is a big footballing city - I'm an Everton fan. I played for local teams when I was younger.
"I eventually got a trial at Liverpool and I actually played for Liverpool in the academy growing up, much to my dad's disgust!"
I obviously watched Everton a lot when I was younger and I loved Mikel Arteta - I had him on the back of my shirt!
—Annabel Blanchard
She spoke about the players that inspired her when she growing up, and revealed which player's name was on the back of her shirt.
"When I was younger, I wouldn't really say there was a lot of women's football to watch. I didn't really know a lot about it.
"But when I got trials and I was at Liverpool, I was just constantly watching football.
"I obviously watched Everton a lot when I was younger and I loved Mikel Arteta - I had him on the back of my shirt!"
One particular player at Liverpool proved to be a real role model to Blanchard.
"At Liverpool, I started to train with the first team when I was about 16, 17 - I always remember Alex Greenwood was there at the time.
"I looked at her and just thought she was such a role model, when I would go in as a young player, she was just so, so lovely. And she used to give me boots and stuff like that.
"I remember that from 10 years ago and she wouldn't have a clue, you look at her now and everything she's gone on to achieve in her career.
"She's definitely someone that me and other young girls should definitely look at and think 'I want to be like her.'"
The midfielder spoke about her relationship with Manager Jo Potter and the coaching staff, what they changed, and how the team adapted to a new way of playing.
"It was a lot of change for everybody. There was definitely an adaptation phase.
"A lot of us had just been relegated, a lot of us were down. I think you could see that in the way we were playing.
"I think the vibe around the camp was a little bit down as well. It wasn't the most upbeat place to be at the time.
"Jo [Potter] and Remi [Allen] coming in, they were great - they just instilled this confidence into us.
"Everyone knew that it was a time thing, they had a completely different idea of what they wanted us to do, of how they wanted us to play.
"The formation we played was completely different. Last time we played in the second-tier, we obviously didn't play that way.
"We played five at the back this year, and we played four at the back last year.
"A lot of the change was also very player-led. There's a leadership team, who remind us what it's about, where we need to be and how we want to act."
Finally, she answered some quick-fire questions about her toughest opponent, favourite stadiums and which Palace player people should have their eyes on.
Her toughest opponent?
"I would probably say Yui Hasegawa. She's obviously incredible."
Her favourite stadium to play in?
"Well, I played at Goodison Park when I was young but it was for a local team so there's not much memory of it.
"I would say Villa Park. Villa Park is so great. When you're on the pitch looking around, there is something about it. It's beautiful."
A Palace player to watch out for?
"She is one of my best friends, but I'm going to say Aimee Everett. She had a tough year last year, she got injured.
"She's a top, top player - I think she's been criminally underrated."
Blanchard and the team will now enjoy a few weeks off before returning for pre-season ahead of our second-ever campaign in the WSL.
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