Inside Molly Pike's progress at Newcastle United Women
Inside Molly Pike's progress at Newcastle United Women "I love him. My boyfriend and I share him, and I just absolutely love it when he comes up here and stays with me because it's such a nice feeling to come home to him after training or a match. "We usually do a week or two at a time, so if we have a home game, then I'll have him.
If we're away, then my boyfriend will look after him. He's a really good boy and amazing in the flat when I'm away training - he doesn't make any mess, which is amazing. " Pike has settled into life on Tyneside since her switch from Southampton last summer and "will never say no to a dog walk and a coffee" in the city that is now her home.
The Bournemouth-born midfielder has become a dependable member of the United squad this term - she is yet to miss a league game, and has only not started twice in the WSL2 - with the goal of helping the Magpies reach the WSL at the forefront of her mind. Her dream of reaching the top shouldn't come as much of a surprise to people who know Pike, given that at the age of just 13 she climbed the famous Wembley steps to collect some silverware. She was playing for Broadstone Middle School, who were representing AFC Bournemouth - then managed by Eddie Howe - in the National Championships in 2014.
"They marked out a seven-a-side pitch for us," she says amidst laughter at being shown an interview of herself with the trophy. "I scored in the final, and we got to go to the top of the Wembley steps to lift the trophy, which was good. "My parents were there watching, which was amazing, and I just remember being out on the pitch and feeling how surreal it all was.
I had to keep pinching myself after the game because I couldn't believe I'd played at Wembley. " A reminiscent Pike is all smiles as she watches back her interview from pitchside where she proudly held the National Championships trophy, and little did she know how far she'd end up going in such a short period of time. Pike was quickly taken in by Chelsea’s Women's team following her success in the competition, making the grade at the second time of asking with the Blues.