Life at Norwich City Women: Two Parallel Perspectives

In an increasingly competitive FAWNL environment, Norwich City Women FC are making a bold move towards professionalism by offering player contracts for the first time. This marks a significant moment in the club's journey and a defining moment for many players who have long balanced the demands of football alongside full-time work or study. But what does being on a contract really change? And how does life differ between those now playing under professional terms and those who aren't, at least not yet?

To better understand what life looks like under this new model, we spoke to two key players at the club - Ceri Flye, a newly contracted player who has become a staple in the defence in the last 4 years, and Millie Daviss, a longstanding and highly respected non-contracted player who’s witnessed the club’s steady growth since joining in 2017.

Football Journeys: Two Different Paths

Ceri Flye has been at Norwich for four years and recently signed her first professional contract - a moment she describes as “a special and proud moment for my family and I.” While the contract was undoubtedly a huge milestone, it also changed the nature of her footballing life, bringing added expectation and pressure. “The hard work and effort has to be at the maximum possible every single session, week in, week out,” she says.

Millie Daviss, meanwhile, has been part of the Norwich setup since 2017, joining after a spell with Lowestoft Town Ladies. Her route to the club was through “word of mouth,” she explains - a far cry from the more structured recruitment process currently in place. Whilst playing for the club, she has balanced studying at the University of East Anglia, where she went on to complete both an undergraduate and master’s degree before becoming a lecturer while pursuing a PhD.

A lifelong Norwich City fan, Millie explains that both her personal attachment and the club’s community feel were central to her decision to join “the best club in Norfolk at the time.”

Balancing Football, Work, and Life

Both players describe having rather hectic weeks where they juggle football and jobs with little room for much else.

With training taking place four evenings a week - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and an optional Friday session with Sundays set aside for matchdays Saturdays offer a rare rest day for both players. Nevertheless, with most away fixtures two to three hours away due to Norwich’s isolated geographical position, it’s not unusual for Millie to be sat on the coach working on her laptop during those long journeys.

The physical and mental load is significant, but Millie finds that football often provides a release: “Being on the pitch is the biggest relief,” she says. Still, she acknowledges the constant demands, both from her job and the game. “Everyone speaks about work-life balance... you just have to put it aside.”

Anyone who thinks receiving a professional contract would make Ceri’s schedule less intense would be wrong! “A typical week for me is a hectic one,” she explains. Alongside working two part-time jobs, including one in a school, Ceri also attends the four sessions alongside matchdays. Despite the heavy load, she remains passionate: “Football takes up a huge part of my life but in my spare time I love going for a morning run before work and then spending quality time with family on the weekends. Any time off I get I try to travel as much as I can!”

Life at Norwich: Then and Now

Both players speak passionately about the progress the club has made in recent years - especially in terms of facilities, support, and visibility in the community.

Ceri, reflecting on her four years at the club, says:

“It’s brilliant to see the development of the team and the club - from improved training facilities to increased pitch time and better support and provision.”

For Millie, who’s seen the club evolve since 2017, the changes have been more gradual but no less significant. She credits much of the transformation to the post-COVID appointment of Head of Women’s Football. Flo Allen, noting the growing level of professionalism and support for players that followed this appointment.

From their early days playing at Plantation Park to their current home at The Nest, now filled with a sea of green and yellow on matchdays, Millie speaks passionately about how far the club has come. The new ground, she says, truly feels like home. Beyond that, Millie highlights other improvements, from upgraded kits to enhanced physio support, all these changes have made a real difference to the players' experience.

The Realities of the FAWNL

While both players stress the level of support that they receive from the club - whether that be nutrition, psychological support, or high-level coaching, they both admit that competing in the FAWNL can be extremely demanding both mentally and physically.

When quizzed about the demands of FAWNL football, Ceri puts it simply: “I wish people that haven’t played or are involved in the FAWNL knew about how much commitment it took to compete at this level.”

Millie echoes that feeling, describing the league as “not just about fun” explaining that especially at the top levels, there is increased pressure, expectations, and the understanding that for many, jobs or futures may ride on performance. “The physical effects are real,” she says, acknowledging the toll travel and training can take on not just the players but the staff. However, she highlights the quality of support around nutrition, strength and conditioning, and recovery as what sets Norwich apart from other clubs.

The Importance of Mindset

Having played in yellow and green for over eight years now, no one can deny Millie’s commitment to the Canaries. Her personal motto - “Whatever I put in, I’m going to get out” - shines through everything she does. It’s reflected not only through her strong relationships with staff and teammates, but also through her work in the community which saw her recognised as the club’s 2022/23 PFA Community Champion. Her dedication has helped drive the team to back-to-back second place finishes in Tier 4 - a stark contrast to the relegation battles of the pre-Covid era. While some might view a dual career as a challenge, Millie sees it as a strength, with the professionalism she brings to teaching translating directly onto the pitch.

For Ceri, becoming a contracted player was a hugely special moment which boosted her own self-confidence. “It’s a huge privilege… being recognised for your hard work, dedication, attitude and ability,” she says. The contract may bring increased expectations, including an additional training session per week, but it also serves to reinforce her existing goals and ambitions for the future: “It hasn’t changed my goals - I’m still aiming to play at the highest level I can.”

The Future for Norwich - and the Players

Both players are optimistic about what the future holds for the club. Ceri hopes Norwich “continues to move forward alongside the progression of women’s football,” and praises the club’s ongoing efforts to provide a professional environment: “We are very lucky to have great coaching staff, physios, S&C coaches, and fantastic training facilities.”

Millie’s outlook is similarly optimistic. She’s proud to have been part of the club’s journey and values her role in inspiring the next generation. “You get shivers sometimes,” she says. “It’s about being a role model and not taking that responsibility for granted.”

Both Ceri Flye and Millie Daviss’ stories illustrate exactly the journey that Norwich currently finds itself on. One is a player whose hard work has seen her rewarded with something that countless players up and down the country vie for - a professional contract. The other is a deeply committed player who has helped shape the environment that made the offer of contracts possible.

Both are essential to the identity of Norwich City Women FC today as they take their next steps on their journey towards a fully professional club.