Worcester City Women's Captain Jessica Fassnidge's footballing journey

“This Is Where I Was Always Meant to Be” - Jessica Fassnidge’s Football Journey.

Worcester City Women captain Jess Fassnidge’s footballing journey started like so many of ours - simply kicking a ball around in the garden against her grandad’s fence. If you had seen her back then, just a young girl in an oversized Manchester United shirt, you could never have guessed the journey that her passion would take her on.

Today, Jess, who is affectionately dubbed ‘Fass’ by her teammates, is the captain of Tier 4 side Worcester City Women FC. She sat down with us to tell her footballing journey which has often been far from straightforward and has included numerous highs and lows.

A Childhood Built Around Football

From a very young age, Jess always remembers football being a focal point in her life. A die-hard Manchester United fan, she idolised the Class of ’92 - especially David Beckham. “His wizard right foot, those assists, the Adidas Predators… I was obsessed,” she says. As well as Beckham, Jess also had idols closer to home and admits that her dad also was a huge influence on her playing football.

Her dad was a coach and a player, and weekends often meant watching him play for Bromyard Town, or tagging along to train with his boys’ team. Eventually, she joined the Oldbury Park Tigers which her dad coached.

“There weren’t many girls’ teams back then,” she says. “So, playing with the boys was the only option. But honestly, it was one of the best things for my development.” Not only did it physically develop her as a player, but it also gave her the fuel to work harder. Being one of the only girls in the league, she admits that hearing another team remark on her gender would simply push her to work harder and prove them wrong.

The Bold Move Across the Pond

By the age of 18, football gave Jess an incredible opportunity to move across the Atlantic and live out her ‘Bend it like Beckham’ dream in real life by playing college soccer in the United States.

Right from the start, Jess noticed the step up in level and intensity that came alongside playing college soccer. Likening it to being a ‘professional athlete’, she raves about the standard of coaching and facilities that she received during her time as a player at Flagler College and Eastern Florida State College.

As well as developing her as a player, she credits this move as growing her as a person. Being thousands of miles from home forced her to grow up and become more independent in a short space of time.

Ultimately despite many incredible last-minute victories and gaining a bachelor's degree, the people that she met are perhaps her fondest memory from her time spent in the States.

Coming back from the States, she started work at College scholarships USA which allowed her to scout athletes just like her and allow them to reach their full potential playing in America.

For a while, life was good as she balanced her career and footballing ambitions.

Injury, Rehab, and Finding Her Way Back

Every footballer faces setbacks but Jess’ major one felt especially cruel. Coming in 2021 during an FA Cup match, a challenge with an opponent saw not just her but also her opponent suffer an ACL injury.

With COVID still affecting the healthcare system, this meant that her surgery was delayed and even following a successful surgery, then came the long, isolating slog of rehab. Speaking about the mental side of this infamous injury, Fass explains how “It can be 9-12 months physically,” she says, “but no one really talks about the mental side. Even when you’re back on the pitch, you’re not quite you yet.”

After having suffered such a devastating injury, she admits that she sometimes suffered an identity crisis trying to figure out who she was as a player post-injury. But now, looking back, she credits this gruelling experience as something which developed her as a player and gave her the enviable work ethic that she has today. “It taught me to value the little things. The boring stuff - the 1% things no one sees - those are what really matter.”

Leading Worcester City Women FC

Being from Worcester herself, wearing the captain’s armband for Worcester City Women FC is not just a role, it is something that Jess holds close to her heart, admitting that ‘it means the world’.

However, she also admits that with this role comes an overwhelming sense of pressure. which can take a heavy toll - especially after a difficult performance or training session.

“When we win, it’s the best feeling. But when things don’t go right, I carry it. I can’t help it - I care too much.”

As she has grown in her role as captain, she recognises how her leadership style has evolved, admitting that she used to be perhaps a little too tough. Recognising the toll that high-level football has taken on herself however, she now ensures that she always leads with empathy and is always a friendly face for younger players at the club to confide in.

Speaking candidly, she admits that she herself is still learning about what kind of leader she wants to be. Having always set high standards for herself, she is now accepting that she can remain a strong leader whilst showing vulnerability.

Promotion and Pinch-Me Moments

When quizzed about her favourite footballing moment so far, two huge but different moments immediately spring to her mind.

The first one might seem obvious - winning promotion to Tier 4 with Worcester City Women meaning that under her leadership, the club found itself in the highest position that it had ever been.

Her second standout moment highlights that for Jess, football is about more than just about winning trophies, it is also about growth. One moment that will stay with her forever was a Friday night match to mark International Women’s Day. The team walked out in front of a huge crowd with mascots chosen by the players themselves as inspirational women in their lives. Her pick? Her mum.

“To walk out with her by my side, in front of a big crowd… that was special. That’s what football is about.”

Tier 4 Life

When speaking about the jump from Tier 5 to Tier 4, Jess admits that it is no joke! “The pace, the physicality - everything goes up a level,” she explains. “You don’t get as many chances in games, and you spend more time out of possession. It’s about adapting, fast.”

But what really makes the difference is the off-pitch preparation. Worcester City have taken that side seriously. “We’re so lucky,” she says. “We’ve got owners who plan for the future. Our matchday setup is incredible. There are Tier 3 teams who don’t have what we have.”

Playing in the 12,000 capacity Sixways Stadium for their home games is a clear statement of intent from the side that they are aiming to be one of the future powerhouses of women’s football.

Balancing Football and a Full-Time Career

Even with some excellent facilities at her club, playing in the Women’s National League isn’t just about turning to training and matchdays on a Sunday. Most players, including Jess, juggle it with full-time work or studying - something that can sometimes feel like too much.

“There are weeks where nutrition slips, training suffers, and you feel like you’re letting something slide,” she admits. “But you just do your best. It’s about having good habits and being kind to yourself when it’s not perfect.”

Away from the pitch, she works as a lecturer in Sport & Exercise Science at the University of Worcester and contributes to Science for Sport - a library of online courses dedicated to explaining the science behind elite sport. She’s passionate about using her experience to help others - particularly when it comes to women’s sport and injury prevention.

A Vision for the Future - On and Off the Pitch

Looking ahead to the future, her goals are clear. As a player, she wants to help Worcester City break new ground and push for Tier 3. In her career, she hopes to continue her research particularly in areas like ACL injury prevention in women. Having seen first-hand the impact that this devastating injury can have on someone, she wants to help to fight against the epidemic that currently exists in women’s sport.

As well as that, she would love to explore a move into coaching. “I love helping others get better. Whether that’s in a classroom, in a gym, or on the pitch - that’s where I see myself in the future.”

She’s also passionate about driving change in the women’s game. “There are so many players doing what Annie Highway (Worcester City Women FC player and FAWNL Division One Midlands Player of the Year) does - working night shifts, then playing 90 minutes. That’s admirable, but it’s not sustainable,” she says.

She believes better education - around recovery, sleep, nutrition - could go a long way in the FAWNL. “You don’t need millions in funding to make a difference. Sometimes, it’s the small things that matter most.”

The Legacy She Hopes to Leave

As a captain, Fass simply wants to have made a positive impact on the club itself as well as the wider community “My hope is that I leave the shirt - and the club - in a better place than when I first walked through the door,” she says.

From backyard kickabouts to leading Worcester City Women into the National League, Jessica Fassnidge has already achieved so much throughout her journey in football.

And she’s not finished yet..