Just In: Sunderland Confirmed Another 19 Year Old Young Creative Star Signing And Statement Been Made

Mel Reay experience already helping Sunderland Women’s new signing Mary McAteer
Just In: Sunderland Confirmed Another 19 Year Old Young Creative Star Signing And Statement Been Made

Mel Reay experience already helping Sunderland Women’s new signing Mary McAteer
The Black Cats forward swapped Coventry for Sunderland in the summer and has impressed so far

Mel Reay experience already helping Sunderland Women’s new signing Mary McAteer

Sunderland Women forward Mary McAteer is aiming to learn as much as she can from boss Mel Reay after an impressive start to her Black Cats career.

 

The 19-year-old made the switch from Coventry to Wearside on a one-year professional contract, and has one goal and one assist in her first three outings, helping her side to second in the table after taking seven points from nine on offer.

 

The former Wales youth international has given a promising account of herself so far in red-and-white, proving to be a useful signing for Reay’s side as they have built a solid foundation to start the season, and look to continue their run of good form when they host Crystal Palace on Sunday.

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On the move from Coventry, now known as Rugby Borough, the young forward told ChronicleLive: “I’ve really enjoyed coming up here, I feel like I have settled quickly. Obviously we’ve had pre-season where I have got to know everyone, and gel, try new things and learn how to play with each other.

 

“I think it is really coming to fruition now with the start of the season, we’re seeing the results coming in and the real team effort behind it all with three clean sheets and two 1-0 wins.”

 

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The Black Cats have made an excellent start to the season, beating both Sheffield United and Southampton on the road 1-0, and holding last season’s Women’s Championship third-place finishers London City to a goalless stalemate at Eppleton in the opening fixture. McAteer opened her account with a sumptuous volley to seal all three points at Bramall Lane earlier in the month, and the youngster was delighted at getting among the goals early doors for her side.

 

“My goal coming here was to provide goals and assists, and to add to the attack because we’ve got some very talented players in forward areas,” she added.

 

“We’re all learning what patterns, how to play with each other, and I think it is coming off really nicely. It always helps when you’ve got such a solid team behind you where they can give you the ball and you can go and express yourself – so it is nice for me to get up and running early.

 

“Moving up here is quite a big life change, I’m living with a couple of the girls which I think is really helpful. Just being in the area, being around each other so much, you bond really quickly.” They (staff and players) are very welcoming and it’s nice to have that family environment at your club.”

 

Boss Reay, two-time golden boot winner, enjoyed a glittering career as a Black Cat herself, and the young Welsh forward has outlined that Reay’s experience and knowledge of the game was a paramount factor in her Sunderland move.

 

“I’m a young player, so I’m wanting to learn and I think Mel being a forward when she was playing, the details she can give are really, really helpful,” said McAteer. “I’m learning a lot and developing under her – that was part of the reason I came up here, I saw her vision – and it is part of the reason she brought me to the club.

 

“She gives us the freedom to express yourself and do what’s instinctive – but also gives really good bits of detail which gives you options to then vary how you play.”

A promising start will have no doubt quelled any lingering anxiety from the Black Cats faithful after a summer of significant change in terms of the playing squad amidst a number of key figures departing Eppleton – with over 400 in the stands in the only home fixture of the season so far, the London City draw, and McAteer has hailed the reception she has received.

 

The youngster added: “They (the fans) are brilliant, it is nice to see regular faces. We played a really big pre-season game at Eppleton against Newcastle which had a huge crowd and they really spurred us on in that game, then seeing them again for London City was brilliant to see.”

“Hopefully we will see lots of fans throughout the year because they do really help and motivate us,”