Elise Hughes had emotional extremes after Crystal Palace’s promotion to the Women’s Super League

BY ANDREW MCSTEEN

Crystal Palace and Wales forward Elise Hughes revealed she experienced both extremes of the emotional spectrum after the Eagles secured promotion to the Women’s Super League for the first time in their history.

A 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park against Sunderland on the final day of the campaign ensured Palace lifted the Championship trophy, but the side were missing Hughes, who suffered a serious knee injury against Lewes the previous week.

Despite the disappointment of not playing, Hughes was there to cheer on her team, join in the trophy lift and claim the league top-scorer award, winning the Golden Boot thanks to her 16 goals in 21 appearances.

“It was one of the hardest days of my life, but it ended up turning into the happiest day of my life as well,” said the 23-year-old.

“I’m so proud of the girls, that they were able to go out there and get the job done. I had no doubt in my mind that they’d be able to do that because they’ve been class all year – the whole team, the staff, the players, I wouldn’t want to be part of any other group.

“We’ve ended up being the winners, but that’s just an added bonus because this team is great.”

It was confirmed on April 24 that Hughes had ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

“It’s just part of the game we play and we know that there’s consequences to injury and sometimes it just happens,” said the former Charlton player.

“Sometimes it’s unlucky, sometimes it’s mechanical, but we will work through it. The amount of people that I’ve seen come back stronger – I want to fall under the statistic that comes back better and that’s my plan.

“A typical injury at this stage is nine or 10 months out. I’m going to go off that. I’ve got a really good medical team around me and if I can get back sooner or dead on that timescale, then I’ll be happy and the promise is trying to get back better.

“I said in the changing room before the (Sunderland) game that if you had written my story at the start of the year and said to me, ‘this is how your season is going to end’, as upsetting it was for me personally, I would have taken it, because every person in there means more to me than my right knee.

“The amount of people that are happy because of this trophy means more to me than what I’m about to go through. The reason I’m about to go through it with such a brave face is because of the amount of people I’ve got behind me right now. I couldn’t have done this year without them and I’m not going to be able to do it next year without them.”

With the side from SE25 not even needing to win on Sunday to seal their promotion, it has been a rapid rise to elite, top-flight status in their first season as a fully-professional outfit.

Hughes praised the team and club ethos in SE25 as the reason behind the success, despite not being able to pinpoint the exact moment she knew promotion would be possible.

“I want to say on day one, but I’d be lying to you,” said Hughes. “The group from start to finish, has been great. I wouldn’t know at what point did I say we’re going to win the league. It only hit me when we picked up the trophy.

“I would not have wanted to have been a part of any other team. I know it’s a cliche but the togetherness in this group – if you step on the pitch or you don’t, everyone’s in it together. Everyone bought into the same goal. We didn’t know that the goal was going to be promotion until it happened.

“We were just on a fast-moving train and we got there quicker than expected. It’s because of how good these girls are and how good the staff group is. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now.

“The togetherness at Palace is beyond anything I’ve ever known. I’m from a small village in north Wales and I’ve come to South London and felt at home and never did I think I’d ever get that.

“It’s mainly down to the club. It’s down to every staff member that walks into the building (training ground). No-one goes past anyone without saying ‘Hi’ and there’s always a smile. There’s always a reason to smile in that building and I hope we brought a bigger reason to smile for the rest of the staff there.”

PICTURE: PA