Megan Wynne feels settled at Charlton Athletic and also focusing on international success with Wales
BY STEFAN FROST
After a year marred by injury, Megan Wynne has found a new home at Charlton Athletic.
The 28-year-old ruptured her knee ligament in training when playing for Bristol City who, at that point, were in the Women’s Super League.
The road to rehabilitation has not been without its challenges, but it has ultimately sent Wynne to South London where she has swapped one red home shirt for another.
“It’s great to have a fresh start coming off a tough injury” she told the South London Press. “I knew a couple of the Charlton girls from my Tottenham days and I’m excited by the project here. I’m a more experienced player now. I’ve been at a few clubs so it’s nice to feel more settled and to be part of a long-term project.”
The aim of getting Charlton promoted into the WSL is a challenge which Wynne is fully immersed in, bringing her back to London. Indeed, the capital has served as the epicentre of Wynne’s footballing career.
She progressed through the ranks of the Watford academy and eventually went on to captain the first team. She then spent two years playing for Millwall before earning a dream move to the club she grew up supporting – Tottenham.
“Being near home is a big draw for me,” she said. “But at the end of the day it’s all about playing football, no matter what the team.”
To fully integrate herself into life at Charlton, Wynne is living in South London with team-mates and fellow Welsh internationals Anna Filbey and Elise Hughes.
Wynne has represented her country 14 times, most recently in World Cup qualifying matches last month. Nevertheless, she is taking nothing for granted.
“I didn’t even know if my international career would continue after my injury,” she admitted. “Just being in an around the set-up now is huge for me. It’s a privilege to play for Wales, even if I’m coming off the bench, because I know I can have an impact.”
Wynne most recently featured in the 6-0 demolition of Kazakhstan and is part of a Welsh team yet to be beaten in their qualifying campaign. However, their upcoming fixtures against Greece and France will truly test the resolve of the side.
“It would be a dream come true to play in a World Cup but we have to get there first,” Wynne said. “We’ve got some talented players but Greece and France will be major tests. We’re in a transition period with a new manager and a new style of play but we’re doing well. And France are not the side they used to be – Slovenia only narrowly lost to them.”
The World Cup is still a while away and so immediate attention for Wynne remains on the FA Women’s Championship. Charlton are fourth following disappointing losses to Lewes and Sunderland.
“We had a great start to the season,” she said. “We’ve had two little blips recently but they don’t define our season as a whole. We’re a possession-based team with a mix of young and experienced players. The push now is to turn our ball control into chances.”
As a more senior squad member, Wynne has started to impact the levels within the team despite being a recent arrival.
She said: “I want to make my mark on the team. I’ve been focusing a lot on myself in the last few months to recover from my injury but now I want to try to be a leader. I train hard and help the girls in the team that haven’t played professionally before.”
Charlton finished eighth in the league last season and are looking to build on that this time around. Wynne’s part played in spurring the team on cannot be undermined but her aspirations, alongside that of the club’s, are bigger than merely a mid-table finish.
“We want to become a WSL team in the future,” Wynne states. “Anyone can beat anyone in our league. It’s a very high level of competition. And it’s not like in the WSL where there are almost to different league in one.”
But first Charlton must bounce back from their two league defeats. They are scheduled to face seventh placed Sheffield United, who have also lost two on the bounce, this Sunday.
PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD