Women sign two as they get ready for the new season in WSL2
Oxford United Women are pleased to announce the signings of midfielder Kayleigh Hines and goalkeeper Demi Lambourne ahead of the start of their debut campaign in the FA Women’s Super League 2 in March.
Hines joins the club on a one-year deal with the option of a further year’s extension, having previously played in the Arsenal Academy and for Reading, as well as a spell at American side Millburn Magic.
Kayleigh was delighted to be at the club:
“I had the opportunity to come to Oxford, which was something that I always wanted to do. I just came along to start the new season, which I intended to do anyway and it was just a bonus that they got approved for the WSL. It’s a very good opportunity and something I’m looking forward to.”
Previously with Reading, Lambourne has progressed through the Oxford youth system and has represented England at under-19 level. She said:
“We started off as quite a small club and hadn’t been running that long, but I think it’s grown and become a really good set-up. That’s purely why I moved to Oxford, as the set-up was really good. It’s going to be a step up but I think we can only grow from where we are now. It’s very professional, the training sessions are very hard but obviously we’re going to be ready for the season when it starts”
With the players returning for pre-season training last week manager Richard Blackmore said he was pleased to see the squad taking shape:
“Demi’s a goalkeeper who’s come up through the youth system and gone into the Academy and she’s earned her first senior contract, which is always really good. She’s a very, very good goalkeeper and she’ll be competing for a first team place. Kayleigh’s been a long-term target for us. She’s a defensive midfielder, very hard-working, technically very good and again she’ll be a big asset for us through the season when we do make that step up to the WSL 2.”