With the beginning of the 2024/25 season now just around the corner, Sheffield United have added an array of expertise to their list throughout the summer transfer window. The Halfway Line heard from new Blades goalkeeper, Sian Rogers, as she settled in to her new surroundings after departing Charlton Athletic. The experienced shot-stopper delved into her ambitions going forward, the team’s new head coach, and life so far in Sheffield.

A new season, a new challenge

Asked to share her thoughts on the ongoing evolution of the Barclays Women’s Championship, Rogers highlighted how and why the competitive nature of the league is ever-expanding.

‘’I think it’s exciting. The championship has got to a point now where you can’t call who’s going to win it. You’re not going to have those runaway teams that will just walk the league and I think that’s what will make the Championship so appealing to watch.

It’s so open and the fact that you’ve got teams that are investing even more, it’s just going to push the league even further and even entice people from the WSL to want to drop down and play in the Championship.”

Recent times have seen the league under a necessary microscope, with concerns about player welfare, financial issues, and instability across the competition broadly discussed in the media. One of the newest members of the Blades squad expressed her desire to move forward and focus on maintaining an identity.

“I think every team in the Championship is at completely different stages depending on the investment and the players you bring in. At Sheffield, we’re in a position now where we can just push on,” said Rogers. “Sheffield’s a team that’s always been very competitive in the Championship, and now it’s about pushing even further and competing with the teams you consider to be your runaway leaders. But also, making sure we’re making a good account of ourselves and showcasing what we’re about.”

Getting stuck in at Sheffield United

As the 26-year-old adapts to life at the Blades, she told us how her experiences so far have helped to shape the role she looks to take on at Sheffield United.

“I think every club that I’ve been at, I always make sure I make a good account of myself,” continuing “I’m there for those moments when it’s tough and your backs are against the wall. I use my experience of playing at various clubs because each club I’ve had has been completely different. When I was at Villa, it was at a stage where we were looking to just gradually improve. Charlton was completely different.”

“I have a lot of experience at this level and in this league. There are a few younger players, and they can draw on my experiences, but also, I can draw on the experiences of the younger players as well.”

Keen to assert herself as an approachable, calming presence within her new squad, “That’s one of the things that I love” explained Rogers. “You’ve got to know the players around you and work out what they need”

“I feel like I’ve always been a bit of an older head on younger shoulders,” the new signing claimed as she strives to take on a leadership role with the Blades. Praising her new teammates, she gushed “I can’t speak highly enough of the girls. Being in with them, they’ve made me feel like I’ve been there for a year.” 

Thompson steps into new role

With Ash Thompson (previous Blades under-21s manager) now stepping into the role of first team head coach, Rogers also touched on the challenges that come with entering a new era at the club, and maintained that she hopes to help the team navigate these. She said, “We have a new manager that’s come in, so there’s going to be times when it’s a bit clunky and messy, and it’s understanding that that’s okay. It’s a process, and it’s not where you start, it’s where you end. You have to be able to see that gradual progression and it’s something that I’ll reiterate to the girls.”

On the new boss’s approach so far, the goalkeeper shared “When I spoke with him, it’s more of a case of him coming in, stamping his authority in terms of what he wants from us, and just us continuing to do that. He hasn’t put too much pressure on us in terms of the here and the now.

First coming back into pre-season, we’ve been getting the testing done and out of the way, all of the horrible stuff you don’t want to do. That’s mainly been it for us, just focusing on that and drip-feeding little bits of information. Because pre-season is such a long period of time, I don’t think he’s been wanting to overload us with information.”

Progress between the sticks

Rogers discussed how elite goalkeeper coaching has helped to shape her progress in the game, highlighting the other elements that have pushed her to develop her craft.

“It plays a massive part but also, it’s something that as you get older you learn. There’s no better way of learning than on the job. I got chucked into senior football at the age of 18, which is kind of unheard of in the men’s game, but it happens a lot in the women’s game. As a goalkeeper it’s quite massive, you probably wouldn’t see it much now, but you have to draw on those experiences.”

The enthusiastic Blades goalkeeper went on to elaborate on the importance of mindset in this role, telling The Halfway Line that “It’s just knowing that you are a talented goalkeeper, and you have to back yourself when coming up against players. Statistics might say different, but you have to have that kind of arrogance and confidence about you. You genuinely have to believe you are better than that person because goalkeeping gets a lot of stick, and it always will do because it’s such a focused position as an individual.” 

Passionate about leading from the back and confident in her abilities, the proud goalkeeper declared “I think it’s just being that calming influence in the frantic moments and reassuring them that it’s okay if things go wrong.”

Sheffield United will face this Sunday as they look to kick off the new campaign with a win. Thompson’s Blades will make the journey to Durham FC for the manager’s first fixture in charge, and Rogers’ conversation with The Halfway Line saw her attest to the side’s determination as they plunge into this fresh start.