Shannon Cooke is eager to talk about standards, ambition, and Birmingham City’s relentless push for promotion.
Fresh from training, meetings, and media duties, the Blues defender tells me “We’ll hold last season with us, absolutely, but we can’t dwell on it.”
Amy Merricks’ side narrowly missed out on promotion to the Women’s Super League, and now they’re ready to bounce back. “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting the same results,” urges Cooke.
“We have to be better, we have to do more, because the women’s game is moving at a rapid pace — and we need to move quicker.”
‘We want to achieve big things, and that means pushing further than we thought we ever could’
Cooke joined Birmingham on loan in January before making her stay permanent this summer, and the 25-year-old has already established herself as one of the squad’s leaders. Cooke’s main takeaway from her time at the club so far is clear: improvement never stops.
“We’re never where we want to be,” Cooke declared. “We can always improve, wherever you are in your career or in the table as a team. We want to achieve big things and that means pushing further than we thought we ever could.”
That mentality, she says, starts at the top. Head coach Merricks sets the tone, and the players buy into it.
“The culture starts with Amy and the staff,” Cooke said. “She’s got great knowledge of the game, but she also manages people really well, and that’s just as important. She doesn’t let us stay stagnant, she keeps pushing us. There’s so much respect for her, and we want to work hard for her.”
For Cooke, Birmingham has been the right environment to grow.
“Here I’m encouraged to highlight my strengths and show them freely,” she explains. “Sometimes weaknesses can overpower your strengths, but I’ve learned to respect mine daily. I’m still working on things, of course, we all are, even the 35-year-olds — but I’ve got the platform here to improve and that’s exciting.”
Formerly a crucial part of West Ham United’s backline, Cooke brings valuable WSL experience to Merricks’ plucky Birmingham outfit. “When I came here, I felt like the ball moved quicker, the game was faster. But that’s a big reason I wanted to stay. Birmingham plays a fast style of football and that suits me. I love it.”
‘Togetherness was a huge part of why we did so well last year’ says Cooke on Birmingham City
Cooke’s first goal in Blue was one to remember. Going on to be named as the league’s 2024/25 goal of the season, the defender’s phenomenal 40-yard strike secured Birmingham City’s win over Sheffield Untied back in February.
“What I really loved was the celebration,” Cooke laughed. “We all did the air guitar together, which had been a running joke all week in training. It just showed how cohesive we are as a group. That togetherness was a huge part of why we did so well last year.”
For Cooke and for the Blues, their mission this season is crystal clear. “Promotion is the given,” she says. “That’s what we’re here for. But, just as important is keeping up with the rapid growth of the women’s game. If we can inspire the next generation while achieving success as a team, that would be immense.”
With two automatic promotions and one playoff spot on offer, Cooke expects a fierce battle, and she has no intention of shying away from the challenge.
“It’s going to be competitive from start to finish,” Cooke is certain. “Everyone wants that promotion spot, and that makes it fun, not just for us as players, but for the fans too. The levels will be through the roof.”
