Durham’s new recruit, goalkeeper Cat Sheppard is relishing the opportunity to be an underdog in the WSL 2. Durham shocked the WSL 2 last season when they tussled for an automatic promotion spot after many had predicted them to struggle.
“When I first arrived I was like, oh, this is summer?” Cat Sheppard laughs. It is hard to blame her, the goalkeeper spent the past two years in Portugal since moving from sunny New Hampshire in the USA.
But Sheppard is clear as to why she joined the Wildcats, “Durham has a grittiness to them that definitely attracted me to the team, like I love to fight, I love an underdog.”
It’s clear that Sheppard will fit right in, and before the new season kicks off Sheppard sat down to speak with The Halfway Line.
Sheppard grateful for experience of ‘different soccer cultures’
Sheppard has already had plenty of experience in the game for just her 24 years. Starting out in college with UNH she impressive over a five year period before playing in Portugal too.
Sheppard talked us through her career so far.
“I’ve definitely been in a bunch of different places in the past” Sheppard admitted with a smile.
“Starting out playing for my college team was great. I love my college team. I love the girls on the team. We were able to accomplish a lot by the end of it, got a championship under our belt.
“So after getting that my fifth year, I headed over to Portugal. I started in like, a smaller town, smaller club called Abu Guerra was in the north of Portugal.
“It was great, very like home, homey kind of vibe, which made the transition from America to abroad much easier.
From there, I made a step up to Sporting Lisbon, which was a great experience, [it was] very professional. [I[ got to play [in the] Champions League, so I’m just grateful for my experience there, and now that brought me here, and I’m super excited.”
Sheppard explained how that variety has helped her in her career so far.
“I’m fortunate enough to have some different soccer cultures under my belt” she explained.
“Starting out in the US, the American soccer culture, is very direct and gritty and hard working.
“Then going to Portugal, it was flair and technical and passing the ball. And now I’m back, and I’m kind of getting a feel for what the WSL 2 is going to be like.
“I think it’s going to be on the grittier, on the kind of not afraid to make a tackle end. But yeah, bringing those experiences, I feel like I kind of have a well rounded sense of like the game, and I’m grateful to be able to bring that into the WSL 2.”
Playing football in England was ‘always a dream of mine’ says Sheppard
Sheppard joined Durham relatively early in the transfer window, giving her the best part of pre-season with the team. A particular highlight came in a 1-0 victory against WSL side Liverpool where Sheppard played all 90 minutes.
But what attracted Sheppard to the project at Durham?
“I’ve always wanted to play in the English League, ever since I was younger” Sheppard thoughtfully responded.
“My dad’s from England, so I was always watching soccer growing up, always watching the Premier League. And now being able to do that for myself, that’s always a dream of mine.”
Move to Durham ‘felt right’ to Sheppard
When Sheppard was playing football at University of New Hampshire she was an extremely popular player. Funnily enough her University team’s nickname was also the Wildcats, just like her new side Durham but the comparisons don’t end there.
“It’s funny because at the school, UNH where I went, the town that it’s in is called Durham” Sheppard tells us with a broad smile on her face.
“And [when] I made the move to Durham my head coach from college was like, This is fate. This has got to be something so it felt right.”
It is clear that Sheppard has a support network that remains from her college years.
“Oh yeah. I’m definitely still in contact with my head coach, my old goalkeeper coach from there, a lot of my teammates” she happily explains.
