On Sunday, if selected, Charley Clifford will be making her 273rd appearance for Charlton Athletic Women, making her the club’s all-time leader in appearances.
The team host London City Lionesses on Sunday as part of Women’s Football Weekend and supporters can watch the game for free or pay £2.50 to support the team. Click here for more.
In doing so, she’ll be overtaking Kim Dixson – whose record she equalled in last weekend’s impressive draw against Durham.
Dixson, now the club’s Assistant Manager, has been a close friend and mentor to the 27-year-old throughout her time at Charlton.
“It’s an honour,” Clifford explained, “to take over from Kimmy, she is Miss Charlton, so to replicate her is kind of like a dream come true. I’ve always looked up to Kimmy, even now I look up to her, it’s an honour.
“She is Miss Charlton, having her next to you on the pitch [during Dixson’s playing days] just makes you help replicate her with your passion, your workrate and your determination. It’s been massive having her around.”
Clifford started at the club’s Centre of Excellence at the age of 12 and has stayed loyal to the club even when funding got taken away which threatened the very future of the team.
She said: “I stayed at the centre because they managed to keep that and then as soon as I hit 16 I was in and around the first team and made my debut and I’ve been her ever since. So now, the record appearance holder, it shows my age a little bit.
“There has been so many different players I’ve played with, so many friendships that have been made and now, looking back, having everyone in one room in one day would be great.”
The midfielder has only recently become aware that she could break that record but certainly looks back on her time at the club fondly.
“Making my debut was quite a big highlight,” she said. “Throughout my time here, being picked for England U19s – that was a highlight and then winning the leagues – we’ve won it twice since I’ve been here and then getting promoted into the Championship. We’ve had some good times.
“I just want to keep going and playing for as long as I can – whether the body will let me or not I don’t know. I just want to keep playing and keep winning as many games as possible. Obviously this season we want to win as many games as possible and get us up the table.”
On Sunday the Addicks take on London City Lions and Clifford won’t let the sentiment of the day distract her from getting three point: “They will be a massive test for us. We know that they are part of the professional setup, so we know how hard they work, what players they’ve got, what kind of team they have, through our research. We’re going to be up for the challenge. It will be a great battle, especially being a London derby as well. Hopefully we’ll come away with three points. Hopefully we can build on last week and take that into the game.
“To be honest I didn’t know it [the record] was coming up this year, until one of the guys said. To me it is just another game to try and help the team in and get the points.”
The team host London City Lionesses on Sunday as part of Women’s Football Weekend and supporters can watch the game for free or pay £2.50 to support the team. Click here for more.