HAVING scored a whopping ten goals in three games in February to steer Jersey Wanderers to their first ever Women’s League title, Island footballer Megan Wood has become the latest recipient of the JEP Sports Personality of the Month Award.
The 17-year-old, playing in her first full season at senior level, was seemingly unstoppable in the Football Combination last month, and as Wanderers looked to re-write the history books she stormed to the top of the division’s Golden Boot standings.
A hat-trick against St Peter on 11 February was followed by five goals against Grouville, and a further two strikes at home to St Lawrence on 25 February helped her side clinch the league crown.
Those efforts followed news that Wood has signed for Women’s Super League outfit Yeovil Town, and will be departing Jersey this September alongside fellow Islander Ella Brennand.
‘I have the Yeovil stuff in my sights so I’ve been working hard to get to peak performance,’ said Wood, describing the reasons for her recent success.
‘I’ve been doing stuff in the gym … fitness stuff to get myself to the point where I can compete with everyone else at Yeovil. People over there will be working hard with professionals and doing stuff I’m trying to do on my own.
‘I feel strong and Wanderers have been doing well, which helps. We were training hard to win the league before the end of the month, and we’ve done it unbeaten and with games to spare.
‘Wanderers have waited their time for this to come along and even though I’m not a player who’s been there for long it’s nice to know that the club has got the women’s silverware they’ve been waiting for.’
Wood, who moved to Wanderers last summer following the demise of St Paul’s, added: ‘This is the most consistent that I’ve played. I’ve always had goals in me – at St Paul’s I was scoring goals at the end of the season but it wasn’t as consistent as it is now. I’m starting to become an all-round player.
‘At St Paul’s I had Cat [Andrade]. If I didn’t score she would, but this season I’ve had to grow up and take the role of scoring goals for the team. Leading the goal tally at the moment is a personal achievement, but the fact that those goals have helped us win the league is the most important thing.’
Wood is the first female winner of the JEP’s monthly sports award.
‘I’m obviously honoured to have won the award,’ she said. ‘It has been a good start to the year for me but there are a lot of others who could have won it.
‘It’s a proud moment. I’m doing it for the girls.’
