Emily Thomas | It's taken a lot of hard work to get here, but there is more to come from me

Swansea City Women’s forward Emily Thomas is delighted to have signed her first semi-professional contract and has set her sights on silverware after extending her stay with the club until 2025.

Thomas joined the Swans in October 2022 from Aberystwyth Town Women, making 13 appearances and netting five goals in her time with the club since her arrival.

The 19-year-old becomes the youngest player to sign a semi-pro deal the club, putting pen to paper on a deal until the end of the 2024-25 season.

Thomas described becoming semi-professional as a dream come true for her, and is desperate to make the most of the opportunity.

“It feels like a lot of hard work has paid off and I just can’t wait to keep it going,” said Thomas.

“I’ve got another season to look forward to now,  which is quite reassuring for me as well.

“It’s like a dream to become a semi-professional footballer, so to have done it just feels really good and I’m so happy.

“I want to prove myself more and more now, I’ve got another season to show what I’m about and we want to win more cups and trophies.

“I knew it would be a challenge to get into the starting 11, there are great players here and everyone is fighting for a place week-in and week-out. But to be getting more minutes shows I am getting better, and they are putting more faith and trust into me, which is all I can ask for.

“It’s such a family-orientated club, everyone looks after everyone and being, one of the younger players here, they’ve taken me under their wing massively and I can’t thank them enough.

“It’s not something that I ever really expected, I always enjoyed football but I never thought that I would be here now so it’s an amazing pat on the back really.

“I’m really happy with how it’s all gone so far, I knew the environment was going to be a different challenge and a harder test, but I’ve settled in nicely now and the stats show what I’m trying to provide for the team.

“The highlight so far is the five goals against Llandudno in the cup, just to get the one goal would have been nice, but to get five was just the cherry on the cake really."

And Thomas is clear on what the aim is for her and her teammates over the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign.

“I’m 100% targeting a trophy," she added.

"We need to win one, we’ve got two chances in the cups, and we’ve got the league to fight for as well. We are in the hunt for all three."