Leader, Friend, Legend | Alicia Powe in the words of her teammates

A leader. An all-round good person. The best teammate. A great friend.

Those glowing tributes sum up the tremendous contribution made by a player with 20 years at Swansea City under her belt.

Someone who captained this club for a decade, making hundreds of appearances, winning countless pieces of silverware.

But, arguably most important of all, Alicia Powe has been an integral figure at the heart of Swansea City Women’s success and rise to semi-professional status.

Powe first joined the Swans in 2004 from Llanelli Reds, going on to captain the side to four South Wales Women’s League titles, six Genero Adran Premier titles, three Welsh Cups and two league cups.

The defender brought down the curtain on a stellar career in a goalless draw at Aberystwyth Town earlier this month, walking out to a guard of honour from her team with her daughter Hallie.

And her teammates, among the people who know her best, have paid a number of warm tributes to their now former colleague.

Katy Hosford took over Powe’s duties as captain at the beginning of this season, and thanked her for her trailblazing efforts across two decades.

“She definitely paved the way for all of us and hopefully she will be remembered as a Swansea City legend, and our captain,” said Hosford.

“She is a real leader, a strong individual that leads by example. She is a great personality that would do anything for anyone, and an overall lovely person.

 “My first memory of Alicia is when we were training in Baglan, I went upstairs and met her. She was really welcoming and made me feel welcome from the moment that I walked in.

“She will always be a club legend, she was here for 20 years, she began with nothing and left having had a semi-professional contract.”

Jess Williams joined the Swans in 2018, becoming a mainstay in the backline alongside Powe. Williams feels believes her defensive partner has left a great legacy that her teammates must look to build on.

“She was my left arm, my centre-back partner, a very good friend and the best teammate,” said Williams.

“I remember walking up the stairs at Baglan for training and, as the captain that she is, she welcomed me with arms wide open and brought me into the squad and I didn’t look back.

“She should go down in history, she is the leader, a huge part of the success that we’ve had. 

“She’s played a huge part and I hope we can do her proud now.”

Monet Legall spent two seasons playing alongside Powe after joining the Swans and felt that her welcome into the club was vital for her.

“She is an amazing mum, person and player,” added Legall.

“She takes everything within her stride, she takes everyone under her wing, and I absolutely adore her.

“She actually used to scare me a little bit, but I remember we spoke after my second or third session with the team and from there the rest was history.

“It’s an amazing legacy, she’s been with the club for 20 years. There are big shoes to fill now, Hosford has done an amazing job as captain, but there is only one Alicia Powe.”

Ellie Lake also praised the leadership and respect that Powe displayed across her time with the club, and the defender says she will continue to carry what she has learned from her across the rest of her career.

“She’s probably the best player I’ve played with in terms of the way she goes about everything on and off the pitch,” said Lake.

“She leads by example, she’s always calm. She’s just an all-round good person and a really good friend to me.

“I remember my first game away in Sheffield in pre-season. The way that she looked after the team and looked after me, I was young at the time, and she just welcomed me into the team.

“When we went to the Champions League, she helped bring me through, she even let me borrow her nail varnish!

“In every game you need someone who you can look to and that was always her. We have other leaders in the team, but we will always think about Alicia and everything she has done for the team.”

Chloe Chivers made her debut for the Swans when replacing Powe after a long-term injury, and 

“I came on for Alicia in my first game after injuring my ACL, I was thinking ‘why am I being subbed on for a centre back? I’m coming on for Powe, that’s a big deal’,” said Chivers.

“The way that she has lead everyone over the last 20 years has been amazing, what she’s achieved is incredible.

“She’s obviously got little baby Hallie now, coming back after her partner gave birth was massive and she’s doing her whole family proud.

“She will be missed, she is a legend and she’s left a massive legacy at the club.

“She means everything to the girls and to the club, and hopefully we can continue the legacy she has built.”