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Ashleigh Mills makes debut for Southampton Women’s FC

Ashleigh Mills has joined Southampton Women’s FC of the Southern Region League Premier Division. Picture courtesy of Southampton Women’s FC

North Wales footballer Ashleigh Mills has signed for the first-ever winners of the Women’s FA Cup.

The 27-year-old former Rhyl and NFA winger is determined to make an impact for Southampton Women’s FC of the Southern Region League Premier Division, Tier 5 of the English pyramid.

Ashleigh, from Rhyl, is a serving British Army officer based in Didcot, Oxfordshire.

She is one of three football-playing sisters. Jess joined Llandudno this season, while goalkeeper Yasmin has most recently been helping Kinmel Bay recreation league team, but was previously a star performer for Rhyl and NFA.

Ashleigh has been playing football since the age of 5. Her first competitive experience was with the boys team Aztec Stars.

In 2014-15, Ashleigh was player of the match in the Under-16 Girls Welsh Cup Final, scoring twice in Prestatyn Girls’ 4-0 victory over Coed Duon Dragons.

She represented Wales from U16 to U19 level and played in the Welsh Premier League for Rhyl FC before later joining NFA.

Ashleigh (white) in action during her Rhyl FC days

The super-fit performer scored a truly memorable goal for the Lilywhites in the 2016-17 season at Cardiff City, when she lobbed the keeper with a magnificent precision effort from the centre circle.

Ashleigh also notably netted a hat-trick for Rhyl in a 5-0 home Welsh Premier win over Caernarfon Town in 2017-18.

When the Lilywhites were relegated from the WWPL, she joined the newly-formed NFA.

Her availability for North Wales football has been limited in recent years due to her Army career.

She currently plays for the British Army women’s team, as well as Southampton Women’s FC for whom she made her debut last weekend.

Southampton Women won the first-ever Women’s FA Cup Final in 1970-71 and lifted the trophy eight times in its first 10 seasons.

Although founded by fans of the local men’s professional side, the club is not affiliated to the men’s club Southampton FC, who run their own more recently founded affiliate, Southampton FC Women.

Ashleigh’s team, Southampton Women’s FC, are nicknamed The Sirens.

Three years ago, the club unveiled a new identity, introducing The Sirens as its official nickname.

Ashleigh made her first Southampton appearance in last Sunday’s 2-2 draw with AFC Portchester – it was her 27th birthday on the same day.