Merican closer to Lioness dream with Wigan

While pursuing her master's degree in film and screen studies at the University of Cambridge earlier in 2024, footballer Sara Merican continued playing and found a place with the Cambridge City women's team.

- Lin Tianbao

She has since completed her studies, but the 28-year-old's footballing dreams have kept her in Britain despite tough competition.

Inspired to improve, the fullback attended a trial with Wigan Athletic's newly formed women's team who are managed by 2013 FA Cup winner Emmerson Boyce - and was accepted.

She told The Sunday Times: "I trialled with different clubs, and I saw that Wigan announced their intentions to set up a women's team... They had follow-up announcements in terms of the people they've hired, their ambitions, and the infrastructure that they've invested in.

"I saw that they were putting a lot of their words into action, and these were some things that I was looking for in a club. Wigan ticked a lot of those boxes." Hayley Sherratt, Wigan's head of women's operations, highlighted Merican's passion and attitude.