Ilana Harris-Walters is thriving in her second season at Brentford, already equalling her goal tally of her inaugural campaign with the Bees.
The versatile winger recently came off the bench in front of 3,270 fans in an 8-0 win against Newhaven to make her Gtech Community Stadium debut.
“It was such a nice feeling to play and perform in that environment and in front of the people that I love the most – it was a really special day for me,” she explained.
“All I've ever wanted is to be able to perform on a big stage like that in front of my grandad. I'm so grateful for that. It was a dream-come-true moment.
“Brentford fans are different; the commitment is honestly unbelievable. Being a tier five team, you don’t expect to have so many people show up for you every weekend.
“We appreciate it so much, and it really pushes us that extra mile.”
Harris-Walters has become a vital member of Carly Williams’ side, both on the pitch and in the changing room.
“The girls are probably sick of my ‘main-character energy’ now, to be honest,” she joked.
“I'm loving playing alongside them; everyone’s created strong connections. I've been able to make some true friendships. I can be myself, which is what I love most about this group.
“Makeba [Black] and I have a special connection on and off the pitch; we're really on the same vibe. We just bounce off each other.
“We always joke in training about having a one-on-one foot race as we’re probably the two fastest in the squad; when we do, I'll let you know the result.
“I’ve got close relationships with everyone in the squad, which is what makes our team so special.”
Harris-Walters is in fine form, playing at right wing-back in a team that is top of the table, unbeaten in all competitions and preparing for the first round proper of the Women’s FA Cup, where they will face Dartford Women on Sunday 25 October.
“I feel very confident right now,” she said. “As time has gone on here, I've gained so much self-belief, and for that I can only thank my coaches and team-mates.
“Hopefully there are many more goals to come and many more celebrations as well, but mainly we need to continue what we're doing and hopefully push for promotion.
“I feel like the gap from tier three to tier five these days is really narrow; it’s getting more and more competitive, and it's only going up from here.”
Looking back on her introduction to the sport, it was very much a family-fed fascination.
“I've been a football fanatic forever - my uncle was probably the one who got me into it the most; we’ve always bonded so much over it,” she recalled.
“He would dance me around the kitchen singing, ‘I'm forever blowing bubbles’ from the moment I was born, so I became a huge West Ham fan - although that’s not gone so well recently!
“Football has done so much for me; it's more than just a sport. Growing up in south London, there wasn't really a lot of girls playing, so it’s given me a spark.
“I'm proud to be from an area where it hasn't always been about girls’ football, and now it's turning into something huge.”
It’s not just her south London roots that Harris-Walters is proud of. She also takes huge inspiration from her Jamaican heritage and a certain striker that is at the top of the game.
“I love Khadija Shaw so much,” she exclaimed. “She’s one of my favourite players. Seeing what she does for Jamaica and being from where I’m from, she’s footsteps that I hope to follow one day.
“When you see all the work that the women's team in Jamaica had to go through and to see that they're still persevering and pushing the culture with so much energy, it’s so inspiring.”