Crystal Palace’s return to the Barclay’s Women’s Super League for their second ever season saw some huge names make a move to South London over the summer. One of those was former Tottenham and Reading defender Molly Bartrip.
Bartrip made an immediate impact at Palace, fitting straight into the starting line-up and providing stability and experience alongside Palace captain Aimee Everett and London City Lionesses loanee Teyah Goldie.
The 30-year-old has started all five of Palace’s BWSL games, playing an integral part of the squad who kept a clean sheet in their first two games back in the top flight. On her Palace debut Bartrip marked 150 appearances in the BWSL playing for both Reading and Tottenham Hotspur throughout the last decade.
After Leg 1 in the BWSL Palace sit 8th with 6 points in five games, losing only one game and securing a historic 0-0 draw away at the Emirates. Last weekend they secured another point away at Aston Villa with Bartrip having her first shot on target in the early minutes of the game.
Ahead of Leg 2 Bartrip reflected on the season so far and her move to South London.
A New Era at Crystal Palace
Bartrip’s signing was a huge signifier to Palace fans that they were taking their return to the BWSL seriously, as well as the move of teammate Bethany England.
After having reduced game time at Spurs last season, Bartrip entered a new era with a club hoping to build and remain in the BWSL for longer than a season.
Speaking to FYP Bartrip said there was “more to come” with her performances and Palace gave her an opportunity to work on this.
When asked what made her join Palace Bartrip reflected on how manager Jo Potter, who Bartrip played with at Reading, and the club’s ambitions and facilities were the distinctive pull:
“I really brought into what she wanted to do here, the ambition and the facilities of the club.”
“I want to help the team grow. I felt Jo could help me progress as a player and ultimately that’s still what I want to do.”
BWSL fans have reflected on how unified Jo Potter is with the squad, especially during their historic draw against Arsenal. Bartrip herself reflected on this strength:
“It’s important to have a manager who understands what it means to play.”
Bartrip herself brought valuable experience playing against BWSL teams to a Palace squad that was completely reshaped over the summer. Palace signed over 10 new players in the summer, and started 7 new players in their BWSL return compared to their promotion winning squad.
This new reshaped team needed experienced players with guidance, and Bartrip has been the core of this on the back-line, with stronger game-time then her last season at Spurs.
Bartrip also sees herself as having a core role in helping develop players within the squad: “I want my teammates to express themselves and everyone around me to be better and improve and if I make them better then that's my job done.”
Hitting the ground running
Palace fielded an incredible defensive performance in their BWSL return with their 1-0 victory over Everton at home on the first game of the season.
In her first five games Bartrip ranks joint third in the BWSL for most tackles (19) and clearances (37). Her favourite moment in a Palace shirt so far was also her strongest performance, with Palace making history on their second game away at the Emirates.
The Eagles became the first promoted team in history to keep a clean sheet and earn a point away against a team who finished in the top two the season before. The centre-back put in a solid defensive shift, with a match high clearances of 18, 8 of which were headed.
Bartrip reflected on one of the biggest results in Palace history:
“I love playing in those games. I really loved everyone doing it and getting behind the ball, it was a team performance. So proud of the girls from that game.”
“But not every game is going to be perfect”: Palace then hosted her former team Tottenham at Selhurst Park, which ended in a tough 7-0 defeat which showed Bartrip the strength of the squad:
“The game didn’t go how we wanted it. Losing a player within 5 minutes of the game is pretty rare, so being able to fight for 60 minutes with 10 was impressive.”
Strong mentality and the long season
Reflecting on the loss against Tottenham Bartrip said: “We didn’t get too low with the low with that [game], we knew we had another game the next week and that was another opportunity to show and to prove again.”
The Eagles then hosted Charlton in the Subway Players Cup, with a boost from their 3-0 victory:
“We know we can bounce back now. Sometimes you need those experiences within a group to know if you’ve got it, if you’ve got the mentality to do that.”
Mentality and togetherness seems a core part of this Palace team, led by the experience of new additions but also Potter’s leadership which turned around and carried Palace through a difficult start to their BWSL2 season last year, with the season ending in promotion.
With a long season ahead and tough BWSL competition to face, this will be an important attribute for the squad to carry into every game.
“More to come”
The Eagles goal is to remain in the BWSL and become the “best promoted team” out of the record three who earned promotion. Ahead of Leg 2 Palace sit above both Birmingham and Charlton with higher points and their first victory of the season.
Palace’s next three BWSL opponents are West Ham, Chelsea and Brighton, which could see some more tight games but an opportunity for Palace to build on their success in the first five games, with Bartrip being right at the centre.
