Asees Sangha: The 16-year-old balancing first-team football and first-class studies | OneFootball

You would be forgiven for thinking that, as the youngest member of head coach Carly Williams’ squad, Asees Sangha would be making her mark in small increments.

But, in fact, the equally combative and creative midfielder has been a central part of the Bees’ early-season success.

The signs were there from matchday one: in her inaugural game in women’s football, Sangha scored the winner to get Williams’ Brentford reign off to a flying start.

“It was a dream debut, and it encompassed everything I've worked towards over the past couple of years,” she explained.

“I think that day was kind of meant to be. When I was looking back at it just now, I remember thinking, 'What's the worst that could happen?’ because, if I’ve taken one thing away from that experience, it’s that you must be confident in yourself.

“Ultimately, your abilities shine when you've got that confidence.”

Sangha has bags of it. With five goals and two assists so far, she’s the Bees’ joint-second top goalscorer, having played in all but one game in all competitions.

“I guess the sky's the limit, isn't it?”, she asked.

“To be honest, I didn't think I'd score that many in my first season, but it just shows how much you can achieve when you have sacrificed so much for something you properly, deeply love.

“It hasn't come easy and that's also important to understand. There are late nights, hard work in the gym and on the pitch. I’ve put the miles in, but it's nice to see the stats as a reward and, hopefully, I can score many more goals this season.”

It’s not just on the pitch where Sangha’s determination and excellence glows - in her recent GCSE’s she achieved an astounding 10 grade nines (A* equivalent).

“Over the years, I've just learned how to manage my time. When people do hear about how much I do or if they look at my schedule, they sometimes get a bit worried,” she laughed.

“I’d say football and school go hand-in-hand for me. I look forward to football after school so much. It's not easy, especially since stepping up into Year 12, I've felt the workload increase, but the coaches are so supportive and there’s that sense of community, which has really helped me.”

Sangha is a home-grown talent in the heart of the Bees’ midfield, having progressed through Brentford’s Emerging Talent Centre.

“I still see some of the coaches that coached me when I was a little girl,” she said.

“They’ve seen me going through the pathway here - they always show me that they're proud and it honestly means a lot.

“Chelsey Logan [female football development manager], who was my coach at the ETC, showed me how they were presenting a story about me at an induction evening.

“That meant a lot and I think that's one of the things that draws people to the club: the sense of community on and off the pitch.”

The Bees sit top of the London and South East Premier Division at the time of writing, having won their final game of the calendar year 6-0, in which Sangha scored.

The young midfielder emphasised how helpful Williams and the squad have been in helping her settle in.

“Carly’s been so supportive. I can't thank her enough because I've had such a smooth transition into women's football,” Sangha explained.

“She's also got this drive, which I think she's instilled into all of us. Everyone works so hard. All the sessions I’ve had with Carly, I’ve probably worked harder than I ever did.

“Also, since George Wells has joined [as technical coach], he’s started to thread in little pieces of information that I can improve on.

“My last match was probably the best performance I've had all season ,and those small bits of information really helped."

Sangha has become an integral part of a refreshed squad for Brentford Women in tier five, who will look to continue battling at the top of the table after Christmas.

“There’s always a bit of banter because I'm the youngest, not knowing certain songs in the changing rooms - maybe that's what spurs me on!

“They're all so supportive. Lucy [Potter] is always driving me in the gym, telling me to lift heavier weights. I see her work ethic, and it makes me want to match it - that's also my competitive side shining.

“I’m more resilient than I thought I was. I have a drive and mindset that doesn’t let me give up. It's just the passion that I have for football.”