Shauna Legge: It's important to get 2026 off to the best start | OneFootball

Leeds United Women return to Garforth for their first fixture of 2026, welcoming Chester-le-Street Ladies in the FA Women’s National League Division One North.

Simon Wood’s side will be looking to maintain the pressure at the top of the table, coming in off the back of an 88th-minute winner away at Norton and Stockton Ancients in the league.

Ahead of the return to action, Whites captain Shauna Legge said: “It's been nice to have a break with family and friends and take some time to recharge and reset. We're ready to go again now and pick up where we left off in the league and hit the ground running.

“I'm really ready to be back, to be fair, a bit more of a normal routine back in life, weekends aren't the same without footy.

“We made a good start to the first half of the season and we're just ready to get back to the league action now because that's what we're focusing on.

“We've got some key players coming back from injury now who are only going to add more quality to our squad so we're ready for them to be back.

“It’s really important to get 2026 off to the best start possible,” Legge added. “Like I say, we have made a good start already and we're in a good position in the league, but we're well aware that there's still so much hard work to do."

On Sunday’s opposition: “I think both teams will have changed and improved since the last meeting, I know we definitely have, and I think they've brought more quality into their side and improved their results as well.

"We’ve worked hard in training, and we always do our homework in the week building up to any game. We're ready for whatever they throw at us, and we just want to build on all those previous performances that we've had before Christmas. “