Lauren Allison signs for Oxford United Women again
Last season’s top scorer Lauren Allison has returned to Oxford United ahead of the start of the upcoming FA Women’s Super League 2 campaign.
Allison scored 50 goals in all competitions last season as United stormed to the South West Combination title, before accepting a place at the University of South Alabama during the summer.
She continued her outstanding form in the States, winning the Sun Belt Conference with the South Alabama Jaguars and earning Offensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards.
Now back in England, Allison has returned to Oxford and is eagerly anticipating her first taste of WSL football:
“I don’t really know what to expect,” she said. “With the WSL 2, we’re just looking to compete and compare ourselves to the best in the nation, so we’ll just see how things go. We’re just trying to keep up with the top level.
“We had a couple of games last year when we played Everton and we played against the likes of Newcastle and Charlton, so we kind of know what level we’re aiming to play at. That’s the only expectation that I have experience-wise, but other than that it’s kind of new to all of us. It’s going to be tough this year, there’s never going to be an easy game and I think that’s what we’re preparing for now.”
Manager Richard Blackmore believes Lauren’s return is a big bonus for the club.
He said: “It’s a really, really positive signing for us. Obviously losing her to America was a bit of a blow at the end of the season but for her to be back and signed for the end of the year is really positive. We’re really pleased that the first club she wanted to talk to when she came back was us.
“To score 50 goals at any level is really good. She’s a natural goalscorer, she’s a winner and when she doesn’t score goals she’s very disappointed, so it’ll be really good to have someone like that around the team.”