After 12 months away from the pitch, Kit Graham spoke of her excitement to be back on the grass alongside her team-mates.
The vastly experienced midfielder suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during last pre-season that saw her ruled out for the entire 2024/25 Barclays Women’s Super League campaign.
One of the longest-serving members in our current squad, who is set to compete in her seventh season at the Club, Kit returned to the grass in March, 2025, to complete her first laps of running and, after a whole summer of working at Hotspur Way, she is now back in full training.
Having spent a number of months alongside the medical staff during her rehabilitation, the 29-year-old was keen to highlight the impact those – and her team-mates – had in helping her during her time on the sidelines.
“It's been tough at times, but the group has definitely got me through it,” she told us. “It's a lonely place to be and if you're not surrounded by good people, then it just makes it 100 times harder so, yeah, I was really lucky to have the girls and the staff supporting me.
“During my rehab, I spent most of my time with the staff because, obviously, the players were in the gym at different times and then out on the pitch, so that's what I mean when I say it can feel really isolating.
“They’ve been amazing as they supported me through a really horrible injury. The second one as well, so I knew kind of what to expect, but the support that I got was overwhelming really.
“I've been in all summer, trying to push myself, get myself to a point where I could start pre-season with the team, which I've done.
“It’s taking me a little while to get used to being in a big group again, but I'm enjoying it. It can only get easier and better. I'm looking forward to pushing on and getting back out there playing.”
Approaching our third week of pre-season under new Head Coach Martin Ho, who joined us from SK Brann in June, Kit revealed how it has gone so far and one thing she is actually getting used to.
“It’s been good,” she added. “It’s fresh start for us all, with a new manager coming in, we're learning his style of play while we’re getting used to playing with everyone again, so it has been nice.
“One thing that has been strange, it's been nearly a year since I've done my injury and we had players come in after that, so I've known people nearly a year now but I've actually never trained with them or played with them.
“So, it's been nice to get out on the pitch and also form new relationships with players that I've known for a long time and never actually played with.”
The countdown is on until our opening game of the 2025/26 WSL campaign – our home clash against West Ham United on Sunday 7 September (12pm UK), tickets available to buy – and Kit is excited to get going once again.
“I can't wait,” she added. “It feels like forever, honestly. I think it has been three months less than what I waited the first time with my ACL injury.
“I was out for 15 months for the first one and I'm not even at 12 months yet, but it feels like longer, I don't know why. It’s been a long time coming and I'm excited to help the team and start the season strong.”