In each matchday programme, to celebrate our 40th anniversary, we speak to a former Spurs player to look back at their career and get their thoughts on the current side ahead of our seventh season in the WSL.
Next up, it’s goalkeeper Toni-Anne Wayne as she reflects on a memorable four years at the Club….
What were your first memories when you joined the Club ahead of the 2014-15 season?
“When I first joined Spurs, I was a little apprehensive. I had played against them many times and they were a tough team who were quite aggressive and difficult to play against. I’m quite aggressive on the pitch too, but very quiet off it, so I wasn’t sure I would fit in. However, as soon as I joined, the girls were so lovely and we all had each other’s back - no matter what. The set-up at the time was not very advanced though, we still trained on a school field in summer and trained at the training ground at 8pm.”
Talk us through your journey with the Club, helping them to reach the WSL2 for the first-ever time?
“I’m really proud of where we got the team during my time at the Club. When I started, we were a mid-table team who liked socialising on a Sunday - whether we had a good or bad game. Once we started to win more than we lost, our mentality changed (with massive help from Karen Hill and Juan Amoros). We recruited quite a few players and we started to compete with the top two or three in the league. It was really tough journey as I lived an hour away so training three nights a week and then games at the weekend took its toll. However, when I look back at the journey, I’m just so proud. We went from strength to strength, and we went pretty much unbeaten the whole season and the played an amazing game against Cardiff to win 1-0 which set up the perfect finish to an incredible campaign, winning the league at White Hart Lane and earning promotion to the WSL 2 for the first time.”
Just talk to us about that 2016/17 campaign, winning the league at White Hart Lane before completing the treble with two cups?
“It was one of the best seasons that I have ever had in league football, as everything just seemed to go right. The hard work that us (players) and the staff had put in behind the scenes really paid off, everyone played their part and it felt like a massive team effort. That game at White Hart Lane was immense. We didn’t have the luxury of playing there too many times, and that was my only time there. We walked in and the staff surprised us all with names on our shirts and all our family were there in the stands. Then, to complete the treble with the cup competitions, it just rounded it off with a brilliant ending.”
Favourite memory while wearing the Lilywhite shirt?
“One of my favourite memories, as a personal moment, was when we beat Charlton Athletic on penalties in the FA Women’s Premier League Cup Final and I saved the winning spot-kick in the shootout. But, as a team, one of the best collective memories has to be lifting the trophy at White Hart Lane.”
Since your retirement, have you been keeping an eye on the Club’s progress?
“It has been amazing to watch the Club flourish, especially watching Ashleigh (Neville) and Kit (Graham) still being a part of the team, having played with them during my time. It just shows that the more support the Club has given to the Women's game, how much they can achieve and how far they have come in a short period of time. A part of me wishes it was within my time.”
Away from football, what have you been doing?
“I got back into playing after I had retired, however, I did my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in September, 2019, and I still have issues now, so I had to give up football because of that. I have been playing cricket for Colchester and hockey for Braintree. I was lucky enough to welcome my little girl Erin into the world in March, 2022, so life has been very full on since then - a three-year-old is more tiring than training three nights a week.”
How good has it been to see the growth of the Women's game and to have played a part in that?
“I'm really proud to have played a part in the growth of the women's game. For Spurs to have gone from playing on a school field to regularly playing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and to be a professional outfit is just amazing. But, for me, what is even better is that they aren't just in England’s top flight, but they are competing in the WSL and always striving for more. Having been part of the team that got them to the WSL in the first place will always be an amazing memory for me.”