In a heartfelt interview filled with emotion, memories and love, Ashleigh Neville has bid farewell after an incredible eight-and-a-half-years at Tottenham Hotspur.
Sitting down to speak as a Spurs player for the final time, following the announcement of her permanent transfer to Leicester City earlier this week, the experienced defender spoke of her gratitude to the Lilywhite fanbase throughout her journey – which started playing at Theobalds Lane in Cheshunt to now starring in front of packed-out crowds at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“I just want to say thank you to every single staff member, player and the fans obviously that have made this my home for the last nine years,” she said in her farewell interview.
“It's a massive credit to the people before and the girls that are there now that are going to push the Club on to, hopefully, be one of the best in the league.
“We've grown with our fan base, from only having 50 down at Cheshunt to now having sell-out crowds at stadiums when we're playing against the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea and at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which is great to see the growth of women’s football.
“They're the fans that keep this club going so I just hope that they continue to support the team because the club is going in a massive now journey to be the best team in this league. I wish the team all the best and a massive thank you to those fans, and I hope that you can continue to follow me and Spurs on this journey.”
An icon of this football club and ultimate professional, Ash joined us in July, 2017, from Coventry United ahead of our first-ever season in the Women’s Super League 2 – with her and the Club’s dreaming of reaching England’s top flight for the first time.
With 191 appearances in Lilywhite across her nine seasons, she has been a part of countless memorable moments with us, but one that sticks in her mind is the game that secured our promotion to the WSL in May, 2019 – a nerve-racking 1-1 draw away at Aston Villa.
“I started at the Club when I was 24 and it's been a long journey. I was playing at Coventry beforehand, and I remember finishing that season and then being at home and getting a call off Karen Hills to have a little chat through me as a player and what they wanted to offer me.
“Then, I got offered to come and sign for Spurs, which was a massive step in my career for me moving up to what was the WSL 2 then. It was the best decision I made to move to Spurs from Coventry United.
“The Villa game is one that always comes back to me when people ask ‘what's one or a couple of your memories from playing at Spurs’ from whenever I've done interviews before - that one always pops up.
“We went 1-0 up but then there was an equaliser. I just remember us all saying ‘we literally have to hold on for the next few minutes’. Obviously, I was in the right place at the right time to clear the ball off the line to stop them from scoring. But the big thing that sits in my mind is when the whistle went and the celebrations from people coming off the bench. It's something that you always dream of.”
Lining up in our seven-and-a-half seasons in the WSL with us, Ash became the first Spurs player to have reached a century of appearances in the competition in February, 2025, writing her name into our history books.
She will also be remembered as a key member of our side which made history in reaching the FA Cup Final for the first time ever back in 2024 – a moment that will last forever for Ash.
“I remember when we were coming in every week before that next round of the cup and we had a visual of us on our coach on our road, our journey to Wembley,” she added, reflecting on the journey in the FA Cup.
“The Leicester game at the [Tottenham Hotspur] Stadium, where we scored in the last minute, I remember getting cramp, which everyone will always look back and laugh at.
“Then, to go to Wembley and walk out to a completely sold-out stadium, where there's our fans, their fans, but then there's just general Women's fans that are coming to enjoy a good game of football, was incredible for me and something that I'm really proud of and stuck with me.
“I've got my shirt and my medal framed and it's got somewhere to go in the house. Just a massive moment for myself but, also for the Club, in taking a big step in the right direction.”
Watch | Bethany England's emotional letter to Ash