Perth Glory’s Megan Wynne shares her inspiring journey from being a Tottenham Hotspur fan to a club employee and finally a key player on the first team, revealing to aleagues.com.au that with determination, anything is achievable in football.
From donning oversized hand-me-down Tottenham Hotspur jerseys that once belonged to her older brothers to playing a pivotal role in the club’s historic promotion to the Women’s Super League, Wynne’s football story is one of growth and passion.
The 32-year-old Welsh international spent her formative years in a household devoted to Tottenham, joining her father at matches both home and away while often swimming in the jerseys that were too large for her.
Unbeknownst to her as a child, Wynne would one day follow in the footsteps of her Spurs heroes – legends like David Ginola, Teddy Sheringham, Dimitar Berbatov, and, of course, Welsh star Gareth Bale – by representing the club herself.
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It wasn’t until she turned 26 that Wynne’s ambition of turning professional came to fruition. At that time, she was a full-time worker at Tottenham, sorting paperwork in Human Resources rather than on the pitch.
The turning point in Wynne’s career came as she transitioned into life as a professional footballer, creating unforgettable memories during a landmark season for Tottenham that ultimately led her to the Ninja A-League.
“I was working full-time in HR at an IT firm when I began to play for Spurs on the side,” Wynne recounted to aleagues.com.au.
“I came across a job opening that aligned with my role but at Tottenham. After applying, I was fortunate enough to secure the position. My days were spent at Lilywhite House, while most evenings I trained three to four nights a week.
“It was vastly different from my life now, but it laid the foundation for my career and shaped who I am as both a player and a person. We all had full-time jobs or were studying, so we had to work incredibly hard.
“Working at the club at a time when awareness of the women’s team was low made a difference. When I entered the office, people would engage with me about the team, which was a contrast to earlier when staff often disregarded the women’s side as overshadowed by the men’s squad. I don’t think anyone realised we were there.
“My role involved sharing our stories on the staff portal to raise awareness – and I think it made an impact. It’s a massive club, but the staff was relatively small back then. It felt meaningful to promote the women’s team.”
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Wynne joined Tottenham formally in 2018 after two prior loan spells during her career at Watford, where she initially began playing at the age of 10 after impressing at a summer camp.
The year 2018 marked a pivotal moment for Tottenham; historically, the women’s team had only been associated with the club through its branding. However, during the 2018-19 season, Wynne and her teammates earned promotion to the newly professional Women’s Super League, leading the club to integrate the women’s team officially.
Wynne views the 2018-19 FA Women’s Championship season as a defining time in her football journey.
“In my first season back at Tottenham, we achieved promotion to the WSL,” Wynne stated. “That season of promotion remains my favourite in football due to the squad’s competitive spirit and our achievements.
“We didn’t operate with the largest budget – at that time, we weren’t even owned by Tottenham Hotspur; we were managed by two women as a separate franchise, which was quite unusual. We donned the colours, yet had no real connection to the men’s team.
“It was only after we broke those barriers and earned promotion that the club needed to start investing in us. They had to elevate the women’s team to retain our place in the league; otherwise, it would reflect poorly on a prestigious club like Tottenham Hotspur.”
“Changes began once we got promoted, requiring us to shift to full-time. Only about ten players from that squad received contracts for the following season, and I faced the dilemma of leaving a secure full-time job for a one-year contract in football.
“In women’s football, the salaries are not substantial, so I had to weigh my passion against job security. Looking back, I believe I made the right choice to pursue my love for the game, as fantastic opportunities followed. It feels like a whirlwind experience.”
“Looking at Tottenham’s trajectory now, few would recognise that just six years ago, this was our situation. We’ve come a long way, and without that squad’s efforts in achieving promotion, the club wouldn’t be where it stands today, competing mid-table in the WSL and signing top talent. It’s a cherished memory from my career.”
Signing a professional contract with Tottenham at 26 was a monumental moment for Wynne, who transitioned from HR to focus fully on her contributions in the Women’s Super League, marking a new era as a fully professional league during the 2018-19 season.
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The memory of her childhood washed over Wynne as she signed her first professional contract with the club she had supported since she could remember.
“It was on signing my first professional contract that the full weight of reality hit me,” Wynne reflected.
“It truly struck home that this was my club; I’d get to wear the jersey daily and live my dream. It meant the world to my family too; my older brothers and father, who have been lifelong Spurs fans, felt immense pride.”
“Every player dreams of representing their favourite club, and I was fortunate to fulfil that dream. I take pride in that achievement and cherish those memories.”
“I visited White Hart Lane countless times, with my dad occasionally taking me to away matches, providing a completely different atmosphere.”
“I still vividly remember attending a match at Nottingham Forest with my dad when I was about six or seven, decked out in my brother’s oversized hand-me-down shirt. It was comically large on me. Clearly, this passion runs in the family.”
“The moment we secured promotion to the WSL, I had no idea I’d become a professional footballer. My experience of not signing professionally until age 26 underscores that you should never give up. The evolution of women’s football in the UK is monumental, presenting avenues that simply didn’t exist during my upbringing.
“I recall watching an FA Cup Final with my mum when the match went into extra time. Suddenly, because of scheduling conflicts, the game switched to the red button, making it unviewable. I exclaimed: ‘What do you mean it’s gone off? I can’t watch it anymore?’ That was the reality back then, and thankfully, that’s a thing of the past.
“It’s remarkable to witness the transformation. I recall representing Wales and having to take unpaid leave from work, losing money just to play for my national team. Such a scenario was bizarre. The strides made have been incredible; without the dedication of current and former players pushing boundaries, things would be starkly different.”
As opportunities waned at Tottenham following the transition to the Women’s Super League, Wynne chose to go on loan to Bristol City in 2020.
However, her time at Bristol was interrupted by an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury just three games in, which she describes as “the greatest challenge” of her career, compounding the difficulty while navigating the COVID-19 lockdown.
In 2021, she made her return to football with Charlton Athletic, followed by a two-year stint at Southampton in the Women’s Championship. Now, she’s in Western Australia with Perth Glory, on a two-year contract where she aims to establish a consistent performance to rejuvenate her international career with Wales ahead of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 – the first major tournament qualification for the Welsh women’s team.
“Though I was born in England, I’ve always identified strongly as Welsh,” Wynne shared.
“My father’s family resides in Wales, and I spent many childhood days there, which I cherish deeply. I had a special bond with my grandparents, so when I saw the opportunity arise, I was eager to take it.”
“I currently boast 24 caps for my country, so reaching 25 would be fantastic! It has been tough being out of the national setup for about a year now.”
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“Missing the first camp where I wasn’t selected was hard to process. Having been involved with that core group for so long, it was bittersweet to see them qualify for the Euros. I felt joy and gratitude for their success, and I was thrilled for all the girls, even if I was FaceTiming them on the bus, which was tough not being a part of.”
“While I still have ambitions to return, I’m concentrating on my own performance and wishing to make an impact here. I trust that everything else will fall into place.”
“I maintain a good relationship with the manager, Rhian Wilkinson, and have assurance in my ability to break back into the squad. It was a risk to join Perth, but I’m optimistic about making a mark and seeing where it leads.”
“This new challenge has been rewarding,” Wynne reflected.
“I reached a juncture in my career where I felt I had achieved all I could in the UK. I had extensive experience in the WSL and the Championship, with many familiar faces cycling between teams.
“After ten solid seasons, I deemed it the right time to push my boundaries, immerse myself in new surroundings, meet fresh faces, and explore the world. I’m very pleased with my choice and feel I have integrated well.”
With just four matches left in the 2024-25 Ninja A-League season, Wynne and Glory face a daunting task to secure a finals berth, currently sitting six points from the top six.
However, with three of their last four encounters at home in the Sam Kerr Football Centre, Wynne remains optimistic about her team’s chances for a final surge towards the post-season, starting with Saturday’s home fixture against Western Sydney Wanderers – one of back-to-back home matches for a determined Perth team.
“This concluding stretch of matches carries significant weight,” Wynne emphasised.
“We understand the challenges ahead, which may hinge on other teams dropping points, but we’re set for two very winnable home games. Our focus needs to remain on performance; it’s vital to maintain defensive solidity while amplifying our goal-scoring efforts.
“It will undoubtedly be tough, but we’ll take each game as it comes. Nothing is impossible.”
Wynne and Glory’s next challenge is against Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday, March 22, at the Sam Kerr Football Centre, marking Round 20 of the Ninja A-League season.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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