Swansea City Women's Lucy Finch to retire from football

Swansea City Women defender Lucy Finch has announced she will retire from football following the Welsh Cup final.

The defender joined the Swans ahead of the 2022-23 campaign from Cardiff Met and has made 68 appearances so far for the club, after making her debut in a UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying match against PAOK.

Finch enjoyed a successful spell with the Archers, winning one league title, two Adran Trophies and a Welsh Cup, as well as completing a treble during the 2018-19 season.

Her final game will come in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup final against Cardiff City which takes place at Rodney Parade on Sunday April 19.

Finch admitted it was not an easy decision to hang up her boots, but she will always be incredibly grateful not only for the memories and experiences the game has given her, and the incredible people she has shared the journey with along the way.

“It was not an easy decision, but I think it comes down to the fact that I’ve spent my whole life travelling and balancing football with work, and the demands have only increased as I’ve got older," she said.

"I’ve loved playing for this club, and the friendships I’ve made within the group make it incredibly hard to walk away, but I feel it’s the right time with my work-life balance.

"What I’ve achieved playing my football in Wales has been incredible. Winning the treble with Cardiff Met, playing in two Champions League campaigns, and then representing Swansea – they’re experiences not many people get to have, and they’ll be stories I’ll be telling for years to come.

"Winning silverware is special, but for me, the most enjoyable part has always been doing it alongside such great people. That’s something I’ll always be really proud of.

"Making my debut for Swansea in the Champions League was an incredible experience. It really throws you in at the deep end, but travelling and playing at that level is something you dream of as a footballer.

"There are a lot of emotions going into the cup final knowing it will be the last game of my career. I’m really excited, and I truly believe we can get what we deserve from it. We’ve come a long way since last season, and after the victory against Wrexham, if we hit those levels again, I’ve no doubt we can win it.

"It would be a brilliant way to end my career, and hopefully I can finish on a high with this incredible group of girls.”

Head coach Yzzy Taylor has worked with Finch during her time at Cardiff Met and Swansea City, and believes the dedication she has shown through the hours of travelling from Hereford every week to train and play underlines how special a person she is.

"Lucy is someone who is immensely special to our group, and we’ve been very lucky to have her as part of the team," she said. 

"What she brings on the pitch, alongside who she is as a person and the commitment she shows in travelling hours every week to play for us makes her truly special. She embodies what it means to be a great person, and she’ll be hugely missed by everyone in the group."

Everyone at Swansea City would like to thank Lucy for her efforts over the past four years and wish her all the very best for the future.