Zelaye Showers is thrilled to have been granted the opportunity to broaden her football horizons in the English game with Harborough Town women’s team.

The Bermuda Under-17 captain and former Dandy Stars player is determined to make the most of the opportunity during her stint with the Queen Bees, which she considers as “a big step” towards her ultimate goal of playing professionally.

“I'm really grateful to coach Corey Hill for making it all happen and excited to have been given this opportunity,” Showers told The Royal Gazette.

“Moving away from home to continue my education and football journey has been a big step, so being able to join Harborough Town means a lot to me. I'm looking forward to learning, developing and making the most of the opportunity.

“The atmosphere at the club has been really welcoming. The girls have made me feel comfortable and included, which has made settling in much easier. There's a good balance between being competitive and enjoying football, and I'm excited to become more involved with the team.

“The women’s game has been a different experience from what I’m used to back home, and it’s given me the chance to adapt to a new style of football. I’ve enjoyed being exposed to a different environment and learning from the players and coaches around me.”

The 17-year-old has made a “smooth” transition to this level, which she owes to her experience playing for Brooke House College.

“The transition has been really positive, I feel like my experience at school has helped me prepare for it,” she said.

“I train with the boys’ team at Brooke House College, which has really helped me get used to a higher intensity, quicker play and having to make decisions under pressure. That experience has made the transition into this level of women’s football a lot smoother, while still giving me plenty to learn and improve on.

“In the short term I want to establish myself within the team and continue improving and contribute as much as I can on the pitch. Long term, my goal is to reach my full potential as a footballer and hopefully play professionally. I also want to continue representing Bermuda and use every opportunity I get to develop both as a player and as a person.”

Harry Fordham, the Harborough Town Women’s head coach, is happy to have secured a player of Showers’ quality.

“We’re delighted to welcome Zelaye Showers to Harborough Town Women and are really excited about what she can bring to the group,” he said.

“Zelaye is a player we’ve been very impressed with. She has excellent qualities in the attacking areas of the pitch, particularly her ability to take players on, create opportunities and be a real threat in one-v-one situations. Her dribbling ability is something that immediately stands out, but equally impressive is the intelligence she shows in and around the final third.

“Her game IQ is very good for a young player. She understands when to run, when to combine with team-mates and when to be positive and attack space. She also has a natural eye for goal and a real composure when it comes to finishing. Those are qualities that we believe can develop even further in our environment.

“The level of ability Zelaye is already showing is also testament to the daily development and work she is putting in at Brooke House College Football Academy. The environment she is in there is clearly helping her develop both technically and tactically, and we’re excited to continue that progression with her at Harborough Town.

“Zelaye has already gained valuable experience representing Bermuda at under-17 level and we’re looking forward to helping her make the next step in her development here in England.

“I’d also like to place on record our thanks to Corey Hill, who has played a hugely influential role in making this signing possible. Corey’s work and, importantly, the relationships he has built between Bermudian football, Brooke House College and Harborough Town have been instrumental in bringing Zelaye to the club.

“It’s a great example of what can happen when strong relationships are built between football communities across different countries, and we’re very pleased that Harborough Town can be part of Zelaye’s journey.

“We’re looking forward to seeing her develop, settle into the squad and show the Bermudian football community what she can do.”