Doncaster Rovers Belles winger Sue Smith will stay with the Yorkshire side for the upcoming season, the club have announced.
A massive boost
The 36-year-old is keen to get going ahead of the 2016 season, following promotion from the WSL 2 last term.
Smith was a huge part of the success that the Belles achieved and now wants the team to continue that form into the top division.
Now in the WSL 1, the former England international will be targeting a similar rise to that of Sunderland Ladies, who exceeded all expectations to finish fourth last term.
After appearing 93 times for her country and notching an impressive tally of 16 goals, the Merseyside-born midfielder scored 12 goals in 22 games last campaign.
Smith has her say on the deal
Speaking to the club after the decision had been made, Smith admitted the Belles were “always” the club for her.
“Signing a new contract wasn’t a hard decision at all," she added. Smith believes that "lot of the girls from last season absolutely loved it" in Doncaster.
She also sees it as a chance to "test ourselves [Doncaster]", as it is somewhere she has "always wanted to be" and is "really pleased" to have secured a new deal.
Smith says the squad were "gutted" to go down a few years ago, but thinks they are "in a better position" to compete in the top tier.
The veteran midfielder sees "no reason" why they can't mix it with the bigger teams, and is "definitely" sure they can do just that.
Project Phoenix in full flow
This is one of many major deals done by the club this summer, as their ground-breaking Project Phoenix takes hold.
Courtney Sweetman-Kirk would have been a target for teams all around the country, but she is one of many players to commit her future to the Belles.
Nicola Hobbs and Sam Tierney signed new deals in Doncaster, while there have been a host of impressive names brought in by Glen Harris.
Just yesterday club captain Leandra Little joined the group to sign on, including Rhiannon Roberts and Kasia Lipka.
The transfer business has also been savvy and smart, something which is exciting Belles legend Karen Walker.
Natasha Dowie, Katrin Omarsdottir, Becky Easton and Anna Moorhouse have all joined the club this summer, adding to an already strong and determined side.