As so often happens in life, what the elder sibling does, the younger sibling is sure to look to follow, no matter how long that is for, just ask Notts County Women’s left wingback, Hannah Kiddle.

A broadcast journalist by trade, graduating from Nottingham Trent University, Hannah spends her days working in the Digital PR world, whilst at night, and on a weekend, she turns out for Notts County Women, and it’s because of her older brother, Max.

“I was dragged along to my older brothers’ games so I eventually began to pick up the ball myself,” began Hannah.

“From then I would go to play for a local, boys club, until I was 11-years-old, then I played for Stretton until 16, before moving to Burton for four years.

“I also continued playing whilst I was at university, but it quickly got too much with all the travelling.”

In being in Nottingham, at the university, meant that noticing what was happening on the local football scene, would most certainly garner the young footballers’ attention.

That is exactly what happened for Hannah.

Although recent progression has been hampered, to a point at least, by the ongoing pandemic, on and off the field, Hannah, and her teammates, have continued regardless.

“I happened to notice what was going on at County on Twitter,” explained Hannah, around the rebirth of the Women’s team.

“It’s really nice here and, I’m enjoying being part of the journey we’re making back up the leagues.

“We pride ourselves in being such a close-knit, bunch of players, so we don’t mind all that travel we’ve done.

“Throughout the pandemic though, I’ve been lucky enough that I live in a quiet, open-spaced village, so I was able to get back out running again.

“I’ve pushed myself to keep fit, and in differing ways, to which I’ve relied upon, as well as having daily routines, exercise classes, that I’ve done with Holly (Fowler).”

Over the summer just finished, and alongside what has been a successful pre-season for County, Hannah, and that close-knit bunch of teammates, would also find themselves being elevated into the East Midlands Women’s Regional League Premier Division.

With promotion however comes the fact that County will also be opposing stronger, more established, more experienced clubs, opposition like they faced in their recent, season opener with Rotherham United Women, County suffering a narrow, 2-1 reverse, on the road.

“Pre-season was good for us, and we matched everyone in which we faced,” continued Hannah.

“With the new players we’ve brought into the club, and they fitting in quite quickly, has really helped us.

“We could be disappointed not to come away from the Rotherham game with something, and we could have scored more than the one we did – I don’t think they expected us to be so evenly matches, especially after that travel.

“In moving forward though, I want to be able to contribute as much as possible, and we do, as a team, need to be pushing for those top places.

“We want to make it tight at the top, pushing the likes of Rotherham, and Northampton (Town Women); maybe put together a good cup run or two as well, in both the League, and County cups.

“We have to be playing (Nottingham) Forest Women though, that has to be the target, to reach the semi-finals, the finals, and play them.”

As for that day job, and in putting that BA Hons degree in Broadcast Journalism from NTU to good use, Hannah, who currently works within Digital PR, said: “I wanted to do Sports Journalism, but what I have done, what I’ve got, is a really good degree.

“I’ve probably played, at some point or other, every sport, and my university dissertation was a documentary (with extras) based on male football academies.

“At present though, I’m working in PR, which really suits me, and I’m really enjoying it.

“But I’ve not thought about doing the masters though, not yet anyway; but I may well consider it further down the line, and do it alongside my work.”

Hannah Kiddle and her teammates at Notts County Women next to the field on Sunday 19 September, when they travel to Waterside Gardens, Sheffield, the home of Oughtibridge War Memorial Women.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @NCFC_Women Hannah Kiddle is enjoying her time at Notts County FC.