Wolves Women manager Dan McNamara has hailed outgoing skipper Anna Price as a ‘legend’ following her retirement from football.
Price has brought an end to a 30-year career playing in the Old Gold, which saw her lift trophies, experience highs and lows and become the all-time record appearance holder for Wolves Women with 358 to her name. It has been almost six-and-a-half years since McNamara and Price met for the first time, and the journey since that moment has been nothing short of a rollercoaster full of emotions and memories. The manager has reflected on Price’s impact on the club, some stand-out moments together and why it was important for him that she made the decision on the right timing to hang up her boots.
On Price’s impact on himself and others
“Anna Price. Captain, leader and legend. We could probably end the interview there. What a person.
“I can remember the first interaction I had with Perks in the Aldersley dome seven years ago and from that moment on, myself, I’ve got a lot to thank her for personally. The whole football club has for what she’s done over 30 years, it’s absolutely remarkable the impact she’s had on young players, old players, club members, first-team players, international Premier League players and everybody that comes into contact with her.
“You just get this real vibrant feeling and I’m not too sure I’d still be here now if it wasn’t for Perks, that’s how big she’s been in helping me personally through some real adversity and also the football club through some real adversity.”
On the right timing for Price
“We spoke in the summer and she felt she was in a good place and content with retirement. We’ve never spoken about that before. That was music to my ears because I never ever wanted to be the one that had to suggest anything to her – I wanted her to be happy within herself and that came over the summer.
“There wasn’t really any tears or anything like that. I think she was really comfortable with where she was at. She actually said to me “I can’t chase round after Amber Hughes in training anymore” so we had a little bit of a laugh and a joke about that.
“She’s a remarkable person and also her whole family. In seven years, I’ve become quite close to Perks and her husband Liam, her mum, her brother, her dad. They’ve really taken to me and I’ve got a lot to thank them for.
“I want to wish her all the best for the future and I don’t think it’ll be the last we see of Perks. Anna Price has got a hell of a lot to give back to football.”
On what makes her such a good leader and memories
“It’s her compassion, it’s her leadership qualities, the way she deals with adversity – the list could go on. She really is an absolute credit to her family.
“I don’t think there’s anyone who doesn’t know who Anna Price is across women’s football. She’s built up a hell of a reputation for herself. Not just as a tough-tackling central midfielder who then picked up at centre half. She scored big goals for us, I don’t think she lost many headers in her 30-year career. That was her forte.
“Not just the staff, but all the players will forever unite with Perks and always think back to the fond memories. I’m just delighted that, in my time, I could give her some silverware and good memories. I think she longed for league titles and County Cups. “They didn’t always come as we would’ve wanted, but I’m delighted she’s got to share some real big memories.
“I think back to one of the best photographs I’ve got and one that I’ll cherish forever which was me and Perks hugging on Molineux after we’d just been promoted, beating Lincoln City. That’s one that sits with me quite closely.”
On her loyalty to the club
“You talk about those qualities as a leader. One of them is loyalty. Anna’s been here when it was hand-me-down kits from the first-team and whether that was right or wrong, that’s what it used to be.
“If anyone deserved to see the growth of the game over the last seven years, it’s probably her. I’m so glad that we came in and managed to turn it all around and provide a platform with huge thanks to the chairman and sporting director. We provided a platform that everyone around Wolverhampton is really proud of and I’m so glad Perks got the opportunity to be part of that.
“She’s trained at the state-of-the-art facilities, she’s won national titles at tier three, she’s won County Cups which were few and far between before this new era. She deserves to have a medal and memory haul. It’s fantastic that she got to experience probably what a professional footballer might’ve been like for her.”
On key memories and adapting in her later career
“One that certainly sticks out was Knowle in the County Cup early rounds. We played on a really difficult pitch and credit to Knowle, they were fantastic. It was 0-0 after about 60 minutes and I put Perks on up front.
“People call me crazy and the staff didn’t know what I was doing. She actually scored the 1-0 that broke the deadlock and the game ended up being 4-0. That was a real key one. We went on to win the County Cup that season.
“What Perks has had to do over the last two years is really adapt what she brought to the group. It hasn’t been the starting player week in week out that she’s become so accustomed to over her 30-year career. That’s been hard for her but whenever she’s been called upon, she has always responded.
“The year we won it, I can remember countless times where she might not have played for two weeks and we’d put her on. She’s gone on with 10 minutes to go and won headers and just been a real leader in seeing games out. There are too many to mention.
“There have been endless amounts of times where Anna’s helped us through the result or come up with a big goal over the years.”
On breaking the appearance record at the Hawthorns
“There’s a story behind every story. I remember on the way I didn’t know what to do with Anna on that night. She hadn’t played for a couple of weeks and that was probably an evening where I let emotion take over my decisions, and that doesn’t happen very often.
“It was a staff decision in the end that she should start, captain the side and it would pay off – and it did, it really did.
“You look back now and you think ‘why was I ever questioning playing her’ because of the way she performs every time she puts a Wolves shirt on and represents this club, it’s phenomenal.
“What an amazing memory for her to have broken that record at the Hawthorns and win the game as well. I think we were the first senior Wolves side to win up there for a long time which was another string to the bow.”
On a ‘fairytale’ career
“I’m sure Anna would tell you, I don’t think she’d change much now. I think she’s really content with what she’s achieved, which is a hell of a lot.
“I’m so glad she got to experience the professionalism of the whole thing. I can remember when I first told her that first game on Molineux against Lincoln City, she couldn’t believe it.
“Sometimes we forget she’s an avid Wolves fan, a season ticket holder who very rarely misses games. Even the little things like that – walking out at Molineux and captaining the team at Molineux.
“The whole thing’s a bit of a fairytale the way it’s materialised. I’m just so glad now because what I couldn’t imagine was doing this or trying to navigate this without her in some capacity.”
On his parting message
“Thank you. Sometimes less is more and from me to Perks, it’s a thank you and that’s all.”
