Story added: 27th October 2025

Flown the Nest: Freya's story

Recently, we’ve been shining a spotlight on some of our Foundation success stories, celebrating the individual achievements and personal progression of both participants and staff members involved with our charity work. Whether it’s a milestone ticked off, or a pathway graduated, we think it’s important to recognise our community and the hard work and commitment applied.

Freya Symonds is now well known in Norwich – a forward for the Norwich City Women’s team and a Football Development Officer here at the Foundation, she is the perfect example of success within the sporting industry.

Not even too long ago, however, Freya was a student on the Foundation’s Football & Education college programme, and was unsure exactly where the course would lead her.

Last month, we caught up with Freya, to find out how the college course helped her to make the right career decisions.

When did you first become aware of the Foundation? What was your very first interaction with the organisation?

 FS: A long time ago! When I was nine, I was scouted to play in what was then ‘The Centre of Excellence’; a football progression programme similar to what the development centre is at the Foundation today.

As a girl who loved football growing up, this was a dream come true, and I followed the progression pathway from under-9’s all the way through to the under-16’s.

Focusing specifically now on the Football & Education college programme – how did you first hear about it? Was it an easy choice signing on when considering your future career?

FS: It’s one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make. I always knew that football was something I wanted to be involved in in some format, and there aren’t too many college education options locally where you can focus specifically on one sport.

Saying that, it was more than just the football that appealed to me. There was plenty of learning about the sports industry itself, which I think benefitted me as I was already looking ahead to my career opportunities post-education.

I think I only really heard about the programme for the first time on the night of the actual open day! My mum took me along and I remember leaving the event feeling like I actually knew what I wanted to be doing. The programme offered me the perfect mix of learning and playing, meaning I could progress my skillsets in multiple ways, whilst also being in an environment that felt comfortable and enjoyable.

Can you touch a little on your journey within football itself? Obviously, you’re a Norwich City Women’s team player now, but how did you get to that point?

FS: If I’m honest, it’s been years of hard work and resilience! I think I was like five or six when I first began kicking a football, just around the garden with my dad.

He took me to try out at my local team in Yarmouth, and I think that’s where I really got hooked! After a few years playing for them and for another team called Gorleston Bohemians, the Centre of Excellence opportunity came up, as I mentioned earlier, and I made the transition across.

I think I was about seventeen or eighteen when I made my first appearance for the Norwich City Women, which was a massive deal at the time. I remember being absolutely over the moon to have been called up – it really was a dream come true as a Norwich fan.

I’d had the opportunity a year or so before but hadn’t felt quite ready, so spent a year playing for Wymondham, really focusing on perfecting and improving my game. When the Norwich manager at the time gave me the call in 2021, I knew I was at the right stage in my career to make the jump into adult’s football and I haven’t really looked back since!

Four years on, I’ve played and scored at stadiums across the country and am enjoying my football more than ever!

It must be amazing to see that level of progression out on the pitch – how are you finding your role at the Foundation? Tell us more about what the role involves and the type of work you do.

FS: I absolutely love my job. For me, it’s almost a full circle, as I’m helping to coach young girls chasing dreams of a career in football, similar to what I was doing not even that long ago.

I originally started as a community coach, before making the move over to the school’s team, working with young people and keeping them engaged in sport. Last August, I began my work with the football delivery department, where I’ve been ever since.

My official job title is Girls Football Development Officer, which basically sees me and my team work with girls of varying ages and abilities, helping them to develop their skillsets both on the pitch and as people, something that I find incredible rewarding.

The Girls Development programme essentially has three tiers to it, the DC (Development Centre), ADC (Advanced Development Centre) and the Emerging Talent Centre, all of which are catered towards different levels of footballing ability.

I predominantly work with the DC and ADC groups, as well as with the girls on the Football & Education college programme – the exact same course that I was once part of! Last year, me and my colleague Summer helped guide the college girls to a first silverware double, as they won both the league and the cup.

I think I just get so much back from my job. The days can be long, but they absolutely fly by, which I think is a sure-fire sign that I’m doing something that I love. It’s all 100% worth it.

If you were to sum up in a quote exactly how it feels to have made the journey from a Foundation programme to a full-time role here, what would you say?

 FS: Great question – I would probably say something along the lines of ‘work hard enough and anything is possible.’ I remember looking at my coaches as a kid and thinking ‘I want to be you’ and now here I am, coaching young girls in a similar situation to what I was!

If you were to give one message to young people who may be making important career choices, what would you say?

 FS: I’m a really strong believer in everything happening for a reason. I actually went to university briefly, following on from graduating the Football & Education programme. However, it didn’t take me long to make the bold decision to drop out and to search for alternatives elsewhere, which led me to where I am now at the Foundation.

I think there’s almost a stereotype that university should be the goal for every young adult, but I really don’t think it should be a necessity. I would say to young people considering various career choices that they should trust their heart – big decisions can be scary, but do what’s right for you and you’ll be on the right track!

To find out more about our Football & Education programme, click here.