It was a little moment of history for Huddersfield Town Women FC as former junior player Molly Firth came full circle.

Molly, 18, came off the bench to score on her debut in Town’s 2-0 win in the season’s opener at West Yorkshire rivals Leeds United.

She replaced club icon Kate Mallin, 35, and couldn’t resist turning the clock back to 2016 when a 10-year-old Molly was mascot for a game against Newcastle.

Molly walked out onto the pitch hand in hand with none other than captain at the time…Kate Mallin.

Eight years on it felt like a pivotal moment with the next generation stepping up to take the club forward, not that Kate is about to hang up her boots quite yet!

Molly played for Town’s under-11s and under-14s and back then junior players were invited to be mascots for first team matches.

Molly’s family dug out grainy old photographs from 2016 and Molly and Kate then posed for a 2024 picture celebrating the victory against Leeds.

 

 

 

 

Molly doesn’t remember much about her mascot experience but she remembers being in awe of Kate growing up.

“Kate has been a massive influence,” said Molly. “She was Kate Mallin, someone everyone looked up to and was inspired to be like and now playing with her is amazing. She is just lovely to be around.”

While Molly replaced Kate the two don’t really play in the same position. Molly is a wing-back while Kate plays up front as a wide No10 so there’s no reason why the two can’t line up side-by-side this season.

After leaving Town, Mirfield-based Molly played for Sheffield United for four years and played some games for Leeds last season.

She’s a Town fan, though, and scoring on her debut against Leeds was a dream come true. “It was a bit surreal,” she said.

“While you always want to try and score, I’m more about assists than being a goalscorer. I still can’t believe it.”

Kate, who has been at Town since she was 10 years old herself, was proud to see Molly come full circle and reckons she must be the first and only former mascot to play for the first team.

“It’s a little piece of club history,” said Kate. “It’s great for Molly as a Town fan to come back to the club and to score on her debut – and against Leeds – is amazing.”

 

 

Kate has now amassed an incredible 561 appearances for Town, scoring well over 200 goals. Her contribution has now been recognised by the main football club as her image has appeared on a new mural inside the John Smith’s Stadium.

She’s also featured on a special football, using the same mural-style artwork, which is due to go on sale at the club shop.

“I didn’t know they were going to do it and it’s really nice to be acknowledged by the club,” said Kate. “I haven’t been down to see the mural yet but I’ve got the football which looks great.”

Kate turned 35 this week and says this season could be her last – but then she also said the same last season!

Town were relegated last term and Kate has unfinished business. “I didn’t want to leave after relegation,” she said. “We’d been in that division for 10 years and I want to help the club go straight back up.”

 

 

Last season was a struggle for Town Women as rival clubs such as Burnley, Notts Forest and Wolves moved towards full-time, meaning they could pay wages and attract the best players.

“Last season it was so difficult to keep the positivity when we were up against it,” said Kate. “But after relegation what was important was that we kept the team together as much as possible.

“That’s what we’ve done and we’ve added to the squad and we’re actually stronger than we were last season.

“Our aim is promotion 100% but only one team goes up so we can’t afford many slip-ups. It was a scrappy game against Leeds but a win is a win and we can start to build some momentum.

“The vibes are positive and we are hoping for an exciting season.”

 

New Huddersfield Town mural captures pride and passion and pays poignant tribute to Jordan Sinnott