Rayner ready for a fresh start

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Bruce Talbot

2025-08-22T06:00+01:00

Bex Rayner says this season feels like a 'fresh start' after injury plagued her first year at the club. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

Bex Rayner is looking to make a ‘fresh start’ to her Albion career after a frustrating first season with the club.

The 26-year-old creative midfielder was restricted to five appearances after joining the club from Sheffield United last summer because of an quad muscle injury.

But she is fully fit, settled in Sussex and looking forward to helping improve on last season’s fifth place with Albion’s team of all nations.

“Last year was quite a long one for me," she said. "It’s quite tough mentally rehabbing all the time but I have good teammates that kept me going. So this season feels completely fresh and I’m really enjoying it.”

There are players from 13 nations in the squad this season and Rayner and her boyfriend have already hosted the new players to a barbecue at their flat in Lancing. It’s a gesture that suggests Dario Vidosic’s new-look squad, with six players signed this summer, is already gelling nicely.

Bex Rayner in action against CF Alhama. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

“We’re like a little family,” said Rayner. “I just thought it was a nice thing to do. We live quite near the beach which is nice and I know what it’s like when you come to a new club – you want to feel part of things as soon as you can. Everyone gets on to be honest. That’s going to be important when the season starts.”

Rayner played more than 100 games for Sheffield United, many of them in the Championship, but despite her injury issues last season she believes she is a much better player than 12 months ago.

“The difference is the coaching I’ve had. I have never been coached in as much detail or anywhere close to it. I am thinking so much more about the tactical side of the game and it is making me a better player. I think I offer something different because I like to take risks. Sometimes a pass I try might not come off but that doesn’t worry me – I will still try it again when the next opportunity comes.”

Albion kick off their WSL campaign at home to Aston Villa on 6 September and Rayner is looking forward to feeding off the support of the Albion fans.

“It’s not a pressure to play in front of them it’s just a privilege. When I was younger we didn’t have those role models so it’s amazing now to play in front of big crowds who are so supportive.

“Before last season we didn’t really have fans travelling in big numbers to our away games but some of the support we had last season was incredible. Like Liverpool away, to go up there on a Friday night is a big sacrifice. The fans must work hard all week and then they come out to support us – you want to win for them as much as yourself.”