Having recently stepped up to City Women's Senior Team, goalkeeper Grace Olsen has enjoyed her introduction to Iain Darbyshire's side, with the Bluebirds winning all three matches she has featured in so far in 2025/26.
The 16-year-old shot-stopper, who joined City at the start of last season from Cardiff Wanderers, particularly impressed this past Sunday with a superb display in our derby victory over Swansea City.
Reflecting on her recent form, Grace said: “The last few weeks have been the best that I’ve ever had in my career. I’m settling into the First Team and it has been an enjoyable experience for me.
“It’s been amazing to get more minutes with the Senior Team. Hopefully I can keep playing in this league because I think that’s the way that I can get better, as I always want to improve my performances - that’s a goal every footballer shares.
“Everyone in the team wants to improve, everyone wants to be better than their last game or their last training session. So for me, it’s about getting more minutes under my belt and gaining more experience.
“I’m so grateful for how the team has been with me. I’ve settled in well and they’ve helped me find a place in the squad.”
Grace spoke highly of the support she has received from both players and staff, who have played an important role in helping her transition into senior football.
She continued: “I think being so young and getting the experience of playing U19s football at such a young age has helped me massively. It has taught me a lot and having that exposure of playing the older, more experienced players is how you can improve. I’d say it has helped me get to the level where I am today - being able to not fear those who are older than me and really be able to express myself on the pitch, no matter how young I am.
“All the coaching staff have been amazing. They have guided me through the Senior Team and given me the support that I need every single time I turn up for a training session, every single match, or when I see them just for a chat.
“The players have been amazing with me too since making that step up. I admire my teammates and I look up to all of them. Even when I share a pitch with them, I look up to them, because I know that with their experience, they can be there to help me, support me, and give me the advice that I need to improve.
“The frequency of the advice they give me has really brought the best out of my ability. Especially with Iain, with the big role that he has - having his support and guidance whenever I need it has been massive for me and helped me develop.
“My goalkeeper coach Jamie Ham has helped me achieve so much in a tough position playing as a goalkeeper, and he has that understanding and is there to help me through.”
The Bluebirds were victorious on derby day this past Sunday, with Grace producing a stellar performance.
“When the squad came out, I was really excited," Grace added. "I was so grateful for the opportunity I had been given to start such a big game. Coming from Cardiff myself, coming from a family that supports Cardiff City, I knew that this was a massive game and I just really wanted to perform and hopefully show everyone what I can do.
“I know the fans had confidence in me and they were there to give that support and give me that confidence to really portray myself on the pitch and perform to the best that I could.
"I didn’t really feel the pressure of the game because I knew that the squad had confidence in me, and I had confidence in the squad.”