Bronze’s journey began at Alnwick Town, where her first coach Ray Smith supported her to fall in love with the game. Bronze played with Alnwick Town junior team until she was 12, whilst also captaining her school football team at Duchess Community High School.
Doug Thoburn then crossed paths with Lucy while delivering coaching courses in the local community on behalf of Newcastle United, spotting a very talented individual at Blyth Town girls – then playing as a forward rather than the driving full-back we all know today. Her talent so clear, Doug remembers the day he told Lucy straight: “You will play for England one day.”
Bronze chose the University of North Carolina to balance education and her passion for football, where she was coached by Anson Dorrance, who was immediately impressed by Bronze’s natural ability and physicality. Bronze would enjoy a successful stint out in America as a freshman defender, going on to become the first British player to win an NCAA cup, amongst other plaudits.
On her return to the UK, Chris Welburn was introduced to Bronze at Leeds Beckett University. Chris remembers Lucy as a “truly outstanding talent with huge potential”, despite her struggles with debilitating knee injuries. Working with Chris, she was offered the chance to play both football and futsal competitions, helping Leeds Beckett win national trophies.
For much of her early career, Lucy played for Sunderland, and was under the guidance of coach Michael Mulhern from the age of 12 to 16. Mulhern recognised immediately Bronze’s unique talent, playing her as a midfielder to help her influence the game more directly – knowing full well she could play anywhere on the pitch.
As Bronze’s coach in the England youth squads, Maureen ‘Mo’ Marley, knew better than most Bronze’s capability to play at the highest level, offering the defender a spot on the Everton squad. While predominantly recovering from an injury during her time on Merseyside, Marley’s support on that journey helped Bronze keep a clear focus on her comeback – a process which has been widely credited with helping Bronze develop the physical and mental strength to reach elite level.
Bronze then swapped blue for red and headed to local rivals Liverpool where she would be coached by Matt Beard. Liverpool became England’s first full-time women’s club for the 2013 season, allowing them to attract players of Bronze’s quality and go on to win the WSL in back-to-back years. Beard showed full faith in Bronze by starting her in every game for Liverpool in 2014, helping her to win the PFA Women’s Players’ Player of the Year.