LFC WomenGrace Fisk interview: Why I can't wait to work with Matt Beard again

After her summer departure from West Ham United, the 25-year-old defender has become the Reds' fifth signing for 2023-24 following the arrivals of Natasha Flint, Jenna Clark, Mia Enderby and Teagan Micah.

Fisk previously worked with Beard during his time in charge of the Hammers and she revealed his influence was a major factor in her move to Merseyside.

See the No.4's first interview as a Liverpool player in the video below, or read on for a full transcript…

On signing for LFC Women…

It feels really, really good and I'm really happy to be here. I've had a look around the city and getting used to everything but I'm delighted to be here and I can't wait to get going.

On why she decided to move on after more than three years at West Ham…

West Ham was my first professional club so it's all I've really known in the WSL so far, and I was getting to the point where I'm 25 now and the next contract has to be the right contract for me. I obviously know Beardy and I know Russ [Fraser] previously so when I spoke to them I just got a really good feeling from them, and Liverpool as a club as well it is the type of club you just get a feeling for. That's what I got and everything just fitted for me to come here.

On seeing Anfield for the first time after completing the switch…

I've never been here before and I know from friends who support Liverpool they say there's no place like it, so just walking around, seeing all the posters on the wall, seeing the different rooms, it looks amazing and I can't wait to play some games here. It was great to walk around Anfield and get a feel for it, meet the staff and I'm excited to get going.

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On Beard being a big factor in her coming to Liverpool…

I was in America and when I was coming back to England looking to play I'd been in contact with Beardy. Actually, it's funny because I wasn't going to go to West Ham with Beardy at the time and honestly I've never told him this before, but he made one phone call to me and I was like, 'Yes, I'm going there!' That's the kind of influence Beardy can have on players.

When I spoke to him again when I was looking to make my next move after West Ham, you know he's got the gift of the gab! It's just the way he talks and the way he is so passionate about Liverpool, the players and the whole project. He really made my decision for me and I really think he can help me develop as a player and push me on to be the best player that I can.

I love being part of a team and that's one of the main reasons why I play football. I love the feel of when you win together, training together and Beardy is so good at bringing everyone together in that. Just from speaking to a few of the girls I think Liverpool has that feel already and I'm just excited to join it and be a part of it.

On playing alongside Leanne Kiernan again…

We got on really well at West Ham and she is always singing the praises of Liverpool. We have stayed in contact and I've been speaking a bit to her. She loves it here. Obviously she had her struggles last season with the injury but she still loves it and speaks so highly of the players, the staff and the set-up. It's the same with Tay [Taylor Hinds] as well, I know her, who similarly speaks so highly of everything. Again, that sort of helped to contribute to my decision. I want to be happy first and foremost and they seem happy. You want to be part of a family that gets on and wants the best for each other so that was kind of a big thing for me.

On the great competition for places in the defensive unit already at the club…

That's what football is all about, earning your shirt and I'm excited to try to do that. I know Gemma Bonner and Niamh Fahey have a lot of experience and I'm excited to learn from them. They've been in the game for so long now and I'm hoping that they can help guide me to be a better player. I will do my best in pre-season and try to earn the right to start and play games, and equally if not then I'll just have to keep pushing, keep learning. Like I say, competition is what we are all here for so I'm excited to fight for it and learn off the others as well.

On facing Liverpool three times with West Ham last season and the impressions she took of the Reds…

All three games were really tight, and I think the thing that really stood out to me was they just work so hard for each other. Beardy is obviously directing pretty loudly from the sidelines but they all seem to have a good connection with each other, work hard for each other and I think obviously that is what the club is all about.

They have quality and they have certain movements. I remember playing against them last pre-season and you could see straight away that they had certain patterns of play and certain movements. You knew what the right winger was going to do when the right-back had the ball and I think having those set patterns of play is so important, and we are on the same page with all that. I'm just excited to sort of get to grips with it all, learn sort of the team style and hopefully I can fit right in.

On looking forward to playing in front of the passionate Liverpool supporters…

Obviously I'm from London but when I hear about Liverpool or think about Liverpool it is the fans and the city as a whole that you think of. Liverpool is one of those clubs that just has that feeling about it. Again, with having friends who support Liverpool they are just the most passionate supporters of any of my friends ever, so I'm really excited to meet all of the fans and hopefully earn their trust playing and get the best results we can for this club.

On her ambitions with Liverpool…

First of all I want to earn the trust and respect of my teammates and staff as well. I think that's the most important thing. I want to prove that I have the right to be here and I want to show my worth almost, fit in and get to grips with it all. If I have the opportunity to start playing I want to earn the respect and trust of the fans and do what I can for the club. When I spoke with Beardy and Russ about the project as a whole it just seems that they have a clear idea of what they want to do.

Obviously it was their first season back in the WSL last year, which was a really good season, settled in and no problems staying in the league. I think every year we just want to push on as a club now and I want to help the club as much as possible. This is Liverpool after all, we should be a top-four club and I think as the years go on within one to two years that is what we are pushing for and I hope I can help us get that as much as possible.

On the excitement of having Melwood as the team's new training ground…

That was part of the project that they pitched to me. To show that this club want to have the best facilities for the girls possible is really important. I remember last season the club with the help of Expedia provided free transport for the fans for the away games. To me, that's such a big deal and it shows that the club cares about the fans and wants to grow the club. Things like that really appealed to me, moving forward and helping the game for the club as a whole.