Adding to the end of the season departures, club legend and all time highest appearance maker Gemma Bonner announced earlier this week that she was leaving the club at the end of the season, and the match at Anfield on Saturday marked her final day with the Liverpool Women. A childhood Red, Bonner leaves the club with 186 appearances across her two spells, and the back-to-back WSL titles from 2013 and 2014.
“It’s obviously been an emotional one but I think I’m proud of what I’ve achieved at this club and I was so happy to get out there in front of the fans today,” Bonner told the club website on Saturday.
“I am just extremely proud of what I’ve achieved and it’s an incredible club to be a part of, I don’t think I can say much more for how much love I’ve got for this club. I’m just extremely proud of what I have achieved and I can’t really thank the club enough.”
To have been part of not only the first fully professional squad in the WSL, but the women’s team that took over Melwood training ground, marked huge achievements in a glittering and important career. To finish at Anfield, getting to say farewell to the fans at our storied home, was the perfect way to end her tenure with Liverpool.
“Yeah, I think it was amazing just walking out,” the defender said of the experience.
“I just tried to enjoy the day, to be honest, right from the warm-up, walking in off the bus, everything, I’ve just tried to enjoy it and embrace it because there’s no feeling like that: walking out at Anfield with the fans there. And to have all my family here, obviously they’ve been through the ride with me so I’m just really grateful.”
Starting with that squad back in 2012, Bonner captained that team in 2013 and 2014 to the first back to back titles in the WSL, under Matt Beard’s leadership, and thankfully got to see how much the club has grown in its support of the women’s arm since then. After years of sharing training facilities with men’s teams, getting their own dedicated space was a huge step forward.
“I think we’ve made great strides in recent years. Obviously having our own facilities was a huge step [towards] that,” Bonner explained.
“Not just Liverpool but the game in general has grown so much and you can see the effect on the league and how much more competitive it is. So, I think for Liverpool it’s the start. It’s definitely been a process, especially since I’ve been back when we first got promoted back into the WSL, and I think I can leave knowing that I’ve left the club in a better place. I’m proud of what I’ve done.”
Her first spell with the club lasted six years before she left for Manchester City briefly, and then a short stint in the NWSL, but it would only be four years away from the club she loves above all else – and that has loved her back. Bonner is the only female player of the club to also have a dressing room named after her at the Kirkby Academy facilities, announced back in 2024 and led by academy director Alex Inglethorpe. Her contributions to the club and the women’s game as a whole will live on in our history.
“It’s probably hard to say but I think right now it’s overwhelming, just all the love and support that’s been given,” Bonner continued.
“I think what I feel from the club, it just sums up in terms of how special the people are, and the city. It’s what I felt from day one and I think that just sums it up. I can’t thank everyone enough.”