Just a few years ago, preseason training for Stoke City's women sometimes included painting the dugout and removing litter from the pitch at a former working men's club in central England.
Now, in line with a global boom in women's soccer, they are being paid, receive instructions from a full-time coach, enjoy the same multimillion pound training facilities as the men — and no longer moonlight as trash collectors.
"In such a short time, we've seen massive changes," said 24-year-old midfielder Molly Holder, in her third campaign at Stoke. "We go early to use the gym, we have access to the physio, 20 minutes in the video analysis room, maybe some darts and food with team mates. We feel part of Stoke."