ENGLAND legend Fara Williams revealed how she “idolised” Marieanne Spacey-Cale’s playing career – and backed her to drive Saints Women “into very good places”.

Having taken over the south coast club as head of girls and women’s football and head coach in July 2018, former Arsenal and Fulham striker Spacey-Cale has guided Saints to the National League South Premier title and League Cup this season.

Spacey-Cale’s charges have the chance to earn promotion to the second tier Women’s Championship on Saturday, when they face Northern Premier winners Wolves in a one-off play-off at Stockport.

And, speaking to the Daily Echo earlier this season, Williams – the most-capped England player of all time - said Spacey-Cale was a “fantastic” selection to push the women’s game forward.

She said: “Marieanne should gloat a little bit more about her and her playing career because she was somebody that I idolised as a young player.

“She was a fantastic player before she retired and became a coach.

“She knows the game.

“She is approachable and she gets it. She also can see it from a player point of view and not just coming in solely as a coach.”

Spacey-Cale played 91 times for England and scored 28 goals.

She was part of the England women’s coaching setup which guided the Lionesses to a third placed finish at the Canada World Cup in 2015.

Williams played at that tournament and insisted Spacey-Cale was always on hand to offer support to players of the future.

“I think Marieanne, certainly since she took up the coaching role when she was at England, she was always about trying to inspire the next generation of players,” said former Everton and Reading star Williams.

“Whether that be when we were at England and travelling around different cities, or now being at Southampton and trying to push and promote it for the next generation of players – giving them that platform to aspire.

“She is a fantastic pick. I am sure she will drive this club into very good places.”

Saints finished their regular campaign with 69 points from 26 league games, only losing once. Wolves won 18 of their 24 league fixtures.