MANY professional footballers will say they have the tools required to make their career a success in the game.

For Saints keeper Kayla Rendell, she literally helped supply tools to tradesmen, before fulfilling her dream of becoming a full-time pro.

The England youth international, who has been playing football since the age of six, had been balancing her duties at Saints with working on the counter at Screwfix – one of the UK’s largest suppliers of hardware products.

But when Marieanne Spacey-Cale’s side went full-time ahead of this season’s Championship campaign, Rendell literally downed tools to fulfil her lifelong ambition.

Asked by the Daily Echo what she was doing for work before heading into the full-time game, the keeper replied: “We were part-time here last year and I worked at Screwfix alongside it, just to get a bit more money and help out.

“I was on the trade counter with the tradesmen!

“I did Screwfix for two years and, to be fair, they were lovely. I enjoyed it. It was an easy job and it got me the money I needed just to help out a bit.

“They were so supportive. Anything I needed I could just go off or whatever.”

So, what was it like when Rendell had to walk into Screwfix and tell them she was becoming a professional footballer?

“I think they saw it coming, to be fair,” replied the Saints stopper. “They were so supportive of my football, so it was quite easy. I couldn’t have asked for a nicer team to work with.

“I have worked all my life to get to this point and it’s finally here, so I just need to push on and be at my best all the time.

“We all came in going into the full-time schedule – it was a bit hard at the start just to get into things but I think we have all done really well, settled in really well and the new players coming in, some of them have been in full-time environments before.

“We are just ready to push on.”

Rendell hit the headlines for Saints when she memorably scored a dramatic goal in the FA Cup against Ipswich last season.

On Saturday, she was part of the Saints side who suffered a 2-0 defeat in their Championship opener against Charlton at St Mary’s.

Emily Simpkins fired home from the spot before Mel Johnson added another in the second period.

Former Merley Cobham Sports youngster Rendell did however save a second-half penalty from Angela Addison, as well as pulling off a number of other top stops.

Daily Echo:

“Whenever I can help the team, I am happy and a penalty save is what every goalkeeper dreams of. One out of two penalty saves isn’t too bad I guess,” added the keeper, who looked up to legendary Juventus gloveman Gianluigi Buffon as a child.

“I think we did really well. I think we grew into the game a bit and gained momentum as we went on. Unfortunately, it was a soft penalty and they gained more momentum than us.

“Second-half, I thought we got into it really well. Had great chances throughout the game and just couldn’t finish, unfortunately.

“But I think we did really well and we will just grow into the league. Hopefully the next time we will come out and be a lot better.

“We had more chances than them in open play but we know this league is tough and we have got to be finishing those chances and be more clinical.

“The girls know that and I’m sure the next one that falls to their feet will go in the back of the net.”

Assessing Rendell’s performance, boss Spacey-Cale said: “She’s a fantastic goalkeeper and she’s one of those keepers who looks so laid back but you know inside there’s such a drive to be better.

“She made the difference between maybe a 4-0 scoreline.

“Kayla’s worked really hard to keep us in the game, now we’ve got to be more clinical at the other end."

Saints make the trip to Lewes in their next league encounter on Sunday.

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