Emily Joyce has been confirmed as Derby County Women’s new First Team Captain for the 2024/25 season.
Midfield stalwart Joyce, 25, has been handed the role by manager Sam Griffiths after her talismanic performances in the middle of the park last season.
She has earned the captaincy after picking up her second successive Player of The Year award for her performances in the 2023/24 campaign, as she made 31 appearances and scored a crucial goal in the FA Women's National League Plate Final win over Cambridge United last term.
She also reached the 100 appearances milestone during last season, finishing the campaign having made her 115th appearance and chalked up her 16th goal for the club.
Joyce, who rose through the ranks in the Derby County Women Centre of Excellence, has been part of the senior team since she re-joined the club in 2018 after a spell with Birmingham City.
Longest-serving squad member Hannah Ward will continue to take up the mantle of Club Captain, after taking on the position at the beginning of last season – as well as performing multiple duties in her role as an official Derby County Club Ambassador.
Joyce donned the armband throughout the Ewes’ 2024/25 pre-season programme against the likes of Peterborough United, Hashtag United and Middlesborough, and Manager Griffiths believes making her captain was the natural next step for the midfielder's progression.
Griffiths said: “I think she was the standout candidate. She was in the mix last year when we chose to go with Amy Sims.
“Joycey has been at the club for a number of years and she lives and breathes our values. What she does on the pitch speaks for itself. Out of everybody, she's probably the one that deserves the opportunity the most to lead the team. I know it would mean the absolute world to her, being a Derby girl, too.
“She's not a leader in terms of being a screamer and a shouter and an organiser, but that's something that we can help her with and support her with this year. It will help her grow her own game if she can improve on that.
“Joycey has got a little bit more of her own mindset and is prepared to check and challenge at the right time with players.”
Joyce said: “To be named as the team captain of Derby County Women is a special feeling and I would like to thank our manager Sam Griffiths for offering me this amazing opportunity.
“I am proud to represent the club I have supported all my life and to be named as the captain is a huge honour for both me and my family.
“We have a great group of girls here and some experienced players who have a key role to play both on and off the pitch to lead the group; it isn’t about one individual here and it never has been.
“To have Hannah Ward as our club captain and offering her support will once again is something which is really important for the entire group.
“We’ve had a positive pre-season over the last month or so and we’re now just itching to get the campaign up and running and build on the positives we saw throughout last season, including winning the National League Plate back in April.”
