Hickmott joined the Blues at the age of 12 and it was the only club she had played for until she made the switch to West London. The left-sided player is preparing to begin her third year at The FA's National Player Development Centre based at Loughborough and has just begun pre-season training with her new team-mates.

Hickmott took time out to talk exclusively to TheFA.com about Fulham and her goals for the future...

Did you feel delighted to be approached by the best team in the country?

Yes I was. It is always nice to be approached by the top team but it wasn't an easy decision to go there. I have been with Birmingham since I was a kid, they were the only team I have been with so it was a hard decision to make. But with the opportunities at Fulham with Europe and the players here, I thought it would be a good move for me.

What did your old manager Marcus Bignot say to you?

Marcus has been really, really good about it. He helped me with my decision and wished me all the best so he has helped me and been really good about everything.

With Fulham having two full England internationals on the left hand side, Rachel Unitt and Rachel Yankey, there will be stiff competition for places?

I knew when I decided to go to the club that they had two full internationals down the left. The competition is going to be really hard but the challenge won't do me any harm and the fact that I will be training with full internationals, I think, can only better me as a player.

How has it been training with your new team-mates?

I had my first training session last Thursday. The girls were really nice and welcoming and it was a good training session. I had worked with Marieanne Spacey, the manager, a couple of times when I had been away with England. She is a really good coach, as a manager I don't really know yet but it was a good atmosphere at training.

 

What was the feeling from the other girls about Fulham now being semi-professional?

Everyone is still as up for it and if anything they really want to prove themselves this year to show that they can still go and win things as semi-professionals.

Do you feel that your time at The FA's NPDC has improved your game?

Yeah, definitely. I have been there two years now and playing everyday I feel I have definitely come on as a player. We train everyday so it is like Fulham when they were professional.

Do you think that your time with the England Under-19s was a factor in Fulham signing you?

I had a really successful year with the Under-19s last year and Marianne is quoted as saying that she had seen me play for Birmingham and the England Under-19s and she was impressed with my performances. I have got to start thinking about the Seniors with next year being my last year with the Under-19s. Hopefully being with Fulham will give me the best chance to improve myself and get picked for the Seniors.