Stepping out onto the hallowed Wembley Stadium turf in the FA Cup Final as a 19-year-old – with the game locked at 1-1 – the youngster was handed the chance to live every footballers’ dream.
With 20 minutes remaining, the teenager was chosen by Gareth Taylor to try and swing the game in City’s favour.
The task: make an impact – and my, did she oblige.
Using her electric pace and trickery, she put some late pressure on the Everton defence. The game headed into extra-time and with fresh legs, Park was ready.
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With nine minutes left on the clock before the nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out, Park produced the moment of magic, spotting the run of Georgia Stanway and slipping an inch-perfect through-ball into the forward’s path.
Stanway beat the on-rushing Sandy MacIver and poked home the winner – in off the post – to spark scenes of delight. City were minutes away from retaining the FA Cup and needless to say, Park herself was ecstatic!
After the game, manager Taylor hailed the teenager’s composure to play such a pass, deeming Park to be playing at a level ‘beyond her years’.
It was a moment she will remember for the rest of her life – and hopefully, the first of many silverware successes.
“This week is just beginning to sink in!” she reflected.
“Obviously, I’ve had a brilliant time: winning the FA Cup was phenomenal.
“I wasn’t expecting to be selected to come on at Wembley - but I was hoping for it - and to help the team by getting the assist for the winning goal was really special.”
Joyfully, the teenager (who scored twice in the Development League Cup Final win back in 2018) succeeded that achievement by bagging another goal for the Club – her second in as many Continental Cup games – in the midweek 3-0 triumph at Liverpool.
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She’s in blue-hot form and the talk of the town as one of the country’s brightest young prospects… but how does she keep motivated?
“I’m quite a determined person anyway,” she explained. “To then to get 90 minutes and score against Liverpool in the Conti Cup was great.
“I always want to win, whether it’s a small game in training or flipping a coin in ‘heads or tails!’
“That competition keeps me motivated - and that’s the environment we have at City - and of course, I just love the game!
“At the moment, with grassroots football cancelled, I want to play for all the young girls who can’t.
“I want to inspire the next generation and hopefully, I’m doing that.”
Live on CITY+, City are back in FA Women’s Super League action on Saturday with the visit of Bristol City – a side we have struggled to break down in the past.
Although Park admits it can be easy to expect to ride the momentum of such a wonderful week, she insists her side must not take their foot off the gas.
“Whenever we come up against Bristol, it’s a difficult game and we’ve had some tough results against them in the past with some draws,” she warned.
“We have to keep composed and keep our heads. We’ll all work hard as a team - no matter what squad is put out – and we’ll all play our game and hopefully, come out with a win.”
Hear more from Jess in our MCWFC v Bristol City digital matchday programme, as she talks us through her amazing assist, words of wisdom from her peers and her mentor in training…
