One of three guests on a special CITY+ Roundtable focusing on the journeys of female talent across the Club, the defender touched on the growth she’s witnessed during her career to date.
Working her way through the ranks at Sunderland in the early 2000s, she admits that women’s football going on to consistently sell out some of the biggest sporting venues around the world in less than two decades was unheard of.
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However, to see that scenario now become a regular occurrence is something that Houghton takes immense pride in.
“When I first came here [to City] that was the aim, to challenge those perceptions,” she explained.
“People enjoyed it [women’s football] and took notice because we’d done well at the Olympics and sold out Wembley to play.
“But now that’s a given, the FA Cup final or if England play there, it’ll be sold out. Our games at the Joie Stadium are full because we’re in a title run-in, now that’s the norm.
“I think about my journey, and I’ve loved every minute of it. I appreciated what I had then but also what I have now.
“It’s about enjoying it and knowing you’ve worked hard to be here. As women we always support each other but we have loads of good people around us as well.”
The game which Houghton is a part of now is a different beast to the one she first encountered during her formative years in the north east.
It’s something that the City captain went into detail on during her episode of the official Man City podcast, and she reflected on those early experiences once again.
But while the defender is incredibly proud of the game’s upward trajectory, she insists that the early grounding she received is something she’ll always look back on fondly.
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She added: “To have gone on the journey where it started with having to pay to play and getting hand-me-down kit to being captain of this football club, it’s been pretty unique but also special at the same time.
“It’s been crazy. I’m fortunate enough to live both what the game was and what it is now.
“When I was younger, my dad used to have to pay per season for us to play, you wouldn’t get kit, sometimes you’d take turns taking the kit home to wash.
“So, you’ve gone from that sense to now living as a professional athlete where you’re given every opportunity to do what’s needed to win games and strive to be better.”
