Whisper it quietly but Everton Ladies stalwart Fern Whelan was actually a Liverpool fan as a schoolgirl – now she’s desperate to knock the Reds from their Women’s Super League perch.
Whelan watched on from the sidelines for all of last season due to a knee injury as Liverpool Ladies claimed their first ever WSL title.
With this being her ninth season in Everton colours, many might see Whelan as being synonymous with Everton but it hasn’t always been that way.
Fern Whelan
DOB: 5 December 1988
Club: Everton Ladies
Position: Defender
England: Caps at U15, UI19, U20, U23 and Senior level
By Marios Papaloizou
Whelan was actually a product of the Liverpool youth system and admits that she was a die-hard Reds fan before turning blue in 2005.
"I moved from Liverpool to Everton and I was a big red so I used to walk around with my Liverpool kit under my tracksuit," she admitted.
"But Everton won me over and I love the club now so when it comes to derby day when the men play, I usually stay quiet and just watch as a football fan."
While Everton dominate her club thoughts these days, playing for England ranks pretty high in Whelan’s list of achievements.
"I’ve been capped for my country and played for an amazing club for so long, so I feel lucky," added Whelan, who has been capped three times.
"For me playing for England has to be the highlight of my career. As a player you can’t ask for any more than to represent you country."
Fern Whelan in action for England Women
There aren’t many who can be called a senior player at 25, but Whelan is on the cusp of veteran status after spending almost a decade with the Toffees.
And the central defender believes Everton have the strength in depth to cause a few surprises in this season’s WSL.
The Toffees narrowly missed out on a Champions League spot in 2012 when they finished third but found themselves off the pace last season and finished fifth.
And Whelan thinks her team now have the right mix of experience and youthful flair to ruffle a few feathers in this year’s competition – with no one exemplifying Everton’s potential more than youthful striker Nikita Parris.
"Nikita is young and can do pretty much everything so to have someone like that in your side is great," she said.
"She is someone who is always trying new things and can pull something out of the bag from nowhere.
"I think that she is definitely one to watch for the future and someone who can get us a few wins this season.
"She’s got that bit of magic and produces stuff off the cuff; you don’t know what she is going to do.
"But then we’ve also got a good core of experienced players like Alex Greenwood who is still young but has been at the club for a long time."
