Everton Women star Lucy Hope has paid tribute to both the club and its fans after the Scottish international called time on a playing career that began in 2012.
After spells with Forfar Farmington and Hibernian, the versatile midfielder headed to Sweden to join Mallbackens IF, before Bristol City came calling in 2018.
But it was the move to Everton a year later where Hope would put down her roots, making almost 100 appearances for the Blues and scoring 12 goals.
Few strikes were more memorable than
her long-range winner against rivals Liverpool at Anfield in November 2019, and the equaliser at Goodison Park as Everton defeated Chelsea 2-1 in the FA Cup the following year on their road to Wembley, as the 29-year-old quickly established herself as a fan favourite.
And it is the fans that Hope, who has represented her country more than 20 times at senior level, wanted to pay a special mention to as she brings the curtain down on her playing career.
“I have loved my time at Everton,” she said. “The Club and city has become my home over the best part of a decade.
“To the fans, a special thank you. Your continued support throughout my career has meant more than I could ever properly explain.
“Hearing the chants, feeling your backing on matchdays and knowing how much you cared always gave me that extra push. Those moments and memories will stay with me forever, and I’ll never take that support for granted.
“I am very proud of what I have achieved at Everton, I have given it my all from the day I arrived and will always be grateful to have lived this dream.”
Born Lucy Graham in 1996, Hope tied the knot with partner Scott in 2022. The pair welcomed baby Jensen Jordan Hope in to the world in November 2025, with the midfielder taking time away from football during the 25/26 season.
And Everton will always be more than just a club to the now former midfielder as she embarks on her next phase of her life, it provided a home.
“I have loved my time at Everton,” added Hope. “The Club and city has become my home over the best part of a decade. The biggest thing football gave me was a place that felt like home – somewhere I felt comfortable enough to put roots down.
“First a dog, then I became a wife to my amazing husband, and now to welcome our son into the family means more to me than any statistic ever could.”
On behalf of everyone at Royal Blue Mersey, thank you Lucy and the very best of luck for the future.
