League of her Owen
Captain Vikki Owen chats to Connexus about her career so far at Shrewsbury Town Women FC.
After eight years in Shrewsbury blue and amber, Vikki is one of the club’s most experienced and respected players. “It’s gone quickly,” she laughs. “But I’ve loved every minute.”
“It all started really young,” she explains. “My family were very into football – my dad coached, so as soon as I was old enough I was straight into it. I was about six or seven when I joined my first team, Wem Raiders.
“I made a lot of friends through football. At that age, that was the best bit, playing with my mates.”
She had a taste of academy football with Shrewsbury Town, but it wasn’t what she expected. “I went for trials when I was about 12 or 13, and I got in,” she recalls. “But I didn’t enjoy it as much because my friends weren’t there.”
Vikki returned to her local side, before joining Crewe Alexandra. She went from the under-21s to the first team over four years there.
“The setup was really professional there,” she remembers. “The coaches were great. But eventually the travel got a bit much.”
That brought her back to Shrewsbury, and the women’s first team. “It was different by then,” Vikki explains. “It wasn’t just about friends anymore; it was about loving the game itself. Football became my drive, my exercise, my escape. It’s what I love to do.”
Balancing boots and business
Off the pitch, life is just as busy. Vikki works as a veterinary nurse while also running her own dog behaviour and training business, Helping Paw.
“I’ve always loved animals,” she says. “I started as a receptionist at a vet’s, then trained as a nurse. I love what I do, especially working with dogs.”
Balancing her day job, her business, and football isn’t always easy, but she says it’s all about passion and purpose.
“Football has always been an outlet for me,” Vikki says. “Even when I stopped playing for a bit while working long shifts, I missed it.”
She hopes that younger girls can find that same passion. “A lot of girls drop out of sport in their teens,” she says. “My advice is simple: enjoy it. Don’t feel like you have to do it for anyone else. If you love it, you’ll keep at it, and that’s when you’ll see yourself improve.”
“Support them, don’t push them”
Vikki also has a message for parents: “Support them, but don’t push too hard. Let them enjoy it. If they enjoy it, they’ll want to get better. And let them try lots of different sports, it’s not just about football: it’s about teamwork, confidence, and resilience.”
Her inspirations have evolved. “When I was younger, I looked up to players like Michael Owen because that’s who we saw on TV. Now, it’s brilliant that girls can watch people like Leah Williamson and think, ‘I could be her.’ The growth of the women’s game has been massive.”
Looking ahead
That growth is visible at Shrewsbury. The women’s team continues to go from strength to strength, driven by commitment, togetherness, and community pride.
“This season’s going really well,” says Vikki. “We’ve had a strong pre-season. We’re all working hard. The ambition is definitely to win the league and yes, I think it’s realistic.”
Her proudest moments in a Shrewsbury shirt? “Lifting the cup will always stand out. But honestly, every time I put the shirt on, it means something.”
Asked about the future, she grins. “Maybe retired on a beach somewhere! But I’ll stay in football as long as I can. I’d love to move into coaching one day. It’s nice to give something back.”
And when she’s not working? “I love a cosy night in with Harry Potter, a cheese board, and my German Shepherd, Rex,” she says. “That’s the perfect winter evening for me.”
Whether it’s on the pitch, in the clinic, or walking Rex through frosty fields, Vikki’s love for football and her community remains constant.
“It’s been part of my life since I was six,” she says simply. “And I can’t imagine it any other way.”