April’s Barclays Women’s Super League Player of the Month Shekiera Martinez insists she is loving every minute as a West Ham United women’s team player.
The Germany U23 international received the accolade for the second time in succession for her performances last month, having become the first-ever Hammer to win the award in March.
Back-to-back Player of the Month winner Martinez has once again been breathtaking for Rehanne Skinner’s side, who went unbeaten in April, scoring seven goals and setting new records in the process.
“I’m so proud to have won the Player of the Month award for the second month in a row. I can’t believe it!” she exclaimed.
“This award means a lot to me. I said last month that I hoped it would be the first of many awards for me and my teammates, so to win this award is a great moment for the whole squad. I’m very proud of everyone!
“I have a lot of confidence in my own ability and I know the manager and my teammates do as well. I think I’ve shown a glimpse of what I’m capable of, but I know I have a lot more to offer and areas of my game I can still develop.
“I want to keep getting better and better, and playing under a manager like Rehanne Skinner, who continues to challenge and push me to reach new heights, I’m sure I’ll be able to reach my potential.
“I’m really happy at West Ham and have loved every minute of being here, and I think that’s showing by my performances on the pitch.
“I think it’s a really exciting time to play for West Ham. The morale and togetherness in this group is amazing and I think that’s showing on the pitch. We’ve grown as a group every single game and we’ve put in some huge performances against some of the best teams in not only England, but the world.
“We have a strong mentality as a group and approach every game the same - no matter the challenge in front of us, we will always try to be the best versions of ourselves and I love that.”
The 23-year-old’s starring performance came at the VBS Community Stadium in West Ham’s 7-1 success against Crystal Palace at the end of April.
Becoming the first-ever women’s team player to score four goals in a WSL match, Martinez caused the Palace defence nightmares as she displayed her trickery, pace and clinical finishing in south London, helping the Hammers to their biggest-ever WSL victory.
“The game against Crystal Palace was a crazy game!” smiled Martinez. “It’s my favourite game in a West Ham shirt so far, and for the team to score seven goals was incredible.
“I’m always so happy to score, but to score four goals in one game was a special feeling. It’s been a long time since I scored a hat-trick, so to do so was amazing. Hopefully it won’t be the last time I do so either.
“I must give credit to my teammates, though. Their assists were moments of brilliance and I just needed to finish off their hard work by putting the ball in the back of the net.
“To top it all off, I got given the match ball after the game and all my teammates signed it for me. It was a lovely touch and I will cherish that ball forever!”
Playing in England’s top flight has always been a dream for Martinez, and she has taken the league by storm. With ten goals in eleven WSL matches, having given the rest of the division a four-month head start, she is currently third in the top-scoring charts.
A hat-trick against Leicester City on Saturday, the final day of the 2024/25 season, could see Martinez secure the Golden Boot, having only made her top-flight debut in January. But Martinez is only focused on ending the campaign with three points at King Power Stadium.
She said: “It’s not something I think about, to be honest. I just want to keep working hard to help the team finish the season as strong as we can against Leicester on Saturday. I will always try to score when I can, but the most important thing is getting the three points at the weekend.
“Playing in England was always a dream of mine as the WSL is the best league in the world. I was a little bit nervous initially, but my teammates and coaches have given me a lot of confidence and support since January, and I want to keep repaying them all with my performances on the pitch.”
Martinez has clearly felt the love for West Ham, and that has been reciprocated by the Claret and Blue faithful.
Voted by Irons supporters, Martinez won the women's team Young Hammer of the Year and Goal of the Season prizes, and was presented with the awards before Sunday's fixture against Aston Villa - in which she scored her tenth goal of the season.
