Play, build, repeat: Inside United Women's Lego Club
A new bond is building within the ranks of Manchester United Women.
Safia Middleton-Patel, Leah Galton, Jess Simpson and Rachel Williams even have a table in the players' lounge dedicated to their construction work.
Not that the quartet's love for Lego is confined to headquarters. The four fanatics have even taken sets on the road with them, from Manchester to Paris and more recently to the warm-weather training camp in Malta, and it's proving to be a helpful way to unwind from the pressures of professional football.
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“For some people, their ‘therapy’ is talking. For others, it’s reading, or drawing. For me, it’s building Lego,” the young goalkeeper told us.
“I’ve always been into it. If I wasn’t a footballer, my dream job would be a master Lego builder, definitely. Maybe I could do it one day after I hang up my gloves!”
“The Lego Discovery Centre released a free (Disney Princess) Moana set so I brought it in to show everyone,” said Safia. “And then I kept bringing in more and more Lego.”
That piqued the interest of Rachel who was already into the hobby at home.
“I thought, 'I've found a Lego friend here,” said the striker. “I'll bring my Harry Potter Lego in and it went from there. It's really good to do on the coach for away days, when it's a long trip.”
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“I just wanted to part of a club and it's actually really relaxing for me, so I enjoy doing it," said left-winger Leah. "We're taking it so seriously that we actually come into training earlier some days, to do a bit of Lego.”
Reds defender Jess recalled: “I was at Bristol [on loan] but came back when I got injured. I thought I might as well get something to pass the time and help take my mind off going for rehab, so I joined Lego Club.”
To find out more, watch our special video feature on Lego Club above.