Bonnie Davies rise from Tasmanian soccer to English giant Blackburn Rovers

Bonnie Davies remarkable journey has seen her sign with an English soccer giant as the Tasmanian star reflects on her journey to get there.

Tasmania's Bonnie Davies has signed a professional football contract with Blackburn Rovers FC in the UK. Picture: Blackburn Rovers FC.

While the journey to realise her professional football dreams has taken her well beyond the borders of Tasmania, Bonnie Davies isn’t one to forget where she came from.

A proud Tasmanian, Davies journey reached new heights earlier this week when she was announced as one of three new signings at Blackburn Rovers FC – one of 11 clubs in the UK’s Women’s Championship league.

Joining the Rovers after an impressive career in Australia – which included stints at two A-League clubs – Davies continues to blaze a trail for other young girls in her home state to follow.

And while joining a new club means the colour of her kit will once again change, it’s clear from the tattoo inscribed on her arm that the place she calls home is always with her.

“I’m still kind of pinching myself, honestly,” Davies said.

“I started in the state representation program in Tasmania, which was really crucial in my development, and my first week here we had a planned practice match against Liverpool and I’m thinking ‘what the hell is happening’.

“I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet but I’m sure the more time I spend here it will begin to feel more real.”

Professional footballer Bonnie Davies' tattoo of the outline of Tasmania on her arm. Picture: Supplied.

No stranger to the rigours of professional football, the 24 year-old spent time at the Newcastle Jets and Brisbane Roar following a highly successful career at local level.

Davies played for Olympia Warriors and South Hobart FC either side of a move to Melbourne, before an NPL stint in Brisbane catapulted her into her first professional contract with Newcastle.

A 26-goal season at Peninsula Power had the Jets come calling but Davies time in NSW was short lived, signing with the Roar just two months later and making 10 appearances during her time at the club.

“I went back to the Power at the end of that A-League season and probably didn’t go as well as I’d planned, just in terms of performing and scoring, which meant the A-League options weren’t as available to me,” a candid Davies said.

“That obviously beat me up a little bit but it opened up this opportunity to come overseas. I was honestly just planning to come over and trial at the end of last year but Blackburn were really keen on signing me straight away.

Bonnie Davies in local action in Tassie. Picture: Linda Higginson

“I feel like this is my next step and hopefully I’m here for a while to kind of develop myself further professionally. So yeah, I’m really excited.”

While busy gearing up for her first professional minutes for Rovers as early as this week, the long-haul flight to her new home gave Davies plenty of time to reflect on the journey so far.

And while she may now be some 17,000 kilometres away from the birthplace of the start of that journey, she’s hopeful it’s one that inspires the next young girl or boy from Tasmania.

“It’s a lot of sacrifice but I really hope my journey can inspire others back home,” she said.

“Sometimes people can talk Tassie down but hopefully this is further proof that coming from a small place (isn’t a barrier) and you can go anywhere you set your mind too.”

Originally published as Bonnie Davies rise from Tasmanian soccer to English giant Blackburn Rovers