For Freya Holman, the opening fixture of the University of Derby Women’s season against Warwick University today is about more than three points. Having played through a fractured foot for much of last season, the Derby-born forward begins the 2026/27 campaign with unfinished business.
At just 20, Holman has already experienced many twists and turns in her footballing journey. From taking her first steps at childhood club Nottingham Forest, paving her way across several clubs, she has now found her feet at Burton Albion, where she holds the role of vice-captain.
Despite the disappointment of relegation for the Brewers last season, Holman believes the arrival of new manager Heidi Sloan has given Burton renewed optimism.
“It’s been good,” Holman said. “I joined just over a year ago and last year was a bit tough. We got relegated, had two manager changes in the season so there were a lot of adjustments.
“But at the start of pre-season the new manager has come in, we’ve had meetings and it’s looked really good despite some mixed results.”
Burton sit eighth in the West Midlands Regional Women’s Football League having played just five matches, with Holman scoring three goals for the Brewers thus far.
Freya Holman training ahead of clash against University of Warwick. Photo credit: Scott Jackson.
Holman’s difficult season extended beyond Burton, with her university side Derby also suffering relegation. A hairline fracture in her foot midway through the campaign compounded the disappointment, yet she continued playing through the injury.
“It was awful, playing on the injury made it even worse but both Burton and Derby needed me, so I kept playing.
“But I’m back now, and the team feels together having played with each other before, it’s like playing with your best friends which is great.
“Even last season was fun even though we got relegated so kicking on for promotion will be really good.“
Holman is not the only Derby player hoping for a fresh start, with right-back Mia Turner set to miss Wednesday’s opener against Warwick after suffering a shoulder injury.
“I was absolutely devastated because I’ve been wanting to play football with the team for so long, having missed most of pre-season,” Turner admitted.
However, she remains hopeful of returning for Derby’s fixture against Birmingham City on 4 November.
While injuries and relegation have provided challenges for Derby, the appointment of Michael Noon offers Holman a familiar source of encouragement as he was the manager who handed her a senior debut at Chesterfield Ladies FC at just 16.
Reflecting on her early career, Holman recalled the close-knit group at Chesterfield that helped shape her into the player she is today.
“I first found my place at Chesterfield. We were such a close group and we all got on really well, like best friends.
“We’d run through a brick wall for each other, and it was so important to us getting results that we perhaps wouldn’t have got normally, and Mike was key to that.
“Knowing that Mike was going to be my manager at Derby was great; it’s nice to have a manager who you know trusts you, one who knows you well.”
Despite last season’s disappointment, Holman is clear about Derby’s ambitions for the upcoming campaign under Noon; she wants promotion.
“Last season wasn’t good enough, so getting as many positive results we can is massive, a cup run would be great, but promotion is our ultimate aim.
“I think if we do that, whilst providing good performances and playing football that is nice to watch then we can get back to where we should be.”
For Holman, today’s opening clash with Warwick represents more than the start of another university campaign. After a season of injury, relegation and uncertainty, it offers the chance for a fresh start – to turn last year’s disappointment into the foundations of a promotion push.
