Harrison: I couldn’t be happier in Red & Black

Amy Harrison says she never expected to leave Sydney FC but has no regrets about her high-profile move to Western Sydney Wanderers.

Harrison will come up against her former club for the second time on Sunday at Cromer Park in a clash that is pivotal to both side’s hopes of a top-two finish.

The first meeting between the clubs this season was a memorable one for Harrison, with the 23-year-old scoring the opening goal on the way to a 5-0 drubbing of the Sky Blues.

For Harrison, the landmark result for the Red and Black was a vindication of her risky but well-thought-out move across the Harbour City.

“I think the club [Wanderers] is really going in the right direction and everyone here is just so level headed, so caring, so respectful,” Harrison said on Western Sydney’s official website.

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“Obviously that comes from the coaching staff down. It is such a great group of girls and I couldn’t be happier.

“For sure, it was (a big decision). I didn’t have the greatest season with Sydney last year and, to be honest, I never thought I would leave Sydney yet alone come to their rivals.

“I didn’t know how to choose, I didn’t know what I was going to do so then I said I’ll just stay at Sydney, but I just couldn’t bring myself to sign (there).

“I knew then and there I wasn’t going to go back. I spoke to Dean [coach Dean Heffernan] again and made the decision.”

And the Westfield Matildas midfielder hasn’t looked back.

Harrison has been one of the Westfield W-League’s most consistent midfielders, starting all nine games and scoring two goals.

The departure of Irish international midfielder Denise O’Sullivan after her guest stint has placed greater responsibility on the shoulders of Harrison.

But she is a player that has never worried about the pressure or expectation that comes with the territory.

“There’s a lit bit of it (expectation). At Sydney, there’s a lot bigger personalities,” admitted Harrison.

“But everyone here is equal and treated exactly the same no matter who you are, whether you are a visa player, a Matilda or a train on. We are such a close-knit group.

“The most important thing is that everyone here is a good person.

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“We all get along so well and our team morale is probably one of the best I have ever been involved with in my career and I think that helps.

“That’s why I like it here so much, there’s no hierarchy. You are respected no matter who you are and that’s all that matters.”

A win over the Sky Blues would not only put the Wanderers in the box seat for a top-two finish but would also ensure the club a first-ever Westfield W-League Finals Series appearance.

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It’s why Harrison is excited about the next couple of games which sees the club face champions Sydney FC and then runaway league-leaders Melbourne City.

“Obviously in the finals you are going to be playing the Sydney’s and City’s so, if anything, it is the best preparation we could have asked for,” Harrison said.

“But then again every team on their day can win. We lost to Adelaide which was probably not our best game but then we can beat Sydney 5-0. It’s who is there on the day and who is going to perform.