The lowdown on Charlie Rule

Albion are getting an attack-minded full-back who always puts the team before herself in Charlie Rule.

That is according to Kirsty Fenton, who played alongside the 20-year-old last season in their title-winning campaign for the Australian side.

After thriving at Sydney, Fenton, who was also her teammate with the Junior Matildas (Australia under-17s) and the Young Matildas (Australia under-20s), is confident Rule can succeed at Brighton after signing on a long-term deal in July.

“I have grown up with Charlie, we met when we were 14. She is the type of person that will always help you with your problems and even help you forget about them,” said Fenton.

“She is a great character, especially on the field. She will always put the team ahead of herself, she gives her all for her teammates, and is a very selfless person.

“Moving to the WSL will be out of her comfort zone but going to a new environment with her new teammates will be good for her. 
“Plus, I think having Mackenzie Hawkesby and Madison Haley (who all played at Sydney last season) there as well will help her have that confidence to bed in nicely.”

Fenton, 19, adds that the 5ft 9in Rule, who scored three goals in 45 appearances for Sydney since making her debut in 2020, has a lot of attributes that will stand her in good stead in the English top-flight.

For instance, the right-back was in the top ten per cent for aerial duels won, tackles won, progressive passes, dribblers tackled and ball recoveries among her fellow full-backs in the A-League last season.

“On the field, she has that aerial dominance. Whenever she is in the opposition’s box, she was always our key target. We were always aiming to find her in the area and score goals but not only that, she loves to get forward as a full-back,” said Fenton.

“She is a very attack-minded player, with overlapping runs and putting dangerous crosses into the box. That was a real bonus for us.

“She loves to be creative on the ball, so when she has that opportunity she will definitely go forward but she knows when to go. She doesn’t just attack all the time, she chooses her moments well, but she prioritises defending more. Teams in Australia didn’t get down her side of defence a great deal. She was a versatile option on the right.”

While Rule will have to adapt to a new team and environment at the Albion, there are some familiar faces who may make her settle in nicely.

Herself, Haley, and Hawkesby were part of the Sydney side that won the A-League Grand Final in late April, and Fenton said when the three played together they were a well-oiled machine. And for a player who is relatively young, Rule has already shown her leadership qualities.

“The three of them had a great relationship. Whenever we played together we really gelled, especially those three as Maddy was a striker, Mackenzie was a midfielder, and Charlie was a defender. They really complemented each other,” she added.

“I definitely think she is a leader, particularly when younger players come in and they are not feeling so comfortable in a new environment. She is always the first person to say hello and help them settle in.

“No matter if we won or lost, she was always hyping the girls up, saying how well we played. She would go to her parents, go to the fans, and say, ‘Thank you so much for coming’.

“It’s just the type of person she is on and off the field. She is very positive about boosting others, even if she wasn’t feeling as good about her own game. She puts others before herself, every time.”