Among the new faces to feature in the season opener against Cardiff was the familiar figure of Rachel Lee.

Returning for her second spell at Leeds having spent a year with  Sunderland, the club she started out with, the midfielder is relishing the prospect of resuming her Leeds United career.

“Obviously leaving Sunderland was a difficult decision to make,” she said. “I spent a long time there and it will always mean a lot to me but when I relocated to Yorkshire through work, re-signing for Leeds was my first choice.”

A British representative at the 2011 World University Games in China, the high-energy Geordie has quickly settled back in to life with Leeds. “My Geordie accent still seems to draw some attention from the girls! It’s been a lot of fun so far and I’m really looking forward to getting back out on the pitch with a few old friends.”

An integral member of Sunderland’s double winning side last season, Lee anticipates having further opportunities for success with her new teammates. “With the strength of our squad there’s no limit as to what we can achieve this season. It’s a tough league with quality opposition every single week but if we work hard enough and perform to our capabilities, then we certainly have a chance of going one better than the girls did last time round.”

Not content with mastering the challenges of relocating, starting a new job as a PE Teacher in Dewsbury and joining up with new team-mates, Lee has also committed to running the 2013 Edinburgh Marathon in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association. “I love a challenge and it’s for a very worthy cause. I’m hoping to raise as much money as possible so everybody watch this space!”