Doncaster Rovers Belles got their season underway on Sunday 7th October, with John Buckley's side taking on Chelsea Ladies at the Keepmoat Stadium's Number 2 pitch. Throughout the summer, the Belles have aqquired five new players to strengthen the first team - however there was one signing who arguably made more of an impact than the others - Liz Hansen.

Hansen joined the Rovers Belles from American W-League side Cocoa Expos. Born in Canada, Liz has experienced various aspects of the developing women's game and is happy to now be in England.

"Since I have got here, things have been going really well. All of the girls here seem really nice; all of the pitches are in incredible condition - it's a whole different world, really."

Women's football is a game that is constantly increasing in population. The women's FA Premier League has seen high competition amongst clubs' women's side and is starting to gain more media coverage and exposure than ever before. However, Hansen confesses that the game over here is vastly different than across the waters.

"Women's football in England is a lot different from that in Canada and America where I played before. The style of play is certainly a lot different. In England, as opposed to Canada, the seriousness of the game is totally different - the football is taken much more seriously here. Everybody seems as if they live for the game over here, whereas it is getting there over in Canada - it's not quite there yet. It is getting there, though."

"I think that the women's game is constantly growing, and it's growing here in England, for sure. I think that women's football is definitely getting more popular in all parts of the world. It's on the up and up."

The popularity of women's football in the United States has always been high, especially on the West Coast, where the film 'Bend It Like Beckham' was marginally more successful than it was in the United Kingdom. So why did Liz feel that England was the place to come?

"I moved over to England, simply because it was something different. I had finished university over in Canada and then went down to Florida. While I was in Florida, I met and played alongside a girl who played over here last season and as a result, I thought 'why not'!"

And when asked what the main difference was between Florida and Doncaster, it didn't take long for the striker to answer!

"Well, from Florida to here it's cold! It has been so, so different."

Liz joins Rovers Belles in their 37th year of competing - the oldest surviving women's football team in the world and one of the most famous - and Hansen feels privileged to be here.

"I've heard that Doncaster Rovers Belles are one of the oldest and most successful women's teams in the world, so it is definitely an honour to play here. Over the water, where the women's game is hugely popular, Doncaster Rovers Belles are one of those teams that are starting to make a name for themselves. I hadn't heard of them much in Canada, but when I went down to the States - I heard more about them. At the same time, you get over to America and the whole FA Premier League is well known - so it's out there."

The season opener against Chelsea Ladies was a special game for Liz. Her home debut, she was included in a starting XI that would face a new-look Chelsea side - who themselves had dabbled in the transfer market, signing a select few England internationals from Charlton.

"The performance was good; I felt that the team played very well together; definitely better than the team had played in the previous game. It's obviously going to take some time for the new players to gel; we are all still getting to know each other a little bit. I feel that once we do that, we can pass the ball around very well and be a very good team."

The Belles were the side who opened the scoring and looked set to start their season with a good win against a side that trains with the Chelsea men's team. However, the Belles were denied the win thanks to a late goal from Chelsea's Whitter. Despite the draw, Hansen came away happy after she scored the goal for the Rovers Belles - her first of the season and her first in English football.

"It was good to get my first goal. It's nice to just get that out of the way more than anything. Looking back, I probably should have had a couple more earlier on, but one is good and I am happy to get off the mark."

Belles continued their season with an away defeat to Leeds United on Thursday evening, before returning for a big clash at the main Keepmoat Stadium against Birmingham City on Sunday 21st.

"I am really excited, actually. This stadium is absolutely unbelievable; it's a dream to have the ability to play in such an incredible stadium. Looking out on it, the field is in great condition and will be fantastic to play on. I have never had the chance to play in a stadium like this."

"I don't have any personal aims this season. There is nothing that I want to achieve as an individual. I'd love to have a great season - but I would prefer for us as a team to well this year. I've heard what the Belles have done in the past and I hope that with my help we can get there and exceed that. International call-ups are always a goal, but I think that I am probably too old for that now; they tend to catch players while they're young."

"I think that it is great entertainment, as football always is. But I think that the Belles can give young girls who play, the chance to come and see a game and see what they can aim for."

For more information on Liz and the rest of the Rovers Belles, click here to visit their official site.

NOTE: Doncaster Rovers Belles clash against Liverpool, scheduled for this evening (Wednesday 17th October) has been postponed. See the Rovers Belles official site for more details.