DORCHESTER’S Martha Thomas likened her move to West Ham United as a “dream”.

Thomas, 23, a former Manor Park pupil, joined the Hammers from Le Havre AC and will don the number nine shirt in the forthcoming FA Women’s Super League campaign.

Forward Thomas could feature in West Ham’s daunting opening assignment on Sunday, September 8 against reigning champions Arsenal.

Speaking to Echosport, Thomas, whose family moved to Florida when she was aged six, admitted she is “really excited” to play in English football’s top women’s division.

She said: “It’s always been a dream of mine to come back to England and to play in the first division. I wasn’t sure if I would’ve had to have gone through the second division to get to the first.

“Obviously playing last year in France, that was enough exposure for me to get over here, so I’m really excited to be at West Ham and then playing in the top division.”

And Thomas believes she can make an impact at West Ham, adding: “Coach (Matt) Beard has a lot of faith in me and his players which is really encouraging.

“He says I wouldn’t have picked you to be here if you weren’t good enough. I’ll use that to know I belong and fit in with the league and make a stamp on it.”

On her formative years at Dorchester, Thomas recalled her time at the Clayson Stadium as a youth player and mascot.

She said: “Growing up down there we definitely used to go and watch some of the games and I played for a Dorchester Town boys’ team, my older brothers both played and I was a mascot one time.

“When I was there I was definitely involved with Dorchester Town.”

Elsewhere, Yeovil Town Women beat Bournemouth 2-0 in their opening pre-season friendly.