Mia Endacott | The making of a Lilywhite

From making an impact at senior level to shining in Academy football, it has been a unique journey for Under-19s star Mia Endacott.

Having made her senior debut for Plymouth Argyle at the age of 16, the young forward joined our Academy in the summer of 2024 and impressed in her first year, racking up 21 goal involvements in 29 games. She has since been named captain of the Under-19s side for this campaign, while having stepped up for first team training over pre-season.

In our new series, which appears first & exclusively in our matchday programme, we sat down with Mia to talk about her journey to becoming a Lilywhite…

First taste of football…

“I always grew up around football. It was a family thing where we very much driven by sport. It got to a point where I was constantly at the track with my mum and while she was training, my cousin started playing football and, you know what you sort of latch onto something, I started to have a kick about with my cousin and my mum could see I really enjoyed it.

“She took me to my first session, a little kickers session, and I just loved it. So, I did that alongside athletics for a while and it then got to a point where I had to choose, so I opted with football when I was 12 years old.”

Making her mark in Argyle colours

“It was my first year with the Under-16s where you start to get exposure to the first team and training alongside them. Then when I turned 16 years old, I then signed for the senior squad. It was obviously a big achievement, signing for a Women’s team at that age, but they had been such a big part of my journey and it got me to where I am today.

“The step from Under-16s to senior football at tier three level was big but it was beneficial, it has shaped me into who I am today. It helped me improve in the areas I needed to, before senior football I was very good physically, but I had to develop that area of my game even further when I made the step up.”

Moving away from home…

“It was a big step for me, having to move away from my family, but I think the girls and coaches have made it such an easy transition. I felt at home as soon as I walked through the day.

“My mum has pushed me to be the best version of myself from day one and with me being nearly four hours away from any of my family, it should have been difficult but she has made it so easy for me. I’m on the phone to her for three hours a night usually… she can’t get rid of me!”

Academy life and first team opportunities…

“When looking back at my first year in the Academy, I felt the technical and tactical knowledge of the game was something that I learnt. The PGA is very different to senior football, to any football I have really played, so there was a lot of growth and development.

“It’s obviously brilliant to get those opportunities to train with the first team. You learn so much whenever you get exposed to the first team and picking up certain stuff from players that you don’t see in the PGA. It’s obviously a lot quicker, higher tempo and it challenges you and brings the best out of you.”