Proctor excited by Argyle's ambition

Argyle announced their first signing ahead of the 2025/26 FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division on Wednesday afternoon, with the arrival of Layla Proctor.

Having last played for fellow tier-three side Lewes, the 20-year-old midfielder made the move down the south coast to Home Park after extremely positive talks with Head Coach Marie Hourihan and staff.

Proctor shared her excitement and hopes for the season upon her arrival at the Theatre of Greens, and cannot wait to get under way and play in front of the Green Army, with pre-season just around the corner.

“I'm buzzing to be here,” Proctor told Argyle TV. “I'm very excited. I came down a couple of weeks ago and met Marie and Matt [Green], and had a look around the ground and facilities. Since then, it was just a no-brainer, and I had to get down here. I can’t wait to get going. The ambition and project of the club are both things that align with where I want to go with my career.

“Marie outlined her vision for me, where I would fit in in the team. How I play, how Marie plays and her style of football suits me - and I suit her. I think we could work really well together.

“I want to develop and I'm here to grow physically, mentally, technically - everything. I think Marie's visions for me, and the club's visions, align perfectly with where I want to go in my career. I’m excited to get going, get back on the pitch and see the fans soon.

“The Green Army should expect 100% from me every game. I’m someone who doesn't leave anything in the changing room; it all is out on the pitch. I love a tackle and doing the dirty work, so they can expect a lot from that, and breaking up play and winning the ball. I'm very simple; I like to do the simple things. Nothing too crazy, no tricks or anything.”

After growing up in Australia and being a part of a footballing family, an interesting career path followed for Layla, with a move across the globe at an early age to Germany to SV Elversberg. Despite choosing at 16 to leave home, the midfielder has no regrets about any decision made so far in her young career.

She said: “I started playing when I was four. My mum is massively into football and my dad played as well. I'm one of seven kids; I've got five brothers and a sister. As soon as I could sit up, my brothers would pick me up, put me in the goal, and kick the ball at me.

“There are not many people you see go from Australia to England - it's usually the other way round! It’s a whole different lifestyle. Football-wise, I think I got to a point where I was thriving, really enjoyed it and thought I needed the next challenge. Growing up, obviously, I didn't want to leave the beaches, I didn't want to leave everything like that, but it's a sacrifice I had to make for my football and here I am.

Following some time in Germany, a dream move to the north of England came about for Layla, and soon enough Carrington was her new home, as part of the Manchester United Academy.

Playing for the Under-21s side, she won the Academy Northern Division title in 2024, and the experience allowed her to get used to the English game, after experience down under and in Europe.

The next season, a journey to the south coast came calling and a year with Lewes in the FAWNL helped Layla be identified as a key target for Argyle this off-season.

“I grew up supporting United,” Proctor explained. “My mum is a massive United fan, so we're not allowed to support anyone else! To play for my childhood club was a surreal moment. I was there for three seasons, had amazing coaches and facilities, and met some amazing footballers. To then go to Huddersfield and get experience in women's football was unreal. It’s something that has led me to where I am today and to how I am as a footballer and as a person, and I can't fault it.

“It was good at Lewes. I really enjoyed it. I was at a stage in my career, leaving United, where football was something that I wasn't looking forward to anymore. Lewes really brought that back for me. The people there, staff, community, fans, everything like that, they brought back that love of football again for me. I can't thank them enough for it, but I'm just at that stage in my career where I want to go higher. I want to go professional, and Argyle aligns with that, and it’s why I’m here I am now.”