Football has been with me since day one. I was born into a very passionate Arsenal family. I went to football camps with my brothers from the age of 4- looking up at them, kicking balls in the garden and watching my brother’s games. My dad took me to my first men’s game at the Emirates when I was 4 and I was hooked. Watching Arsenal men at the Emirates with my dad from a very young age has played a big part in my own journey.
My earliest memory of football was being brought to my local club Hendon FC camps during half terms and anytime they had camps open. They were open to boys and girls but generally, I would be the only girl in my age group with the rest being boys. I loved it.
Football has always been part of my life. Sunday mornings from birth I was on the sidelines cheering on my two big brothers. I always paid very close attention to see what they did and dressed from head to toe in their old football kits at any opportunity. I would go play in the garden and play against my brothers or even my dad. I gradually started getting better and waited for an opportunity for a girls team to come around .
I started following Arsenal Women in 2019 when our coach took a group of us to Meadow Park to watch a game. Me and my mum were so happy to have somewhere to go to watch girls play at a high standard. The best part about supporting the Arsenal Women is that it is a place where you can feel safe and enjoy football to a better extreme. There are always familiar faces like the Red and White supporters club. They start all the chants and make a wonderful atmosphere.
“It’s a place where I feel like I belong.”
Everyone around me has the same interest as me, which is not always the case in school or within my own friendship groups.
My position in my team is a winger (Left or Right). I would describe myself as a clever footballer. I am a little bit small but that doesn’t matter because I have pace, skill and I can read the game. Sometimes as a footballer I face many fears. Especially coming up against bigger players or being less physical than opponents, but this doesn’t change my mindset as I have different abilities than others .
When playing football I have played for many teams. When I started off I played for my local club Hendon (under 8 at the age of 6). This was the clubs very first girls team and we struggled to get players. Sadly the pandemic put a stop to a period of games, but I was always out in the garden or park playing football. I was selected to represent Brent girls school team when I was 10 and I made lots of new friends. The opportunity came for me to trial for Watford Ladies academy last year. We played in the Hertfordshire league last season and next season I am playing in the Junior Premier League (JPL).
In primary school our PE teacher saw my potential at a young age. He was always encouraging me across all sports. I was captain of the school team in year 6 and led my squad to the Brent school final. This is my first year in secondary school and I was worried that there might not be much opportunity for me to play football there. Only one other girl in the whole year also plays football. I spend most mornings before school playing with the boys. I am really lucky to have a great PE teacher who again has embraced my talent and helps me grow in confidence. I was joint captain for the year 7 school team and brought the girls team to the Brent finals with a win – scoring a very important goal. This was the first time in 13 years that the girls had won the Brent Cup and this made me very proud. As a result of my sporting achievements this year my PE teacher put me forward for the Jack Petchy award. I was very pleased to receive funds for my school girls team. My parents were very proud.
When I am older I would love to pursue a career of playing in the WSL and maybe playing for Arsenal one day, with my surname on the back of my kit, representing my family. If I don’t get the chance of a career in professional football I could always still go down a football related path like photography, media or even be a doctor or coach. I am lucky to be surrounded by people who give me some great opportunities. I was asked to take photos for Arsenal at the Conti Cup final this year and I loved it. Arsenal shared my photos on their social media. I have met Leah Williamson and she said that she would wait for me – that would be a dream come through. I know I need to work hard to make my dreams come true.
The thing I most enjoy about playing football is being around different people who are like me. I have made so many friends on my path already through football and this really helped me settle into secondary school. I also play Gaelic football. I also enjoy the fun of playing the sport I really love.
If I could give advice to younger girls I would say
“Dream big, fight for your position and never give up.”
If you want to perform on the big stage start now and make the choice. I have experienced the challenges of having to fight hard for my place. Once I hit a more competitive level it was a bigger challenge for me as it got more physical and many players where very tall (I am small). I had to believe in myself and my ability.
I think that girls and boys should be treated equally when it comes to football. We should not have to make sacrifices for the boys or be second best to them. I would love to see more girls playing football in schools or having an opportunity at a young age to see if they like it. I was lucky because my family are a very big football family and when I said I didn’t like ballet and wanted to play football, it wasn’t a problem. I never give up if my team lose. I learn as much from the loss as I do from a win. I respect my coach, the referee and the opposition. My motto is:
“Always go right- not left.”
I tell myself that right is to be seen as a team player working as part of a team. Not going left means that just because the referee doesn’t appear to be fair or the game doesn’t go your way, stay to the right side. There are always positives to take out of every game.
I have been supporting Arsenal women since 2019 and I am so excited for next season. With all WSL being played at the Emirates it’s going to be massive and I feel very lucky to be a part of a big milestone in the women’s game.
