Whilst not impossible, the odds of becoming a professional women’s footballer are incredibly slim.
Success in reaching the professional level cannot be achieved through talent alone. A supportive network, a clear pathway to success, top-quality coaching, minimal barriers, access to first-class facilities, strong scouting exposure, and an obsessive mentality to succeed are all essential ingredients. Yet even with all of these factors, there is still no guarantee of making it as a professional.
According to data published by the FA in 2015, 860,000 girls aged 5–15 were playing football, while only 260 players competed in the elite tier of women’s football. From this, it was estimated that the odds of reaching the top level in the UK (WSL) were approximately one in every 3,307 players. As this data is now a decade old, it doesn’t take into account the surge in women’s football witnessed throughout the 2020s.
In our last interview with Jaya Soor earlier this year, who at the time was a semi-pro footballer from Derbyshire living in America, it was quite evident that her journey took her away from the United Kingdom to the Land of Opportunity, where the path to becoming a professional footballer was more realistic.
SETTLING INTO SPAIN
Since then, the young footballer has defied the statistical odds and is now officially a professional footballer playing for CD Dona Blanca. The club currently play in Group 10 of Tercera Federacion Femenina, which is the fourth tier of Spanish women’s football.
Soor said:
“Since the last time we spoke, I was in North Carolina, but now I’m in a place called El Puerto de Santa María. I just signed in September, so I’m still getting settled and figuring things out, but that’s kind of where I am right now.”
El Puerto de Santa María is a municipality in Spain, located in the province of Cádiz. Being close to the Iberian Peninsula, it has a rich history of maritime trade and has lived through the eras of the Roman, Islamic, Medieval and Napoleonic empires – the latter of which almost collapsed the local economy in the 19th century. Today, the city is known for its wineries, gastronomy, monuments, and as the birthplace of Real Betis legend Joaquín – though not necessarily in that order.
In her journey towards professional status, Soor left the comfort of Derby to pursue her dream, but until now had never lived in a non-English-speaking country. That challenge became apparent immediately, given that she does not yet speak Spanish:
“One of the challenges of being here is that I don’t speak Spanish… not yet anyway. Coming from another country, I feel like it’s almost inevitable that I’ll have to learn the language – not just to make day-to-day life easier, but also because the majority of staff and players are locals or fluent Spanish speakers.”
MINDSET OVER LANGUAGE
Whilst she recognises the language barrier as an obstacle to overcome, it isn’t the main thing occupying her mind.
“I’d say the biggest challenge for me isn’t language – it’s mindset. Growing up, through college, semi-pro, grassroots; everything I did, every habit I built, every time I pushed myself, it was all driven by the dream of playing professionally.
Now that I’ve achieved that dream [of becoming professional], I had a moment where I realised I couldn’t get complacent. The biggest challenge now is to understand that this isn’t the peak — it’s actually the beginning of a new chapter. The start didn’t happen at [the] grassroots level, and it didn’t happen when I made it to college in the US – it’s happening now.”
For anyone reading Soor’s story as an inspiration, there are striking acts that separates her from others; introspection, reflection and a hint of imposter syndrome:
“Sometimes I still can’t believe this is my life, so I catch myself kind of dissociating.
I want the rest of this year to be all about elevation. I don’t want [the] signing in August/September to be my peak – I want every month to be better than the last. That’s why I set monthly goals in my journal. For me, every month needs to be the best month of my life so far. And that comes from habits, mindset, and not getting complacent.”
BTP GAVE ME ‘CONFIDENCE BOOST’
The last interview with Soor highlighted the importance of her parents’ belief at the foundational level contributing to her drive to succeed. As she climbed up the metaphorical pyramid of football, the importance of media outlets like Brown Ballers, Indian Footy Hub and Beyond The Pitch have boosted her in one way or another.
“When you [Beyond The Pitch] shared my story, it gave me a massive confidence boost. It made me think, wow, people actually believe in me enough to share my journey publicly. It kind of lit a fire in me to work even harder – not just for myself, but for everyone who’s supported and believed in me along the way.
I just want to say I really appreciate platforms like yours. The way you give a voice to players at grassroots level, to people from different backgrounds, and to those who might not have ‘made it’ yet – it genuinely makes a difference. And honestly, I don’t think I’d be where I am now without that kind of support.”
That level of belief from others, levelled with her own belief in her journey to greatness will take her to further heights in her professional career:
“The main thing is believing the best is still ahead. Just getting better every day, improving yourself, and staying consistent. That’s what I’m focused on.”
