Hopefully the exposure off the back of this tournament will that.’
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‘So for example, the facilities that are on offer and the access to all the top things a professional footballer requires to maximize their potential. ‘There’s still quite a big difference between certain teams within the league,’ Ellie explains.
But that doesn’t mean we’ve achieved gender equality in football. It was only in 2018 that the Women’s Super League turned pro, allowing women a full-time career in football instead of expecting them to maintain other careers alongside winning tournaments. But the minute I knew there was a glimpse of signing a professional contract, it was tunnel vision then – the only thing I wanted to do.’ So I went through school and did pretty well.
‘I always had in the back of my mind that I might have to do something else alongside it. ‘Even though it wasn’t super long ago, the opportunities then were so slim,’ Ellie remembers. But even then Ellie wasn’t certain there was a professional career in her future – not because she wasn’t good enough, but because it didn’t exist for women then. It wasn’t long before she was signed to her first girls team at Sheffield United Centre of Excellence and at just 15, was scouted for Manchester City where she’s remained ever since. I’m glad I’ve got that, I don’t think I’ll ever lose it.’ ‘But that gives me the drive and determination to do well and prove people wrong. ‘As female athletes and footballers in particular, you always have that point to prove,’ Ellie continues. You always get “Oh there’s a girl in goal” comments but I really liked that because I always had a point to prove.’ I joined the boys team they all played for and I had such good fun. ‘That’s where it started, I began playing with the boys at school and kids on my estate. ‘My dad is a huge Sheffield United fan so whether I liked it or not I was being dragged along to the games,’ she laughs. The players around have to become family and you’re relying on your teammates to give you that support if we didn’t create that environment it would make it a really long nine weeks.’Įllie got into the sport young thanks to her family's love of football. ‘That feeling of being valued no matter what your role is really helps, because it is a long time away from your family. ‘We all have a part to play and we all know our roles,’ Ellie says. Of course, every player is important when it comes to a team winning overall. ‘You just have to think about the end goal and enjoy it as much as possible.’ ‘It is harder if you're not playing because you've not got that aim as such, you’re more preparing everyone else,’ she explains. As a starting line-up fixture for her club, being on the side-lines for her national team didn’t sit easy with her. Having missed much of the 21/22 season due to a calf injury, Ellie watched much of the EURO tournament from the bench – making her even more eager to perform now. It’s a jam-packed season of tournaments then for someone like Ellie, who plays for Manchester City and England. Their next game will be for the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers on 3 September against Austria and the Women’s Super League starts on 10 September. We’re speaking just nine days after the Lionesses' incredible win at the UEFA EURO, during a short break for the women who made history. I managed to get away for four days to switch off, just to come back down to earth before training starts again today.’ ‘The celebrations after were wild for a couple of days. ‘Sunday 31 July was the craziest day ever,’ recalls Ellie Roebuck, 22, an England women’s goalkeeper and rising football star.
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