Football put me on the right path

During her time at Notts County Ladies, current Liverpool forward, Jess Clarke, spoke to The Boot Room about the key people and influences that have helped her along her footballing journey.

“Mum was a grafter” I come from a single parent background - it was just me and my mum. My mum was a grafter, she did lots of cleaning jobs and always had the philosophy that you should work hard for what you want and if you work hard you’ll get the rewards.

As soon as I set eyes on a football that was it, I just took it upon myself to start kicking it around. As soon as I did, I knew that was what I wanted my career path to be. Even at such a young age.

As far as I know, nobody pointed me in the direction of football. Maybe my mum bought me a ball for Christmas or a birthday present. I was never really interested in dolls or anything like that. If you bought me a football or a bow and arrow I was happy.

“Just ten more minutes”Every night after school I used to be on the field practising my tricks, passing, dribbling and shooting. I’d be on my own. My mum would go mad at me sometimes. It would get to 9 or 10 o'clock and I knew I had school the next morning and my mum would be shouting out of the window. I’d say “yes mum, just give me ten more minutes.” I just knew that’s what I wanted to do.

I really feel like football has put me on the right path. I don’t come from the best area in Leeds and I grew up on some of the roughest estates. At school, I wouldn’t say I was a nightmare but I wasn’t motivated to do my work. All I thought was football, football, all the time.

“A fly-away ball and a wall”I was probably six or seven when I was starting to kick a ball around – I think my first ball was one of those plastic fly-away balls. I mostly played on my own. I used to live in a block of flats and I was always outside just kicking the ball against the wall. I would get in trouble all the time. I used to play in the corridors inside and the sound of the ball would echo around the building. People would be always coming out and shouting.

“Playground with the boys”When I went into primary school I just played with the lads. It was odd because at that point I didn’t even know there were any women’s teams or anything like that. Because I didn’t know girls played football I just thought I would go all the way through playing with the lads – my plans were to play for Manchester United with Ruud van Nistelrooy. High school was a more difficult time for me, especially after I got picked for England. I don’t think some of the boys liked that I could play at their standard.

Some of the boys would be a nightmare with me. They would say: “you’re that girl that plays for England, aren’t you? I bet you couldn’t take me on.” I’d just take on all the challenges. Some of them were really competitive, but I think it just probably made me a better player.

“I want to see you on TV playing for England one day”It was my PE teacher at high school, Lindsay Monroe, who pushed me to the next step of my career. I’ve still not had chance to thank her for everything that she did.

When I first started high school, I was still kicking around with the boys and I had no idea as to how I was going to progress in women’s football or even have a career. My teacher was the one who said: “I’m going to get you trials at Leeds United and I want you to be there at this time at this place."

At that time it was difficult because I had no funds and my Mum didn’t drive and sometimes didn’t have enough money to get me to places. My teacher actually drove me to the trials for the first few sessions.

Before she left, my teacher said to me: “I want to see you on TV playing for England one day”. At that point I was still trialling at Leeds. If my teacher hadn’t put me on that track, I definitely don’t feel like I’d be where I am today.

"I think you could tell I hadn’t had any coaching. All I used to do was dribble with the ball and never pass to anyone"I was fourteen when I went to the Centre of Excellence at Leeds United. I got in on the second week of the trial.

Before the Centre of Excellence I had no formal coaching. The girls that I play with now say they started being coached at 9 or 10 and playing for a girls’ team. I only started when I was 15, which looking back is quite late.

I think you could tell I hadn’t had any coaching. All I used to do was dribble with the ball and would never pass to anyone. Then when I started to have coaching I began to understand how to work with others and build an attack. Before that I used to just run with it on my own.

When talent meets opportunityWhen I was 14 everything happened quite quickly for me. One minute I was in year nine at school and not playing for anyone and then a year later I was in the first-team for Leeds, offered a scholarship at Loughborough university and scouted for England. So my life changed very quickly.

I was only in the U14/U15s at the Centre of Excellence for a year and then I went to the development squad for a couple of games and then I was straight into Leeds United ladies senior team. I think I made my debut at 15/16. Julie Chipchase was the coach and she gave me the opportunities to progress my game.

"It’s not really what he does but it’s what he says"Colin Walker, the Notts County forwards coach, has been a backbone over the last year.

It’s not really what he does but it’s what he says to me that makes the penny drop. I don’t think he even realises how much he’s helped me. In football everyone has opinions but Colin said: “It’s not about how other people perceive you, it’s about how you perceive yourself and if you can get up in the morning and look yourself in the mirror.”

He gave me the mindset not to let anybody else affect my game. You’ve got to know you are a good player and you’ve got to finish your career knowing that you’ve done everything right.

I feel like I can be honest with him and he will be brutally honest with me. I think at the top level you need that honesty.

The endless pursuit of excellenceI still go out on the field – with my boyfriend – and put up the nets. I stick him in the goal and kick balls at him.

Repetition helps me and it helps with preparation. It is about going out onto the pitch knowing that you’ve been finishing consistently and that you are prepared.

The more I practised, the more my finishing became second nature in the game.

Jess Clarke currently plays for Liverpool FC Women in The FA Women's Super League.