FROM THE VAULT - JESS FISHLOCK: IN CONVERSATION
Photo by Andrew Dowling [andrewdowlingphotography.co.uk]
Way back in issue #1, released in March 2021, we had a chat with Wales’ most capped footballer, Jess Fishlock. We spoke about her career, growing up in Wales, inclusion in football and the current political landscape of Wales.
As a young girl growing up in Cardiff, what was it about football that made you get involved?
Going back 20 years ago when obviously women’s football wasn’t anywhere near as big as it is now, it was a really small tight-knit community of people which allowed me a space to grow that was separate from the rest of society. I think it was that and the fact I loved playing football and was good at it, made it all kind of come together that way.
Did you play any other sports at the time or was it only ever football?
No, I played loads of sports. My mother always reminds me that I was probably worse at football than I was at any other sport! I played hockey, baseball, cricket, rugby, all of them. But when I got to 12 or 13, I had to choose one to take more seriously and it was a no brainer for me.
Who were your early role models within the game?
Laura McAllister, who is now a really good friend of mine, was still at Cardiff when I started and became a huge mentor for me. She always looked after me, even as I’ve got older and more successful, she’s still someone I reach out to now. There were loads of really good players at Cardiff at the time and more importantly people who would help with your development off the field.
What about players at the highest level of the women's game or was it the male players you looked up to?
When I was growing up I didn't really have any female role models at all. I wouldn’t even really say I had male role models either. I mean, I watched the Premier League back in the 90s, when as far as I’m concerned, it was at its best, with Cantona, Mark Hughes and Paul Scholes. I was a United fan and they were my boys, but I wouldn’t say they were role models. I wouldn’t wake up everyday and want to be them, that wasn’t what it was, I just enjoyed what they did.
You’ve gone all around the world to play football, what country has the best culture in terms of the women’s game?
America. For me, it’s definitely a place I’ve felt most at home in regards to being a professional athlete. It’s a no brainer. Each place I’ve been has their own beautiful unique element but definitely America, and Seattle in particular, it’s one place that has always stood out and will always stand out for me.
What was it about growing up in Wales, and in particular, Llanrumney, that helped shape you into who you are today?
It’s a little bit different now, I don’t feel as if there is the sense of community like there was when I was growing up. Llanrumney for me, was this little community where everyone knew who I was as I had such a big family, so everyone always looked out for me, even if I was a little trouble maker. I grew up playing with Christian Roberts (ex-Cardiff, Bristol City, Swindon) over the fields. We’d play until it was dark, all those typical cliches were exactly my upbringing and I think it all has a huge part to play in my mentality which has helped shape my career. I always say that if I wasn’t brought up in Llanrumney the way that I was, I’m unsure I would’ve carried on and got through the obstacles that female athletes face. I’m very grateful to be brought up where I was.
The women’s game in Wales has gone from strength to strength in the last decade. What do you think has caused this surge?
Timing is crucial when you’re trying to create change. The FAW’s media and marketing department made a conscious choice and effort to be better with their coverage of the women’s team but what happened brilliantly at the same time, was that we were going through a World Cup campaign that was capturing the hearts of Welsh fans. The beauty of that is the timing. If you had one without the other, it wouldn’t have had the impact that it had. So as we grew through our campaign and people were enjoying what we were doing and were getting to know us as individuals and what we represent, the FAW and the media started to push us on the same level as they would the men’s team, so fans of the men’s team got to see us as equals. I will always put it down to timing. I’ll also throw Jayne Ludlow in there, she’s been huge for us as a nation. It all came together at the same time and it’s all flourished from there.
What are your thoughts on Jayne’s departure?
My immediate reaction was emotional, I was sad and a little bit shocked and unsure where that leaves me. Nobody likes the unknown, it’s a scary place! We have a really good group of players and I still think we have more in us but obviously the decision was made. The next manager gets to come into a great group of players with a good attitude and culture and won’t have to do a lot of work on that side of things, which is testament to the job Jayne has done.
What do you think the women’s game needs to grow even more in Wales?
It needs a few more things. First of all, it needs the national team to qualify for a major tournament. I’m under no illusions that’s what we need. We also need a youth development structure that keeps on producing the players to go onto the national team. The third thing we need is a viable league that does have a good standard and can keep growing and is shown on television regularly to inspire young girls to play football.
You’re a huge advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and an ambassador for the Stonewall campaign. How important is it that people like you are speaking out about these issues within the game?
It’s huge. Ultimately, and I’ve said it a lot over the last 5 years, sport has a bigger platform to create change than anything else in the world. Whether people agree with that is a different matter. Athletes have a bigger scope to make change than politicians and that’s because they’re chosen by society. What I mean by that is that those in politics have it decided for them, whether it's by their family or the school they go to. The difference with athletes is that society has a relationship with them because they’re more available. You look at Marcus Rashford and what he’s been able to achieve because society said ‘yes!’. That’s why it's so important athletes are vocal and visible on things that they believe in. You see it far more in America because people are more open to talk and be honest about where they stand and what they think. I don’t know why we aren’t more like that over here but hopefully Marcus can change that and becomes an example of what athletes can achieve when they are more vocal and more visible.
What do you think fans can do to become more inclusive of people from all walks of life?
I find some fans' behaviour really interesting. It’s almost as if they feel the game is solely for them and them only. The important thing to remember if you’re a fan, is football is a sport for every single person. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, it doesn’t matter what gender you are, it doesn’t matter whether you’re young or you’re old, it just doesn’t matter. Every person in the world can enjoy football, can play football and that is why football is the biggest sport in the world. It doesn’t discriminate at all, on any level, and that is why society has chosen it to become the biggest sport in the world. There’s so many different reasons why you might have a connection to football as a fan so it’s not up to anyone else to decide who’s allowed to do that. So if all fans can recognise that, there won’t be any problems.
What are your thoughts on the political situation in Wales at the moment, almost as someone on the outside looking in?
Well, first of all, I don’t want us to go down this path of being either extreme right or extreme left. I think the best way to get any kind of stability or growth as a country is to not pit each side against each other. Human rights, racism, LGBTQ+ rights, religion and equality and all that is a non-negotiable. Some people will say that’s me being super left. No, no, no! No one gets to decide any of that, it can’t be up for debate. I do think that politics around the world has become far worse because of Trumpism, I think the UK especially has been sucked in. Westminster, have not thought about Wales or Scotland and make their decisions on what’s best for England. That’s not good for Wales. When people ask are you pro-independence or not, I am just somebody right now who is questioning how viable the UK is right now and where the Tories are going with that. I wish and I hope that now there has been massie changes in America and that can help us here to become better. I want the UK to stay together but at the same time, Wales has to have a voice and feel supported by Westminster because we have to make sure our country grows in the right way. It needs to be addressed and changed, it’s a complete and utter clusterfuck.
What’s next for yourself?
I think I’ll play for a few more years, I feel great, my body feels great and this break and whole situation has done me some good. When I do hang up my boots, I do want to help the Welsh game and give back, but it all depends on what’s going on at the time and what the structure looks like. Being in a role that can help change football for the better is something I’d like to do. We don’t have the right people in those roles yet, that might take another decade. Laura potentially getting on the FIFA committee is a massive opportunity. So it all depends on what the game looks like at the time. One thing for sure is I won’t be doing media, I don’t have that in me!
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