Having played for England since just 12 years of age, 18-year-old Jordan Nobbs has already carved quite a career for herself in the women’s football arena.
Awarded the FA Young Player of the Year in 2010 as well as Manager’s and Players’ Player whilst at Sunderland, the Arsenal midfielder is definitely one to watch and is set to make a huge impact this year, especially with the launch of the Women’s Super League (WSL) next month.
The daughter of ex-Hartlepool United defender Keith Nobbs, she’s got football flowing through her veins and grew up “kicking everything around”.
“I’ve always wanted to be a footballer, ever since I was little,” she explains. “It definitely helped with my dad being a footballer, because obviously he has a lot of knowledge and has given me a lot of advice that has helped me along the way.”
After joining the Sunderland AFC centre of excellence aged just eight, she went on to captain the England U15 side at 13 and led the U17s to the World Cup semi-final aged just 15. She began playing for the Sunderland Women first-team at 16 and in July 2009 she played a starring role as England won the 2009 UEFA Women’s U19 Championships in Belarus, scoring the final win over Sweden.
Her impressive track record meant that when Sunderland’s bid to join the looming WSL failed she was approached by several of the leading clubs in the country, eventually signing for Arsenal in August last year.
The signing means she’ll be involved with semi professional football in an exciting top flight domestic league, beneficial both for her individual development, and women’s football as a whole.
“It’s great to know what women’s football is progressing really and to play in the top league is going to be really good,” she tells us.
“Hopefully it will help me improve individually and I think it will be great for fans to be there to see the Women’s Super League. It will be nice for fans and families to get together and be able to see women’s football being promoted.
“I think it’s definitely a great development for women’s football and hopefully the Super League will improve that massively.”
So, to get more of a feel for what it might be like living in the boots of one of England’s top sportswomen, we managed to take a few moments of Jordan’s time to talk life both on and off the pitch and why the future’s looking bright for women’s football.
You’ve achieved so much in your career as a footballer, how does it feel to be travelling the world, doing something you love?
Obviously, it’s a dream really and I’ve wanted to have a career in football since I was little. It’s great to travel around the world doing something I love, it’s a great opportunity.
You must have an incredibly hectic schedule - how do you fit everything in? Are you still studying full time?
Yeah I study at college doing a BTEC Diploma and obviously I train nearly every day but it’s just finding the right balance. Whenever I’ve been away with Arsenal or England they’ve always given me time to do my work and my tutors have been very good with giving me time to catch up, so it’s been good.
So can you give us a typical week in the life of a female footballer - how much training do you do in an average week?
Well we train four days a week, for about two hours each day. And then we have an academy game on the Wednesday and then obviously a game on the Sunday, but that will be more when the Women’s Super League Starts.
You’ve been hugely successful, playing for various England age groups and different teams - how does it feel to be able to represent your county?
It’s an honour really! I can’t think of anything better than playing for England and every single game feels the same way. I just hope there’s more to come!
You were awarded the FA Young Player of the Year as well as Manager’s and Players’ Player last year, how does it feel to be recognised for your talent in this way?
Obviously it’s nice to know that you have a lot of support behind you from players and managers and it’s a bit of an achievement really because it’s a privilege just to be nominated for something like that, never mind actually winning it! It’s definitely one of the best trophies I’ve won.
Are there any moments in your career that particularly stand out?
Obviously the Young Player but when we won the Euros with England that was obviously a massive achievement and playing in two World Cups definitely have been highlights of my career. To be honest playing in the Champions League with Arsenal has been a massive thing in my life.
The WSL is obviously huge for women’s football, but do you think female footballers will ever have the same status as the men?
I’m not sure if it will ever develop as high as the men but it’s definitely progressing massively and I’d like to hope that one day it is as high as the men’s because I don’t see why it shouldn’t. Definitely this Women’s Super League is going to develop this.
Do you have any sporting heroes?
David Beckham has probably always been a role model. I think you have to have a lot of respect for him for what he’s gone through and I think he’s done really well. My Dad’s always been kind of my hero really because he’s always been there for me and encouraged me and that’s probably why I am where I am now.
Do you have any advice to girls wanting to get involved in the sport?
Yeah I think if you’re passionate and that’s what you want to do then you just shouldn’t give up and you should definitely get involved because it’s becoming bigger and better and you can stand to get a career out of it. It’s even going to be on TV now and start to develop like that -I think it’s a great sport to get into.
How would you suggest getting involved?
I’d say centres of excellence are very good at a young age and I think through that you definitely develop through to the reserves and then on to the first team. Then you can just sign up to local clubs. There’s a lot of places that you can just trial - that’s how I started, trialling at Sunderland.
What are your hopes for the future of your career?
Just to keep progressing. I mean obviously with Arsenal I want to be playing regular football and I just want to keep working hard to get to that and obviously with England I just want to keep playing, we’ve got the Euros this year and hopefully we’ll qualify for the World Cup as it’s qualifying year so that’s definitely a major thing right now.
Finally, can you sum up what football means to you in one sentence?
Well it’s definitely my dream and my passion and I’d say football is pretty much my life and I’m loving every minute right now!
Jessica Whittington, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
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