Origins: Jessie Gale

My brother's a professional footballer [Sam Gale, of Barnsley], and he came through the Arsenal academy when I was younger. All I can remember is going to watch my brother in a lot of football games.

He was always playing football, but my main sport was cricket from a young age and that was a big part of my childhood. We'd always play football to warm-up, and I'd play Sunday League on the side and then one day, I just decided that I wanted to switch and try for football.

We were quite good friends with the Beckhams. Cruz and my brother went on trial at the same time, so David and my dad became quite good friends because the two boys went on trial at the same time. I was there as the annoying little sister.

David taught me how to kick a football. I remember he said it to my mum that I was going to play for England one day when I grow up, so that's pretty special that now it's come true.

My dad's a massive Liverpool fan, so he took me to Anfield a few times. But when I was younger, my passion was cricket so I went to more cricket games, funnily enough, than football games. Football was always on in the house because of my dad and brother though. 

I played Sunday League but that was alongside cricket which was my main focus. I just played a bit of Sunday League and a bit of school football – nothing like an academy from a young age at all, then at 14, I trialled at Charlton Athletic and got in.

It was just playing with the boys, and it was just fun. Playing Sunday League was good memories as well. When I was younger, it was more for a laugh and getting enjoyment of it. Our group at Sunday League, we were all really good friends, so we'd just go for a kick around and it was a really cool environment.

I'm not secret with my ADHD diagnosis and that normal life is quite difficult for me, navigating the world as it is. I find that very difficult place so with football, I could come into an environment and just completely be myself.

My parents used to joke around that they would just chuck me out in the garden and go: ‘run your energy off’ because otherwise I wouldn't sit still.

It’s the same now for football because I can go out onto the pitch for 90 minutes and just completely express myself and not feel judged in any type of way be exactly who I am. That's so important for young girls, as well, to just get outside and run your legs off. 

My first England camp was in Portugal. I wasn't expecting it at all because I'd never been in the England pathway. I'd never been on what we call the long list or anything.

Then one day, I just got an email and it actually went through to my parents' email – I didn't receive it. My dad just called me and he was said: ‘Jess, you've got an email from England’. This was just the temporary email – this wasn't that you were being picked yet – but you were in consideration.

I remember the week after I got picked and it was probably the proudest moment for me and my family and my football journey because it was so unexpected. I looked around at all my friends playing for England but I never thought it would be me in that moment, so that was pretty special.

Playing for Arsenal is the dream and I absolutely love it there. I love the girls. I love the staff. I think it's an amazing club. The loans that I've been on have been amazing. I wouldn't change going to all those clubs at all because they've helped me so much where I am now. Joining Newcastle recently, I said to the girls: I've loved every minute of it – the town, the vibes, the people, the staff, the players. I’m just really enjoying myself. 

I'm really good friends with a few of the Lionesses like Alessia [Russo], Beth [Mead], Chloe [Kelly] and Alessia’s the person I speak to the whole time – Beth as well.

Alessia gives me advice. I message her practically once a week going: ‘Alessia, I've got a problem – I don't know what to do’ and she'll pick up the phone to me and she'll ring me and she'll reply straight away!

She deserves all the praise she gets because despite being one of the most incredible players on the pitch, she's the best person I've ever met off the pitch. She carries herself so well and it's pretty inspirational for someone like me coming through. I always say to her: ‘I just want to be like you when I'm older, Lessi!’

The girls are brilliant and Beth is such a great character. She's taught me that it's OK to be yourself because she's pretty crazy as well. Chloe has had an incredible journey and she's someone that I really look up to. Some really strong, influential people that I've had around me and it's really helped me.

Getting a World Cup call-up has definitely been a highlight. When we get to Poland, I just think it's really going to sink in. It's literally a dream. We've all been saying it's surreal to be a part of. I think this is going to be the best month of my life.