Growing up as a football-loving kid in Wales, there were no girls team for Sophie Ingle to join. Instead, she played with the boys team at Vale Wanderers until the age of 12.
Despite her parents’ best efforts, she was forced to take a break from the game as Football Association of Wales’ rules stated girls could not play on boys teams when she turned 12-years-old. Having little access to girls teams while growing up is a well-told and all too familiar story for many female professional footballers.
Of course, Ingle would later find a home at Cardiff City as a teenager, also spending time at Bristol City, Liverpool and two spells at Chelsea, where she currently finds herself locked in a Women’s Super League title race.
The 30-year-old midfielder believes her time playing with the boys team as a youngster helped develop some of the skills Ingle still uses today, but she could not be happier to see plenty of girls’ teams being formed at youth level.
In an exclusive interview ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Birmingham on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, she said: “I spoke to a fan recently in Wales and she was the mother of a little girl and said she’s now gone to play for a girls team and she’s glad there are girls team available.
“It’s amazing because as a kid, I never had that. I loved playing with the boys and it did develop me into the player I am today, but for girls to get involved at a young age, there needs to be girls teams.
“It’s nice to hear that there’s a lot of teams now back home in Wales and here in England. Girls can feel comfortable going to training and just enjoy it to start with at a young age.
“I think one of my strengths is trying to read the game. As a kid, playing against boys teams, that probably helped me growing up. I had to think quicker, I had to try and be stronger against the boys and especially with mentality as well, to physically battle with them so I do think that helped.
“I remember one of my teachers as a youngster said to my mum that I read the game really well. At the time, you don’t realise it because you’re just playing football as a kid, but in the role that I play in centre-mid, you have to have that intelligence in the middle of the park.
“I don’t know if you can really work on it, but it is about analysing games afterwards. Watching a lot of men’s football as a kid, Steven Gerrard was the person I looked up to so I always watched him in the midfield role. Maybe subconsciously, you pick up little things that other players do in your position.”
Ingle has been the quiet cog in Chelsea’s midfield since her return in 2018. The screen in front of the defence, she goes about her work quietly but effectively – Emma Hayes has previously said she flies under the radar.
One rare moment in the spotlight came in 2020 when she was nominated for the FIFA Puskas Award for her goal against Arsenal, but the Wales international is happy to let others garner the attention.
“I’d say it was my personality really,” Ingle said. “I get on with things and keep my head down, I’m not really in the limelight, which is nice for me because I don’t really like the praise.
“I’ve said before that I just want to get the ball and give it to the players who score the goals and work to their strengths. I’m more of a defensive player and those kind of players usually go unnoticed, and that’s not a bad thing.”
Chelsea are currently four points clear of Arsenal at the top of the WSL, with the Gunners having a game in hand. The Blues recently played Tottenham twice in the space of four days – their home match against Spurs postponed twice – and won both matches.
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Highlights of the Women’s Super League match between Chelsea and Tottenham
Chelsea are now two wins away from a third successive WSL title and also face Man City in the FA Cup final on May 15 – which could see Hayes’ side end the season with two trophies.
“It’s a tough part of the season, but again it comes down to our mentality,” Ingle said. “As cliché as it sounds, we have to take it game by game like we have this week, playing Spurs so close together. We had top focus on Sunday’s game, get that done last night and it’ll be the same today – recovery and then trying to switch onto the Birmingham game.
“Emma never looks [at the table], she never knows how many points we’re on, she doesn’t know the goal difference, which is great because we just need to focus on the game. It doesn’t matter on points or goal difference, just as long as we get the wins we need, that’s the main focus really.
“I don’t really see it as pressure, I just see it as excitement. You only put pressure on yourselves because you demand more from the team, and we’re in a good place right now. We’re pushing each other every day in training and each game, but it’s just exciting to be in this position and we’re glad we’re here.
“Everyone is excited, everyone is in a good place. Our injured players have come back now, the likes of Magda [Eriksson] coming back, Maren [Mjelde] too and we’ve got a squad with a lot of depth and Emma has a lot to choose from.
“It’s important at this time of the season because fatigue is going to come into it. Yes, we’re fit but it’s the end of the season and we just have to keep ticking over. It’s good that we’ve got those players available.
Sunday 1st May 6:30pm
Kick off 6:45pm
“This season has been really competitive. The fact that the trophy is coming down to the last few games and you don’t know who’s going to win it, it’s exciting. It’s the same for Champions League spots, I think there are a few teams pushing for that.
“But it has to keep growing every year and it’s more exciting. I think we need to bridge the gap between the bottom teams, the mid-table teams and the top teams, but it’s definitely growing and more competitive.”
Overall, it has been quite the journey for Ingle. From no girls teams in Wales as a child to a multiple trophy winner at Chelsea – she is also close to leading her country to a World Cup play-off – but she is keen for the women’s game to continue its recent development.
“At the minute, it’s amazing that there are so many professional teams now that women can go in to,” she reflected.
“Again, we have to keep growing that and push the standards for each club. We’ve got it really good here at Chelsea , but other teams need to try and follow suit. That takes time – Emma has built this over the last nine or ten years. It’s not an easy thing, but every manager needs to be pushing for these standards at their club.
“Then it’s just trying to keep pushing, whether it’s the media side of it to get fans in the grounds. Off the pitch, the standards with the pitches need to be better overall.
“But mainly to keep developing younger girls and grassroots and to keep pushing the professional environment.”
Chelsea’s remaining fixtures:
- May 1 – Birmingham City (a), Women’s Super League, live on Sky Sports
- May 8 – Man United (h), Women’s Super League
- May 15 – Man City, FA Cup final
Here’s how to follow the WSL on Sky Sports…
Sky Sports – All 35 games will be available across Sky Sports’ flagship channels, including Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event.
Sky Sports digital – Follow all the latest from the WSL across SkySpots.com and app, including exclusive features and interviews, plus dedicated live blog coverage and in-game clips from games live on Sky Sports. You can watch free match highlights from every WSL game this season on Sky Sports’ digital platforms and YouTube channel.
Sky Sports News – Running 24 hours a day, seven days a week Barclays FA WSL fans can enjoy Sky Sports News (channel 409) rolling editorial coverage of the league and its storylines throughout the season.
Inside the WSL – Hosted by award-winning broadcaster and journalist Jessica Creighton, Inside the WSL is a comprehensive round-up of all things Barclays FA Women’s Super League and women’s football. Airing weekly from Thursday, September 9 on Sky Sports Premier League, the half an hour show will review and preview matches, include in-depth analysis and exclusive player interviews. Viewers can expect gripping behind the scenes access as well as a summary of all the action both on and off the pitch.
Sky Sports Social – Alongside coverage and visibility for the league across all Sky Sports’ main social media channels, a new bespoke Twitter channel @SkySportsWSL will be the home of all Barclays FA WSL content on Sky Sports.
To add all the Barclays FA WSL fixtures to your calendar click here.