Getting To Know: Soffia Kelly

IN the latest episode of our Getting to Know series, women’s January recruit Soffia Kelly sat down to answer some questions on her footballing journey and interests away from the game.

The Wales-born goalkeeper spoke of her early days starting out, who she idolises, time spent coaching and much more.

Here’s what she had to say:

What is your earliest football memory? My earliest football memory is probably playing in the garden with my brothers

What was the moment you thought you could do this as a career? I feel like going and playing against the boys and really pushing against them, and I thought, yes, I can do this

What was the name of your first club? FC Barry

You play as a goalkeeper; have you always played your position, or have you played in any others in the past? I was a striker until I was about 13, and then I went in goal one day and never came back out

Who was your football hero growing up, and why? David De Gea, just somebody that I always watched. He was always on the TV, and I just loved the way he played

Is there anyone you idolise now, still being a young player? I feel like in the women's game, I have been so lucky to work with Sabrina D'Angelo from Aston Villa. From my first day there, she was really welcoming, and I just love the way she plays. I feel like I have learned a lot from her

What is the first-ever football game that you can remember attending? Probably a Cardiff City game, which is somewhere that I went with my family every weekend

What is the biggest thing you have learned from training with seasoned pros in the Aston Villa first-team? I think just how quick the game is and how you have to be able to sort of flip that mentality from when things go well and when they don't. You have got to be able to change that quite quickly

You will wear number 30. Is there a particular meaning behind your choosing that number? I was 40 in Villa's academy and through the Villa first-team, so that was the closest number from there

What has been the best moment of your career so far? I feel like that Euros call-up; it was just so unexpected, and to be able to receive that call whilst I was with my family was something really nice, and it is something I'll never forget

Who is the toughest player you have come up against? Rachel Daly at Villa is someone who is so hard to read, her body position and things like that. I feel like she has helped me develop a lot in terms of her pens; she likes to take those against me at the end of the sessions. It is just something that I have loved doing

You did a bit of coaching a few years ago. Just talk to us about that decision to do that? I completed my football leaders a few years ago, and it is something that I quite enjoyed doing. I want to try and help the younger generation, try and inspire them and know that they can do it. For me, I just love being able to help them, show them a bit of how to do things, but also it helps me, because I am able to see things from a different perspective

Is that something you feel you may be interested in for your post-football career? Yes, definitely, it is something that I really enjoy, I get a good buzz out of it, and it is something that I would love to do in the future

What is your go-to pre-match meal? Some sort of pasta, but I am not superstitious or anything like that

What is your favourite cheat meal? I worked in McDonald's for like three or four years when I left school, so it has to be that

Do you enjoy playing/watching any other sports? I was a gymnast until I was about 13. I competed as well, that was something I loved, I am quite like an all-rounder, I really enjoy doing all different sports, to be honest

What is currently your favourite TV show or one of all time? Prison Break

Who is your favourite band or artist? Honestly, I am easy with that I can listen to anything me

What is your favourite social media platform? Instagram

Who would you say is the best player in the world in your position, in your opinion and why? At the moment, I have to say Hannah Hampton just because of what she has achieved, and she is such a well-rounded goalkeeper

Your first pair of football boots? I feel like they were the Nike ones with the really high sock the Ronaldo boots

What do you wear now? Now I wear the adidas one, F50's

How would you describe yourself in three words? Quite confident, I hope to say something funny to some people and find it easy to talk to them

As a goalkeeper, what would you say is your best attribute? Distribution was something I have always tried to pride myself on; I feel like I have learned different things over the last few years. Just being able to dive in all different ways, I love to try to get myself to everything, and I use my speed, being an outfielder, I feel like I picked up a lot of things, like being able to run out and smother the ball and things like that

How excited are you to play in front of the Rangers fans for the first time? I can't wait, honestly; I have heard some amazing things, so it will be great to see the fans

  


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