Alessia Russo

“"When you’re on the pitch, it’s easy to focus. But when you’re away from it, the noise can get quite loud sometimes. It’s just about staying focused and locked in and obviously listening to the people you trust and care about. And not letting it affect you, especially on the pitch."”

“"Football has always been about having fun and that’s why I got into it when I was a young girl. You learn lessons about yourself and how you react in different situations."”

“"I want every girl to feel like football’s a place for them, whether they want to coach, play, referee."”

“"Obviously, times can be tough but I think what's special in team sports is that you have each other's backs through the good times and the bad."”

“"You can feel like the new kid at school when you come into a new team, but everyone has been incredibly welcoming. You've just got to put yourself out there and have the conversations to get to know each other."”

“"The highs are easy to celebrate, but it's the tougher moments that you need each other for."”