Ruby Mace: My Journey in Football
From Boys’ Team to Premier League: The Making of a Football Star
she defied expectations on the pitch, earning respect with every tackle. Now, this rising star is making waves in the world of women’s football.
“I definately think the boys underestimated me, thinking, ‘oh, there’s a girl in the team’. Until the girl tackles you hard,they don’t respect you,” she recalls. “I think I got respect from a lot of the boys and that’s something I cherish.”
This early experience playing on a boys’ team ignited a passion for the sport that would shape her future. “That’s where my love for football grew – just playing and being happy and not taking it too seriously until it needed to be serious,” she says.
Football became her everything. While she briefly explored athletics, representing her region, her heart belonged to the lovely game. “It was football, football, football! I did have a little phase of athletics when I was represented the region but I just fell in love with football. It was the best path for me.”
Her talent couldn’t be ignored. At seven, she joined Arsenal, a pivotal moment in her advancement.”My move to Arsenal was very critically important for me at that age…to be in and around a girls’ team,” she explains. “But I definitely think being with the boys helped me.”
The transition to an all-girls surroundings was a new experience. “It was different as all I knew was training with boys and when I went to Arsenal, it was something new being with all girls,” she remembers.
At 15, Arsenal recognized her potential and invited her to train with the boys’ team, a decision that brought back fond memories of her grassroots days. “When I was 15 at Arsenal, I got asked to train with the Arsenal boys just to push on my development and it made me cast my mind back to when I was training and playing with the boys’ team at grassroots level.”
Looking back on her journey, she acknowledges her growth as a player. “Looking back now,I’ve definitely changed but there are still aspects of my game that are the same!”
From the boys’ team to the Premier League,her story is a testament to dedication,talent,and the enduring power of passion.
From Boys’ team to Premier League: The Making of a Football Star
She defied expectations on the pitch, earning respect with every tackle. Now, this rising star is making waves in the world of women’s football.
“I definitely think the boys underestimated me, thinking, ‘oh, there’s a girl in the team’. Until the girl tackles you hard, they don’t respect you,” she recalls. “I think I got respect from a lot of the boys and that’s something I cherish.”
This early experience playing on a boys’ team ignited a passion for the sport that would shape her future.”That’s where my love for football grew – just playing and being happy and not taking it too seriously until it needed to be serious,” she says.
Football became her everything. While she briefly explored athletics, representing her region, her heart belonged to the lovely game. “It was football, football, football! I did have a little phase of athletics when I was represented the region but I just fell in love with football. It was the best path for me.”
Her talent couldn’t be ignored. At seven, she joined Arsenal, a pivotal moment in her advancement.”My move to Arsenal was very critically critically important for me at that age…to be in and around a girls’ team,” she explains. “But I definitely think being with the boys helped me.”
The transition to an all-girls environment was a new experience. “It was different as all I knew was training with boys and when I went to arsenal,it was something new being with all girls,” she remembers.
At 15, Arsenal recognized her potential and invited her to train with the boys’ team, a decision that brought back fond memories of her grassroots days. “When I was 15 at Arsenal, I got asked to train with the Arsenal boys just to push on my development and it made me cast my mind back to when I was training and playing with the boys’ team at grassroots level.”
Looking back on her journey, she acknowledges her growth as a player. “Looking back now, I’ve definitely changed but there are still aspects of my game that are the same!”
From the boys’ team to the Premier League, her story is a testament to dedication, talent, and the enduring power of passion.