Ellie Carpenter

"I wanted to be out of my comfort zone and be pushed, mentally, physically on the field."

"Those crowds just show how far women’s football has come."

"It’s great to see women’s clubs doing so well."

"Playing with the boys definitely helped me physically."

"If I didn’t start with the boys I don’t think I would be the player I am today. I had to be stronger and faster, otherwise you couldn’t keep up."

"I played with them until I was 12 or so and I say to young girls these days to try and stay with the boys as long as you can."

"Football is also a sacrifice. I realised nothing really comes easy. I didn’t really have much of a social life, or friends you would say."

"I don’t really listen to outside noise."

"The bigger you get, the more criticism you get."