Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1473445
INTERVIEW 46 | SUMMER 2022 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie GUESS WHAT I DO JESSICA FOY TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOB: This is the first year that I've been a professional footballer (soccer). I have been training three or four times a week. Now we have matches, we play a league game on a Wednesday night. Then sometimes we will have a cup game on a Monday or a Friday. It's increased training in the evening times and now more access to strength and conditioning training, before training on a Sunday or else on a Monday and a Friday. There has been a slight increase to the volume of training. And we have the access to better nutrition for recovery along with the strength and conditioning. The PE teaching is a more of a nine-to- five job. I am currently in an all-girls grammar school teaching a range of sports throughout the day from 9am to 3.30pm. The role of a PE Teacher would also extend on to 5.30pm, taking the extra clubs which range from Gaelic football and soccer to the likes of basketball and badminton. We started up a new team this year in water polo too. I provide access and opportunity to as many sports as possible, to as many girls as possible in Belfast. HOW DID YOU GET INTO YOUR JOB? I was probably a latecomer to football. Then I played it throughout school and then joined the club, Glentoran, when I was about 15 or 16. At that stage it was just playing for enjoyment and seeing how far I could take it. From there it has just pushed on. Regularly being in the first team and then becoming captain of the club. All of the professional structures have been put in place in the last number of years. Now we're able to receive payment for playing. It's something that I would have never thought could have happened. Hopefully we will push on in the next couple of years where eventually we might be able to train full-time too. I used to just play for fun doing something I loved, now it has become an income as well. With PE Teaching, sport was always passion and I always knew I wanted a career that involved sport. I studied PE throughout school and then did a degree in sports studies. And from there I got experience, placements in schools, and realised I wanted to go on and become a PE Teacher. I am very lucky I have two incredible jobs that I love doing. WHERE ARE YOU BASED WITH YOUR JOB? The football club is Glentoran, so it is based in east Belfast. Our training campus would be Ashfield Boys' School, the Oval. Then my school is Dominican College Fortwilliam in north Belfast. WHAT ARE THE BEST THINGS ABOUT YOUR JOB? I think playing football, the best thing is the opportunity it provides you with. I have had the opportunity to play in major competitions both domestically within the league and then going on to play in the Champions League. This year we are playing in Romania in August. Different opportunities I would have now in football that I wouldn't have an experience of outside of football. And then the opportunity to play within the national team has been incredible. Within PE teaching, just being able to inspire younger girls to take part in sport and to encourage them to take part in something they enjoy and they can continue with, through life-long participation. But also to encourage them that they are gifted and talented to push on, that they can pursue a career in sport as well. WOULD YOU RECOMMEND IT TO BUDDING FOOTBALLERS? Yeah absolutely, I think it's so important to find something that you love. Then the reward of becoming professional is just a bonus on top of that but it's definitely doable. There are more and more opportunities out there regardless of what sport it is. So I would absolutely encourage it to keep pushing and pursuing and work hard to get that reward at the end of it as well. "I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO FIND SOMETHING THAT YOU LOVE. THEN THE REWARD OF BECOMING PROFESSIONAL IS JUST A BONUS ON TOP OF THAT BUT IT'S DEFINITELY DOABLE." Teams of the Lidl Ladies National Football League awards. Jessica Foy of Down pictured receiving her Division 3 award from Mícheál Naughton, Ladies Gaelic Football Association President, and Fiona Fagan, Marketing Director. Photo by RamseyJessica Foy of Down pictured receiving her Division 3 award from Mícheál Naughton, Ladies Gaelic Football Association President, and Fiona Fagan, Marketing Director, Lidl Ireland. 46 | SUMMER 2022 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie