As part of Girls and Women’s Week, we caught up with versatile Football Fern Stephanie Skilton on her journey in football so far.

The 25-year-old has made 11 appearances for the Football Ferns since making her debut in 2014 and was a member of the squad at last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

She also captains Auckland in the National Women’s League and led her hometown team to the title in 2017.

Skilton began her career at Clendon United and has also played for Three Kings United, Glenfield Rovers and Papakura City, as well as for Syracuse University in the American college system.

Read on to see what she has to say….

I got into football because my older sister played and I went along to watch a couple of her games. I instantly wanted to be like my big sister and I think I ran on at one point during one of the games and mum and day had to try to stop me! After watching her play, I wanted to be like her so I started when I was four-years-old at a little club called Clendon United out in south Auckland.

I don’t really have any early memories of football myself because I was so young at the time but I've heard all the stories from my parents about those days. When I got a bit older I played with the boys all throughout my youth and I remember just ripping it up with them and having a lot of fun running around like a crazy footballer.

My footballing heroes back then were all in the Football Ferns and Maia Jackman always comes to mind when I thought of an awesome footballer who I wanted to be like, she was the face of women’s football in New Zealand. So she was a big one and then of course there were all the superstars overseas who you just wanted to be like and play professionally like them.

The biggest influence on my career has definitely been my parents, they were absolutely amazing. We lived out south and a lot of the trainings were right across town so before I got my licence they would drive me to every single training….and there were a lot of them! So for me they’re absolutely my number one motivator and support.

Stephanie Skilton in action for Glenfield Rovers (Photosport)

The things I love most about football are the friendships you make through the game and just my love for the game itself. It’s such a beautiful game to play and to watch. I just live and breathe it and the people you meet along the way and get to go through football life with makes it even better. So it’s 100 per cent the game itself and the people that come with it.

My advice to younger players would just be to really enjoy the game and not forget why you’re playing and training. You can get caught up in a lot of other things but if you just bring it back to enjoying the game and why you play then I’ll think you’ll go a long way.

The main thing I’m working towards at the moment is the Olympics – that’s the big one this year but we’ve also got the Algarve Cup coming up soon. So all my training and preparation is going towards that – I’m taking it each step at a time and the Algarve Cup is a good start.

Changing positions has been an interesting switch for me. I was a forward for my whole career until a year-and-a-half ago when I made the switch to the back. It was tough initially but I took it on board and I’m really thriving in it and enjoying it now. I’ll continue working hard towards the next chapter and hopefully it pays off. I’m open to play anywhere but at this stage I think I’m best suited as a centre back for the Football Ferns environment.

It suits me at the moment to stay in New Zealand but playing overseas would be an amazing opportunity and, should it arise, I would really love to. My life here is amazing so it’s hard to imagine leaving but if that was the best way to improve my football then I’d take that opportunity.

Stephanie Skilton is working towards being part of the Olympic Games (Photosport)

Article added: Thursday 20 February 2020