Georgie is a young singer from Nottingham who has signed with Jake Bugg's manager and once scored 139 goals in a season. We had a chat with her before her set at Splendour Festival...
What was your first experience of football?
It was probably at school or on the back streets where I used to live. I just used to go straight out after school and play.
I’ve heard you were a pretty handy striker yourself a few years ago? Tell us about that...
Haha, I guess so. I used to play for a local side and games would get pretty competitive. I remember my mum and dad would say we'll give you a £1 for each goal but it started getting to expensive. I scored 139 goals in one season!
What first got you playing football? Did people react differently to you playing because you were a girl?
I think when I was growing up it was what you did – going to the park to play football. I used to hang around with all the guys and they saw me as no different and never really questioned the fact that I wanted to play football. Especially when I showed some of them how to play, haha! But my uncle was a pro footballer in the seventies and eighties too so that was great! If people did react differently, I just got on with what I was doing so probably never noticed it.
What would you say to encourage other young women to play football?
It’s a great game and if you play you will meet so many great girls and have fun! If you love something you have to do it and go for it no matter what people say.
You’re a Liverpool FC fan. Is that a family thing? Do you get to see them play often?
It’s not a family thing. I’m not really sure why I chose them, but it might have been because I really liked Michael Owen. One Christmas I had a Liverpool shirt bought for me and I would never take it off. My mum told me that I could at least wear a skirt with it, so that was the compromise we struck. How times have changed! You can’t get me out of a kimono or a dress now.
Are you sad to see Steven Gerrard go after all these years?
Yes of course, but it was inevitable. What he’s given to Liverpool and English football is great though. There are so many good times to look back and the only real sadness is that he never got to lift the Premier League trophy. Maybe he'll return back to the Premiership and do a Lampard and join Chelsea or something?
If you had to pick a local team to support, which one would you go for?
It would be Stags as I’m a Mansfield lass. But I try to follow all of the local teams and love to see them all win. It’s important to support your local football scene too.
Have you seen the #ThisGirlCan campaign?
I have and I think it’s brilliant! If it pushes other girls of all ages into sport and inspires them that’s great. Hopefully more people are realising all the things that ladies can do and I think we are at that stage where the world is so much more accepting of that. The Women’s World Cup was a perfect example of this. They really showed what girls can do.
Did you follow the England ladies in the tournament? Any thoughts on their performance?
They were heroes, weren't they? I just loved the pride they played with and the genuine smiles that showed how thrilled they were to just be there. To go on to a semi-final is amazing for English football. So hopefully more girls will go on to play and have been inspired by that. How great would a US vs England final been?
So what would you like to see happen during the next year in Nottingham as part of the City of Football campaign?
I’d like to see the city nurture as much young talent as possible and get more people playing football whether it be boys or girls!
Finally, what have you got planned for your set at Splendour?
Thirty minutes of goodness. No rain this time either hopefully, but unfortunately that’s not in my hands.
Georgie opens up the Confetti Stage at Splendour Festival on Saturday 18 July. City of Football will also be in attendance. Come and have a kick-about with us on our stand at the event.
Follow Georgie on Facebook
Website design and development by Leftlion Extended
