GOTTA HAVE FAITH – Maverick on the Move!  

In our latest ‘Anatomy of a Transfer’, we talk to Angelina ‘Ange’ Nixon. The left winger exudes self-belief and was previously at Norwich, Cambridge, Birmingham and MK Dons before signing for Rugby Borough in 2023.

Still only 23, Nixon was clinical in front of goal for two years at Boro, netting 27 times in 48 games. More importantly, she’s an exciting, edge-of-the-seat maverick, utterly unfazed when facing bigger teams – most notably against Liverpool in the FA Cup last season, when she was Player of the Match.

Now she’s stepped up a league – to WSL2 from the National League Northern Premier – and into the unknown at Portsmouth, having turned down another offer. And she’s already making her mark, helping lift Pompey off the bottom of the league and winning the September Goal of the Month for her top bins strike against Ipswich.

Helen M Jerome hears all about the move and exactly what makes Ange Nixon tick – from food and faith to being a role model…

When Portsmouth approached you, did they say why they wanted you in particular?

Well, the manager, Jay Sadler, has been looking me over for a couple of years. I had a trial at Portsmouth a two or three years ago, and I was going to pick them or Rugby Borough and ended up picking Rugby.

Jay was happy with me and said: I’m pretty sure we’ll cross paths again in the future.

So he’s kept an eye on me, and he said I played really well last year – obviously against Liverpool (see photos below) – and played well against Burnley and against Stoke. So he said he’d keep an eye on me and he really likes the way I play.

And with Sophie Quirk leaving Portsmouth, Jay wanted me to come in and be that maverick for Portsmouth.

Was Jay the deciding factor, or were there other things you took into consideration?

I think for me a manager is a big thing, because as much as I believe in myself, I really want the manager to believe in me as well.

Jay was talking about how he likes people who have personality and character on the pitch, and I wouldn’t ever want a manager who would change me as a player. And he said straight away I would never change you.

Living down at the beach was also really tempting.

And coming into the Championship – WSL2 – is a massive step up to the league above. So that was a no-brainer for me. It’s always been my dream to be in the Championship, and it’s come true now, so there were many factors.

I presume you talked to a few people before you made the final decision?

Yeah, I spoke to my family, and going from Tier 3 to the Championship, that’s all of our dreams in Tier 3. So if it’s not with Rugby Borough, then I’d rather do it with a team who I know has ambition and drive.

So it was just straight away a ‘yes’ from me, because I know they have passion and ambition in this team. I want to be going up in my career and I feel like that was the biggest step I could do.

My brother’s a big football fan and knows a lot about football, and he said, and you’ve got to take this. Even though it’s going to be out of your comfort zone, you have to. You’ll never look back from this moment.

And I’m here now, and it’s very difficult, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

That’s good advice, because you can test yourself against the best players.

Exactly. I want to be able to play with better players and get more experience. I learn from them and I’m asking questions. I just want to learn, learn, learn.

It would be easy being in your comfort zone, scoring those goals, being that star player. But I want to fight for my position. I want to make sure I’m in somewhere harder, so then I get better.

Was it a wrench to leave Rugby Borough or did you feel it was time to go?

I knew it was about time, and I think me and the manager agreed really. I’ve always had so much faith and belief in my Rugby manager, Lee [Burch], and I really respect the man.

He always said: if you’re not going to go a Championship with us, and if we don’t get promoted, you’ll be going one day, and I’ll push you towards that.

He really helped me get into a nice Championship team and was there for me and supported me along the way. We both kind of knew, as much as he wanted me to keep me.

I would never, I don’t think, play for another team other than Rugby Borough in Tier 3. But if it was a Championship club, That’s when we both agreed, right, that’s your time to move.

What about practical things like moving house?

Well, I’ve lived in a player house for a couple of years now. When I was at Birmingham, I was 18 and in a host family house, so I’ve moved up since. Last year I was with Rugby Borough, living in Rugby.

Portsmouth’s definitely the best move for me because we literally train and then go straight to the beach, so I can’t think of anything better: football then the sea.

All the accommodation is with the contract, so they pay for a player house and it’s really nice to get along with the girls as your teammates. Because you’re living with them, they end up becoming your family.

Yeah, you’re surrounded by football all the time, and it’s a girl’s dream come true.

So a handful of you in one house?

Yeah. And it’s a lot of football talk, but then we get to know each other on a real level as well, and we help each other when people are down. Say if someone’s not starting, that’s where your teammate comes in and gives you a pat on the back. Then on a match day I always say how many goals, how many assists, how many clean sheets can we get for the house today?

Tell me a bit about Portsmouth as a club – did you know any of the players before you joined?

I played against them a couple of years ago when I played for MK Dons, but no, I didn’t know anyone personally, so I was literally diving straight in the deep end.

I did know Jay, and I just thought, why not? I didn’t really have any friends here. I thought, I’ve got to make this move and I know I’m going to be the newbie for a couple of days, but I’ve got to bite my lip, and now I’m really close to them all.

So others joined at the same time as you?

Yeah, there’s others who’ve joined. Not from Tier 3 though, I think I’m the only player who’s come up a league.

And what sort of ambitions has Jay got for the club?

So you can just hear the hunger, passion, desire in his voice. He wants to fight and win and do anything to get three points – and he progresses that into the players to die for the badge, and I think hopefully hitting mid-table.

Obviously we came third from bottom last season in Championship, but just pushing towards going higher and higher, and hopefully WSL one day. But at the moment just pushing higher than that position, and definitely staying in the Championship.

What is the setup like at Portsmouth?

Taking that step up, there’s a lot more facilities. There’s recovery facilities, we don’t train in the men’s training ground, but we use the same gym, the same spa. We get really looked after here.

They feed us with the proper nutrition, they make sure you’re getting the right protein, right carbs, so you don’t have to really think about what to do on the outside because they do it for you, so you know you’re doing the right thing.

Do they make you do ice baths?

Actually, our strength and conditioning coaches were against ice baths in pre-season, but I’m sure we’ll be doing them soon. If not, we’ll be going in the sea early in the morning and jumping in there.

Did you know any of the players arriving at Portsmouth – and others dotted around WSL2?

Yeah, so I’ve played against them obviously in the FA Cup and I don’t want to sound big-headed, but I’ve always stood out, so they’re like: oh, it’s that girl again. I like to be annoying on the pitch, yes!

I feel like I’m fitting in fine. Physically, it was hard at the start. I kept ringing my mum, just questioning like: wow, this is a jump.

I couldn’t move. I was sleeping for hours, oversleeping, because it was very physically demanding jumping up a league. But now my body’s used to it and my mindset, my mentality’s used to it.

That’s half the battle, being mentally strong. You’ve got a lot of self-belief so even though you’re saying it’s hard, you’ve worked at it?

100% yeah, and it’s just being patient and thinking good things take time rather than bang – straight away. I feel I hadn’t actually expressed myself properly until the last match we just played.

It’s getting the players around you to believe in you as well as the manager. Showing everyone what I’m about and it took a while to find my feet, but now I feel I have, with the season starting, so at the right time.

Tell me a bit about Portsmouth as a place?

It’s got a lot of character. They said about it being really posh down south, but I think it’s got a bit of grittiness, as well as really nice parts like the Gunwharf. And it’s a really nice beach, with turquoise clear sea. I feel like we’re on holiday!

It’s got character to the city and the community. There’s togetherness and the people are so friendly. They say up north, they’re nice, but here down south they’re really nice, really polite.

The neighbours make you feel welcome and as soon as they see the badge, they’re cheering, they want to talk to you, and you can see the passion. I feel a proper community and love in this city, wearing that Pompey badge.

In terms of ambitions as a player, is your goal to eventually play in the WSL?

I’ve just got to take it as it comes, but yeah, I think I’ve got this speciality and difference and talent inside me. And the urge and drive to want to get far. I just want to keep going and nothing’s going to stop me.

I’m gonna do everything I can to make sure I go as far as possible and make sure I’m standing out and doing the right things and learning as much as I can. So one day hopefully I play in the WSL and international football. I’m still young and still learning, so the future is bright in my eyes.

What do you feel you’ve improved most about your game in the last couple of seasons?

I think for me being calm and content, and knowing when to use my anger in the right way. When I was younger, I was a bit of a hot head and I’d get angry and get red cards, yellow cards. Now I’ve been calm and clever, yet because I’m so passionate, I’d do anything to win.

Sometimes it’d go the wrong way, and I’d lose my head, but keeping that composure and contentedness and being clever with it and just learning… like using my teammates. When I was younger I thought I’ll do it all by myself, but now having that humbleness of thinking we’re all going to win together. It’s not just going to be me.

Being an individual player, because I come up with something other players can’t do, but also using my team to help, and believing in my other teammates as well as myself.

Living in a house together, maybe you get those kinds of bonds you wouldn’t get otherwise?

Yeah, 100%, like obviously I’m a left winger and I live with the left back, Lucy Johnson.

We have the link and the relationship and luckily enough we’re living together so we know which one’s going to do what and the personalities.

You’ve mentioned a few of your skills, but what makes you unique compared to other players? Is it bravery or being audacious in things you try?

It’s interesting because I think I’ve got the determination, so watching me play, I grit my teeth and just go into a mode where if I see that ball I’ll make sure I get it first. It’s that determination to want to win and then obviously I feel I have the silkiness, calmness and skill to come up with something.

I think that passion screams out when I play.

Are Portsmouth semi-professional or professional now?

It’s fully professional and I want to get further and further, so all my focus is on being a better football player and person. Rest is so important, so I wouldn’t want to give any of my time to another job.

This is a full-time job where I can live very happily – not massive amounts of money because it’s women’s football, but I’m very happy.

When you eventually have to hang up your boots and shin pads, do you see yourself going into coaching or management?

It’s actually funny, because I am so passionate with football, but as soon as I stop playing, I am done. There’s no coaching, no pundits, nothing to do with football, I’m out.

I’m very religious, so I want to be taking my journey with God. I’m taking it through football now, but once my football’s done, I want to go and help as many people as I can. I want to just go and help, say young people in Africa, and do more missions rather than actually working in a church.

I’m also interested in healthy food and nutrition. Maybe I’ll have my own restaurant one day. I doubt it’ll be just when football’s over for me, I want to last until I’m about 40.

Nutrition is so important in sport now, isn’t it?

As I said to someone the other day: sleeping, eating and training are as important as each other. Everyone always thinks it’s how much and how hard you train, but what are you eating in the kitchen? How much do you sleep? They are just as important as what you do on that pitch, but people don’t take it in consideration. When you go to a high level, you have people saying how important it is and drilling it into your head.

What about timings of nutrition? If you have an earlier match, how do you plan when to eat?

They normally have a list on the coach, saying what time you need to eat, then they’ll give you the fuel of have a meal or a snack now. So they wouldn’t let you eat a big bowl of pasta 10 minutes before the game. They make sure that you’re fuelled up, but in the right way.

What if there’s a break in play, when the goalkeeper’s pretending to be injured or something?

It’s interesting because people are different, so it’s not even because I’m religious, but I’m big on whole foods and having natural sources of energy, fruit, apple juice. I’m not the sort of person who’s going to have loads of chemicals, just because it’ll give me energy automatically, but there will be players who will put the gels in and get those caffeine shots.

For me, I use coffee as my caffeine, a natural source, and I always have a carton of apple juice so I can get sugar down straight away. And I have a bit of sugar at half time as well.

Why apple juice particularly?

When you’re playing football you lose your adrenaline, so you lose your hunger. For me, it’s hard to actually eat straight before a game or at halftime. So drinking is an easy way to get sugar down without having to chew or actually eat. There’s something like 20 apples in apple juice, so it’s like eating 20 apples.

When you were in your teens, were there female players you admired?

If I’m going to be honest, my role model was actually Ronaldo.

Obviously now I really like the England team and Alessia Russo – and the togetherness the Lionesses have got. And there’s also the French winger, Sandy Baltimore (below, right).

If you were talking to a young girl who’d seen you and maybe the Lionesses, what would your advice be on doing the same?

It’s worth it in the end because literally every day I go into work – well, they call it work, but I’m smiling – when we’re on the pitch and they say: we’ve got 10 minutes left, I’m like: no, I want more. So it’s definitely worth it.

Money shouldn’t really be the main focus; it should be what you love, so if they have the mindset and are willing to go through all the hurdles to get there, the love of the game will always keep you trying.

I’d say to a kid: never ever give up on your dreams until they come true. That’s a big thing for me. I really want to help kids. I’d love to be a female inspiration to younger girls.

That’s the message, isn’t it?

Yes, you’ve got to really push at it. It’s having that hunger, and as I said, there will be distractions that come by and you think: maybe I like that more… But that hunger and that wanting to be the best; not the best player in the world, but the best version of yourself, the best player you can be.

The amount you have to sacrifice to be the best at your game is ridiculous.

I’m not saying this is for everyone, but I don’t drink. I don’t even want to get into a relationship because I know that distracts me personally.

I know it’s different for others. I’m making sure I’m eating the right thing; I’m making sure I’m sleeping; I’m not going out partying.

I don’t feel like I live a normal life, so for a child they need to understand that they’re going into a very competitive world where they’ll have to put everything into it. That is the balance of getting to see your family and loving others, but you have to sacrifice a lot.

As a kid, when people give you belief and confidence, you end up having it because you’ve heard it. A lot of men – like the Andrew Tates – give women such low power.

I just wish those people were not on social media, because they make everything toxic.

Yeah, what we want to do is push how women can be so great. That’s the main thing.

And now football’s planted that seed, I want other sports to come up with them.