MY LEFT FOOT – Poppy Pattinson on her superpower

After seven seasons in the WSL – playing for Bristol City, Everton and Brighton – Poppy Pattinson made the leap to the ambitious London City Lionesses at the beginning of this season. Then everything came to a grinding halt with an injury after just two weeks.

An operation and a slow but steady journey back to match fitness, then a change of head coach at LCL, could’ve seen Pattinson’s head drop. But instead she saw in the new year with fresh optimism, and has since become first-choice left back for new head coach Eder Maestre.

Then came the call-up to the England squad from Sarina Wiegman, and Pattinson’s first cap for the senior Lionesses – having played through the age groups. And she’s definitely in with a shout for the left-back position, especially as she is that rarity in football, a genuine left-footer.

Poppy Pattinson spoke to Helen M Jerome about her progress, and first of all, that wand of a left foot.

How much of a superpower is it being left-footed? What can you do that other left backs can’t?

I’ve been asked this a few times in terms of being left-footed.

Yeah, of course, it’s a great strength.

You know, you could it’s a say rare quality to have in teams.

There’s not a lot.

But yeah, I just want to use it as a superpower, like you say.

As a left-back, I like to do both.

I like to defend, obviously, and not let anyone past, but also the offensive side of the game, getting forward and delivering left-footed crosses into the box and creating chances.

So I’d say more so in terms of that.

You’ve played for lots of different coaches, in lots of different systems, in lots of different clubs, Bristol, Everton, Brighton and now London City.

And I wonder what you’ve learned from each of them and what you’ve added on your journey?

Yeah, it’s funny you say that.

I think I had this conversation this morning, I have been since the call-up, to be honest.

For me, over the past two weeks, it’s put my whole emotions from being 8-years-old into perspective of now it’s come true at 25.

Obviously, throughout the age groups, throughout clubs, you feel so, so close at times and you also feel so far away at other times.

So it’s definitely been a rollercoaster in terms of emotions of that, but I’m definitely someone with a strong mindset and never wanted to give up on that.

As you listed some of my clubs, I think the past seven years in the WSL have been pretty… steady for me and consistent in terms of performing at a certain level.

But this time when I got injured at the start of the season, you know, it really hit hard and hit home

That is going to be something different this time.

I never had to deal with the setback in that way, which put me out for a large spell of the season, really getting fit after Christmas.

So, when I was in the gym doing my rehab, worked really well with my coach, it was more in terms of using that as a real chance to do something different and come back in the second half of the season, which I’ve never had to do… and really make my mark and make an impact

And this is the feeling I have now.

I’ve played five games and I got the call up, which is really special.

So, yeah, I’m proud of myself for that.

That’s something that I’m really happy about right now.

In your career so far, and you’ve just mentioned this season, what’s given you the most satisfaction?

I mean, the call up for sure.

Yeah, making my debut against Ukraine in Turkey a week ago now.

But I think satisfaction for me also is how I’ve been able to perform in the WSL for eight years now, my eighth season.

It’s a very hard league to be a part of and not everyone gets the opportunity to do that.

So yeah, I think just to maintain that standard and also the belief in myself to keep going and want to be better still, keep pushing on from here is probably also satisfying.

That links into my last question, which is if you are being hypercritical, where would you say you’ve still got room for improvement?

I would pick decision-making in moments.

I think every player still has opportunities to learn and develop.

Definitely something I still want to do.

Obviously the game’s growing hugely.

There’s different players every week you’re coming up against, different quality.

It’s getting better.

There’s more decisions to make.

So as that happens, I think I can improve with that too and really, really put a stamp on things.

Photos: Nina Farooqi/London City Lionesses, Helen M Jerome