The She Kicks Locker Room: Captain’s Chat with Kirsty McGee

Reading captain Kirsty McGee discusses leading a side into its first top-flight season. She describes herself as leading by example, setting standards she expects of herself and every team-mate, and says her style is her own rather than modelled on anyone. Lifting the WSL 2 title is her proudest moment, because it gave this group of players the chance to compete in WSL 1 and earn full-time contracts. The qualities she values are reading and reacting to situations, carrying the management’s messages and controlling her own emotions. She believes players should motivate themselves, intervenes when there is dissent towards officials or team-mates, and checks after the whistle that everyone is all right.