Competing in North West League Division 1 North, she’s also the player liaison for the recently reformed England Fans WFC side.
1. Name: Ruth Hopton
2. Age & DOB: 35 & 21/08/1980
3. Team: Penrith AFC Ladies
4. Position (and have you always played there): Defensive midfielder converted from a striker!
5. Team supported and favourite player: Blackburn Rovers. Fave Player: Alan Shearer.
6. Occupation / or what are you studying?: PR and Design Manager.
7. Are there any other footballers in the family: Nope.
8. Favourite game played in by you?: Versus Burnley in the FA Cup – won on penalties after the game finished 3-3. As a massive Rovers fan, it’s always sweet to beat Burnley!!
9. What is your best attribute as a player: Versatile. I’m more than happy to play in any position as long as I’m on the pitch…apart from in goal, with my height I’d be absolutely useless!!
10. What are your ambitions in football? To carry on playing until I’m at least 40!
11. Who has been your biggest influence in your footballing career? My Dad, he took me to watch Rovers all over the country when I was growing up and my love for the game grew.
12. What is the best thing about playing for your team? The crack with all the girls. Absolutely amazing bunch who would do anything to help each other, both on and off the pitch.
13. If you got to design your team’s kit, what would it look like?: Half blue and half white for obvious reasons!
14. Do you listen to music to get you motivated, or while you train – if so, what tracks?: We play our fave tunes from our pre-season tours of Ireland and the Isle of Man. ‘Shut up and dance and Rude’.always gets us fired up for the game!
15. Who, that plays for your team, should we know more about and why? Michelle Jones, keeper for Penrith. Who I look to for motivation before kick off and the reason I joined. Best thing I ever did and she’s always an absolute hero on the pitch!
SHE KICKS – the online community for women’s football
