Jemma Rose was named Arsenal Ladies’ community ambassador at the start of the 2015 Women’s Super League season. You can keep track of the ladies’ work in the community by reading her monthly blog.
CONTINENTAL CUP FINAL AND A NEW CONTRACT
Finishing the season with the Continental Cup final was extremely exciting for Arsenal Ladies as it was the final trophy up for grabs in order to complete the season on a high. We went into the final on the back of consecutive wins in the WSL, and only just missing out on Champions League football, so winning this final was a must for the club.
I had previously been involved in two FA Cup finals with Bristol Academy, but lost both to Arsenal Ladies, so that made this particular final even more special to me as it would be my first trophy with the club that I had dreamt of playing for when I was growing up.
We knew going into the game that Notts County were extremely good at applying high-tempo pressure, especially as a front three when we were playing out from the back. Notts went close with the first attempt on goal early in the first half but leading up to the game we had been working on various ways of playing out from the back, utilising our full backs and centre halves, and our persistence with this strategy paid off mid-way through the first half.
Our first goal started with build up play from the back and led to Jordan Nobbs scoring a great solo goal, and then she went onto score another wonder-strike!
The game ended 3-0 and it felt great as a defensive unit to keep a clean sheet in a final. When the final whistle went it was great to look up and see my mum and dad and share the moment I won my first trophy with Arsenal Ladies with them. I owe a lot to them for believing in me and allowing me to chase my dream of becoming a full-time female footballer.
After ending the season on a high and playing every single game with Arsenal Ladies in the WSL, it was time for me to look back and discuss the season with my family and Pedro.
When I initially signed for Arsenal Ladies I knew with the players we have and with Pedro as the manager I would improve as a player. However, for me personally, looking back I feel as though training and playing for such a successful club hasn't just improved me as a footballer but it has helped me grow as a person and has made me more determined to improve and achieve the goals I set myself at the start of every season.
These emotions and positivity towards the club and the area I was living in made my decision easy when I was offered a new contract with Arsenal Ladies. I accepted straight away!
CHRISTMAS DAY AT THE ROSE’S
Christmas at my house can sometimes be very interesting but the routine never changes.
People that know me know I like my sleep and I hate being woken up before the time that my body naturally wakes up. My little sister - she's 22 so not so little - always tends to wake me up by jumping on me, pulling my duvet off me and opening my blind, which is not a great start to my Christmas day!
When I manage to crawl out of my bed and get ready, we then sit down as a family and open our presents up one by one - this used to take us hours when I was a kid but now it takes a few minutes!
When I'm opening my presents from my mum and dad, my dad always seems more shocked than me because like a typical dad he never knows what he and my mum have got me as my mum does all the Christmas shopping!
Once we've opened all the presents and Dave the dog has ripped up and dribbled over all the wrapping paper and scattered it everywhere around the house, we take everything upstairs and get ready for my immediate family to come over.
It's tradition for everyone in my family to have a few too many drinks and for me to take my nan home once she is ready to leave - like the princess she is. Mum cooks the roast for everyone with my dad attempting to help her but he tends to get in the way and causes her to consume more wine.
Once we've all eaten our roast dinner we move onto the dessert challenge which is always designed by my uncle as he makes Bailey's profiteroles and we have to each see how many we can fit in our mouth beating our previous score (don't ask why and no I never win).
The final stage of my Christmas day is games and TV until everyone falls asleep - mainly my sister and I end up carrying her to bed - switching the TV off and telling my Dad to stop snoring… MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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