I graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Art in Graphic Design, and all in all, I can look back on my collegiate experience and say that I really did enjoy myself.

Karen Bardsley

Categorized in : Look Myself Art Experience

Every minute I'm on the field, I'm out there playing for my team, and the success of our team is what is most important to me.

me team important success

As a keeper, you have to understand that your job is black and white: you make a save, or you don't; you can be the hero - or the goat.

you black-and-white black hero

Just normalising the idea of women playing football is a massive part of what we need to do.

need just women football

What goalkeeper doesn't like a little action?

goalkeeper little like action

My teammates always have my back on the field, and I will do everything in my power to make sure I always have theirs.

will back always power

My goal has never been to see how many stats I can rack up.

how never see i-can

I trained with some great keepers at college, alongside full-grown men, and it helped me 100%.

great me college men

The only technical difference you will find is, if you are keeping goal as a male, they will play a bit further out, but set positions are the same, and techniques are constantly evolving.

difference will you play

I've seen my share of bad goalkeeping, and I've had my moments. But I've seen some excellent goalkeeping as well.

well some bad moments

I don't see why people can't praise when they see something done well - even if it is by a woman.

woman see praise people

You take the opportunities when you get them, and you try to see if there's any cues the opposition gives you, but more important is focusing on your own process, trusting your instincts, and being decisive.

try see you important

There's no pressure on a goalkeeper in a penalty shootout. So it's a nice opportunity for us to have some fun and try and make some saves.

nice pressure opportunity fun

It's a goalkeeper's job. There's so many times you're doing nothing for 89, 90 minutes, and then there's a split-second moment. It's a different challenge to outfield players, who have a lot of physical challenges and battle. We have a lot of mental battles; it's about maintaining your focus, refining processes of what you do in a game.

moment you focus challenges

You'll do anything to keep the ball out.

ball out anything you

In my position, I'm always going to get a bit of flak. I take it with a grain of salt.

going always salt position

People can say what they want. It's their opinion. We forget what we don't need to take with us.

opinion want forget people

That's what tournament football's all about. It's about finding your feet in the first game, finding what works, and gaining confidence.

game confidence feet football

I've lived all my life in the U.S., but to be brutally honest, I don't really have any ties to the country apart from my mum and dad. Most of the rest of my family live in the Stockport area, and I've always related more to that side of my background.

my-life dad family life

I think City is a really good example of how you shift the culture internally. We've had a big culture shift, particularly in the academy. Young boys are now more comfortable with strong female athletes being around.

city good you culture

Unfortunately, everyone's football career does come to an end.

everyone end career football