Standing up for what you believe in and being honest, telling the truth are all very liberating things.

Eniola Aluko

Categorized in : You Believe Truth Standing

I'm absolutely loving Turin's old, historical-city vibe, with the narrow, cobbled streets.

vibe loving old streets

Something about the WSL is that the margins for error are very small. In the Premier League you can get away with losing a couple of games, but the women's league is so short and the leaders tend to set the bar so high that if you lose a couple of games your title hopes are over.

lose you women losing

As I can testify, living in a foreign country takes you way out of your comfort zone. It's the little things, like ordering food in a different language, buying petrol or learning to drive on the other side of the road, but they all add up to making you a more rounded, educated person.

you little-things learning food

With the big clubs embracing women's football and the professionalism you see at the likes of Liverpool, Birmingham, Arsenal and my club Chelsea, it's really impressive. We're making great strides.

great you women football

I am proud to say I got 102 caps. I tweeted on the day of my 100th that I was 'grateful.'

i-am day grateful proud

Unfortunately for me, my England career has massively been soured. Even when I won my 100th cap, what people didn't see was everything that happened before that - which was me in floods of tears - because of how I felt it was handled.

see me tears people

I've been at Chelsea five years and been the butt of many jokes. And I give it back sometimes. That is the beauty of team spirit in a healthy dressing room. I'm not a sensitive, precious person.

back team beauty sometimes

I've played for boys' teams.

My favourite artist is Beyonce. I also like Jasmine Sullivan.

also like jasmine artist

Just because someone doesn't have a silver spoon in their mouth doesn't mean they can't be highly intelligent.

mouth just-because someone silver

Eventually I will own my own company and will provide advice to athletes and artists from the entertainment industry.

own will my-own advice

I think obviously the men's game has a greater emphasis on physique and strength and speed. The women's game can be quite skilful and tactical by comparison.

game women strength men

To stay healthy, I like to eat healthy food. For example a lot of meat, pasta, vegetables and I also have to drink a lot of water and drinks with electrolytes in them.

drink vegetables food water

When I score I go wild. Sometimes I put my arms out wide like the way Didier Drogba celebrates for Chelsea or sometimes I try to slide on the grass if the grass is wet enough.

enough grass sometimes way

My first experience playing for England was very scary and nerve wracking.

playing first experience scary

I would say the most memorable thing that has ever happened to me has to be when I got my First class honours Law degree at my University graduation. All my family from all over the world were there when I collected my degree. I will never forget that day.

day me family world

I think having a back-up plan is never a bad thing. I would hate to be a male footballer and look back on 15 years of my career and think, 'Oh well, I've got a lot a money but what now?'

look think money hate

It is a certain type of guy who's OK with having a girlfriend who is better at football than him. It is actually problematic. Some guys really can't cope with it.

some better girlfriend football

You are going to fail in sport, you are going to win sometimes, you are going to be criticised sometimes, you are going to be applauded - so it gives you... well, it's certainly given me anyway, those real-life lessons that make you bulletproof.

win me you sometimes

Look, the reality is that people will pay more for a match when Wayne Rooney is playing than when I am playing. I will never expect to be paid the same as Wayne Rooney, because I am not Wayne Rooney. And there's no getting around that.

i-am look reality people