Follow our 2024/25 Young Gun series as we get to know the academy youngsters kicking off their careers at Sobha Realty Training Centre.
Defender Niamh Peacock is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Leah Williamson one day at Arsenal. She spoke to us about her time in the academy so far, her aspirations and inspirations.
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I started my football journey when I was five, just playing with my brother and dad in the park. When it came to playing for a club, I joined my local boys’ team, Isleworthians, for around three years. Being the only girl was never an issue in my team - the boys were always very supportive of me - but other teams would often make little comments about how they were going to win because I was a girl. Some of them wouldn’t even shake my hand after! That’s when I knew I’d played well.
I’ve been at Arsenal for half of my life, joining the academy U9s side at eight years old. Making the jump from grassroots to academy football is quite a big one. Even at that age, the finer details are really focused on. The coaches have definitely helped that transition because, from a young age, they've given me the guidance and support I've needed. Playing up the age groups has been good too because I've been challenged by different players older than me. That’s a credit to my coaches for giving me the opportunity to do that.
"I look up to Leah Williamson a lot, not only because she plays the same position, but because of her leadership on the pitch."
On the pitch, I try to be a leader as much as possible and a role model to my teammates. I wasn’t always a centre-back: I started out as a central midfielder but as I got taller, it made sense to make the switch. It also means I can lead better from the back because you get to see the entire pitch!
I look up to Leah Williamson a lot, not only because she plays the same position and came through the same pathway, but because of her leadership on the pitch. I've got good communication skills and as well as organising the defence and putting my body on the line for the team, I think I'm a forward-looking player. I always try to get on the ball and make passes forward to enable us to score. I’ve been focusing on my long-range passing a lot recently. Even during the off-season, my dad and I would go down to the park to practice my deliveries.
On a matchday, I’ll always have pancakes for breakfast - Declan Rice inspired me on that! When I’m heading to the game in the car, I’ll have a passion fruit smoothie because I never feel like eating much too close to a game. It’s not quite a superstition but I’ll also cut my socks before a match too.
As I’ve got older, I’ve had more opportunities to train in and around the first team which has been surreal. This is the first season that our U21s have trained up at Sobha Realty Training Centre and it’s been so nice to be there. I was one of the few to be given a chance to train with the first team in pre-season, which was such a honour. The intensity was so much higher than I was used to and even in just a small amount of time, the advice the coaches gave me has been so valuable.
I’ve had some incredible opportunities to develop with England as well. I received my first international call-up two years ago at U15 level and I was lucky enough to captain that side. When I turned 16, I captained the U15s for the first game against Ireland and then I made the jump to the U17s. Just this summer, I had the chance to represent my country at the U17s European Championship and what an unbelievable experience. We got to the final, coming second overall, and I was so proud to be a part of that special squad.
In terms of my goals for the future, I want to keep working hard at Arsenal to try to get the opportunity to train with the first team more often. When I got a chance in pre-season, I feel like that definitely helped me a lot, so I can’t wait to see what the future brings there. It’ll be amazing to keep getting those challenges with the senior squad, as well as playing the best as I can to thrive in the U21s team.
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