The Shape I’m In: Stephanie Roche

TOP Irish footballer Stephanie Roche wants girls to feel comfortable when it comes to talking about periods. 

“It’s something that people don’t like to talk about a lot, but it’s what young girls need to know and what they want to hear,” says the ambassador for Lil-Let’s Let’s Talk campaign.

“I think it depends on the group you’re with, and the friends you have, whether you are comfortable to talk about it or not.”

With social media now just a swipe away, she believes girls are under more pressure than ever to “wear make-up” and to be “good-looking”.

Though she is just 26 years old, a lot has changed in the last decade. “There wasn’t Instagram, like there is now — younger girls have to do all this to fit in, to be part of a crowd.”

She moved to Sunderland AFC Ladies last summer, shortly after being dropped from her US team, Houston Dash. Though “angry and disappointed” at the time, there have been compensations of the heart.

Trips home are “only a short flight back home”.

Also, her long-term boyfriend, professional footballer Dean Zambra, has moved to Sunderland to be with her, and is playing with a local team.

“He just came over to support me and to be there — we’ve also moved into an apartment.”

Once again, Stephanie has landed on her swift feet.

What shape are you in?

I train pretty much twice a day every day. We usually train for an hour and a half in the morning and then an hour and a half to two hours in the evening. We are off season now, so we do gym work at least two to three times a week and then we do football and footwork and cardio as well.

What are your healthiest eating habits?

With football I have to eat a lot of protein and carbohydrates — chicken and pasta is something that is constantly in my diet, literally every day. I try to vary it and try different kinds of carbs and proteins. We were away with the Irish team recently and we had a buffet where breakfast, lunch and dinner was pretty much the same food for a week. When you come home, you want to go and have something that’s not healthy.

What are your guiltiest pleasures?

A Thai yellow curry — usually chicken. I love chicken and I have it a lot — it’s nice to have a variation of it.

What would keep you awake at night?

I’m a devil for going on my phone when I’m in bed — I logon to Facebook. It would be more things like that that would keep me awake rather than thinking about a match. I’ve been playing long enough, I started when I was 11 years old.

How do you relax?

My boyfriend and I just do things away from football. We always try to go to the cinema or do things as a couple and switch off. We love going away on holidays. We haven’t had much time in the last two years but we are hoping to get a holiday in December.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Sir Alex Ferguson, Cristiano Ronaldo — he would be the eye candy at the table — Will Smith, Ellen DeGeneres, and Marilyn Monroe.

What’s your favourite smell?

A vanilla candle burning — it’s something I’d have in our apartment.

What would you like to change about your appearance?

I think I’m happy enough with how I am.

When is the last time you cried?

I can’t think to be honest. I put on a brave front — the family would see the sad side of me, but I’d never ever let anyone else see that. I’d be a little bit hard on the outside.

What traits do you least like in others?

I don’t like people who try to be someone they are not in order to fit in. It’s something I’d never do myself.

What traits do you least like about yourself?

I’m really bad with names. If I meet someone for the first time and they tell me their name, a few minutes later I’ve forgotten it. I’ve tried to improve in the last few years but it still hasn’t changed.

Do you pray?

I try to go to Mass every chance I get but I wouldn’t be really, really holy. I often pray — it might be for football, it might be to wish my family well.

What would cheer up your day?

Seeing my nieces and nephews and boyfriend’s nieces and nephews. They always manage to cheer me up.

For more information on Lil-Let’s ‘Let’s Talk’ campaign for Irish teens see www.becomingateen.ie or www.youtube.com/becomingateenIRL. Stephanie’s video on body changes will go live on November 26.