Worth The Sacrifice
Charli Grant, Australia
My name is Charli Grant and I play for the Australian women’s national team. I have been preparing for the Women’s World Cup by playing with Vittsjö GIK in Sweden.
I began playing football when I was six years old at my primary school. Coming from a sporting family, I would always follow whatever my brother would do when we were younger, so as soon as he played I had to get involved too. The main sport offered at my school was football. As soon as I started playing I fell in love with the game.
I joined the State team at around 11 years of age. Not only did I have to start making sacrifices so I could attend all the training, but so did my family. Training sessions were over an hour's drive from me so that would mean I would have to do homework in the car, eat on the way home (thankfully mum always prepared meals for me) and often miss out on social events with my friends.
All the highs do come with difficult times. I think one of the most challenging times for me was my time at Rosengård. Being my first time overseas away from my closest support network and not receiving much game time was very difficult to comprehend. It makes you question if you have made the right decision and sometimes even question your love for the game, working so hard but not receiving that immediate reward. I am so grateful to have experienced this though, because it makes me appreciate every minute I have on the pitch and has built my resilience in everyday life.
All the sacrifices and hard times have been worth it to get to where I am today. I am so grateful to everyone that has contributed to my journey, in particular my mum, dad and brother who have always believed in me and done everything they could do so I can chase my dreams.
What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?
I tried to capture everyone in my life that has contributed and supported me on my footballing journey. If it were not for all these people I would not be where I am today. This includes my family, current and past teammates, and the fans that continually support and motivate us to become better players.
The photos were taken at various locations, from national team camps in England and in Australia, different stadiums we have played at including with my club Vittsjö GIK, and within Skåne - where I spend most of my time when not playing football.
I was trying to give a full impression of the life of a professional athlete. From celebrating goals to having dinner with friends, preparing food to fuel for the day, relaxing on our off days and the scenery of living overseas. I think it is important to show that we are just ordinary people and do live an ordinary life outside of football. We are very grateful to be living our dreams so it was important to show all the smiles we share on the pitch.
Yes, it is a serious game on the pitch and we always strive to win, but we love the game and play for the love of it. I also wanted to show how grateful I am for the people in my life. I would not be playing for the national team if it were not for all these people I have captured in the photos. They have all supported me in some form or another.
What are your favourite photos? Why?
My favourite photos are Teagan Micah and I after the England game and me with my family at the Sydney camp.
The photo with Teagan was taken after our win against England and my first goal for the national team. I think the genuine joy in our faces is so special and captures what it means to play and win for this team. She is also one of my best friends, we have been there for each other through all our highs and lows. So when we see each other succeed we know how much it means, knowing what we have been through to get where we are. It was such a proud moment for myself but also for the team beating such a high quality side.
The photo with my family was taken in Sydney during the 2023 Cup of Nations. They had travelled from Adelaide to Sydney to see me play. It is not often I get to see my family because I live overseas in Sweden to pursue my dreams of playing football professionally. The effort they go to to visit me when I visit Australia means the world to me. Everything I do is for them and the sacrifices they have had to make to get me to where I am today. I love them and all the support they give.
Are there any other stories connected with the photos and the people featured?
Mini (Katrina Gorry) brings her daughter Harper into our locker room before every game and training at our club and is also a huge part of the national team. We love having her around because no matter what happens on that day, she is always there to cheer you up with that cheeky smile. Mini is an incredible role model to not only myself but so many players and young women. Being brave enough to have Harper on her own but also to come back and play at a really high level is incredible.
I gave Teagan the camera during the England game so I could take some photos of the fans after the game, but little did I know I was going to score my first goal for my country. All the girls told Teagan to hurry up and get the camera out to capture the celebrations and get the scoreboard. So there are a bunch of blurry shots because she was so excited for me, but she did well to capture the score of us beating England and we got a good photo of us celebrating after!
I think I first played with Chelsie Dawber when I was nine in South Australia. We have since grown up playing with each other and now we are both playing in Sweden against each other. It is crazy to see how far we have come. It is always a comforting feeling having someone back home here halfway across the world.
What is one thing you always do to prepare before a game?
Two non-negotiables are food and music. I always have pasta the night before or day of the game to feel fuelled enough for the game ahead. Then there are always two songs I need to listen to: Ten Thousand Hours by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Better When I’m Dancing by Meghan Trainor. They always get me focused and energised for the game ahead.
What are the opportunities and challenges for women’s footballers in Australia and Sweden? What changes have you seen in women’s football since you started playing?
It is possible in both Sweden and Australia to play football professionally as a woman. But the challenge with that unfortunately still today is that not everyone can live off the income. Hopefully times will change and it becomes more of an equal playing field.
In Australian society football is now a platform to promote physical activity whilst also harvesting a safe place to build friendships. Women’s football has become a place for people to express themselves and feel confident in who they are.
I think the biggest change I have seen is the number of girls that participate in football now and the media coverage of the game. A prime example of the growth of the game is at my school where I started playing football. I was one of the only girls in my team and I recently got sent a photo of my old school having a full girls team. That made me so happy to see. When I started following the game, the only way to watch it was to attend a match, but now you can watch the game on the top TV platforms.
What does football and representing your country mean to you?
It is hard to put into words what football means to me. Football has given me so much. It has given me the opportunity to travel the world. It has allowed me to meet so many amazing people. It has allowed me to be myself. It has allowed me to follow my dreams.
Everything I have done since I fell in love with the game is to play football for the national team. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. It is an absolute privilege to represent my country and something I do not take lightly. I will continue to play as hard as I can for all the people that support us, have supported me and that may not get the opportunity to do the same.
What are your personal ambitions for the future?
In the future I want to continue representing my country. I think one of the most exciting things about football is where it can take you. I want to play overseas for as long as I can and play in different countries. My bucket list would be England, Spain, Germany, and the USA. But the ultimate ambition is to win a World Cup with the Matildas.
What does the future look like for women's football? What do you want/expect to change after the 2023 Women’s World Cup?
It is so exciting to think about the future of women’s football post the 2023 Women’s World Cup. I hope this inspires people to not only participate in playing the game but get involved in the sport whether that is as a physio, referee, psychologist, or whatever role it might be. I hope it also increases the attendance of women’s games all over the world. The growth in involvement and interest will only increase the professionalism of the game and improve the longevity of the players careers.
