“Being here in the US and seeing a lot more people that look like me, it makes me feel happier and confident,” says Jess Carter as she explains the benefits of playing in a squad with more diversity.
After six seasons with Chelsea, the 27-year-old moved across the pond to join NJ/NY Gotham FC in the National Women’s Soccer League in July, with the move well-received by American fans who were excited to see the versatile English defender bring her determination and experience stateside.
Carter has delivered on the field so far – NJ/NY Gotham are riding high in third in the NWSL standings – and certainly seems to have found her feet in a completely new environment.
Settling into a new country and different way of life is never easy for any player, but there’s elements of moving to the United States that have helped Carter feel at home more quickly.
In celebration of Black History Month (BHM), Carter sat down exclusively with 90min to look back on her experiences as a black player, both in the UK and US.
“When I was younger I didn’t really know much about black history and I’ve learned a lot more through BHM myself,” Carter says. “Learning about part of my identity as well is really important for me.”
Carter, whose mother is white and father is black, grew up in Warwick in England and her love for football grew when she began playing in school. And she knows that the women who came before her helped make it possible for her to thrive as a youngster.
“I was the only black footballer on my team for a long period of time in most sports in school, but it was never an issue,” Carter recalls. “It’s because of women and men who have broken these barriers that I was able to grow up and not have to worry about being black and playing football and being the only black person in my area. Because of what they’ve done, I was able to be confident in who I am and in my own skin.”
Before making the move to the US, Carter spent six years at Chelsea playing under Emma Hayes. She lifted the Women’s Super League title on five occasions in a diverse environment that she admits was huge for building her confidence.
“I have felt the difference even at Chelsea, feeling more confident when I’ve been surrounded by more people that look like me,” she says. “Chelsea has been a very diverse team for a while, and playing for Chelsea, especially in the last few years, has felt…
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