Jamie Butcher


Arsenal's number 12 has been in impressive form this season and thoroughly deserves a Premier League winners medal to make up for the disappointment of losing in the FA Cup final recently. Of course, this isn't Carlos Vela, but Arsenal Ladies' number 12 Gemma Davison. Inside Futbol's Jamie Butcher went to meet her to talk about her career so far and hopes for the future.

Davison, 23, is a striker who has made more appearances in the Arsenal Ladies side this year than any other player and was crucial in helping the side to the Premier League title, scoring twice in the championship winning game. It went some way towards making up for losing the FA Cup final at Nottingham Forest's City Ground just a week earlier.

Gemma has always had a passion for football since her childhood: “I was about 4; I followed my brother around and would copy whatever he was doing – although I was always made to go in goal!”

In 2001, she took part in a try-out at Arsenal and made it into the centre of excellence, since then her career has gone from strength to strength, with Davison making her full international debut for England in July 2009 and spending two summer loan spells in the USA which boasts the largest professional women’s league in the world.

With women’s football steadily growing in popularity it is surprising to know that women are not classed as professionals as their male counterparts are: “We are only semi professional at Arsenal, and the only women’s team in the current league to be that. Arsenal are the most stable club in the English women’s game and support us 100% in every aspect”.

The reason for Arsenal's stability may have something to do with their domination of the English women’s game. Since their inception in 1987 they have claimed no less than 32 major trophies to date. A feat which Davison has helped achieve with the side. And the highlight of her career so far? “Being a part of the UEFA Women's Champions League winning team in 2007”.

The women’s game is always a hotbed of controversy, often receiving a negative opinion in a male dominated sport. This is something Davison is well aware of: “I definitely think the women’s game is under-promoted although there are some changes being made. We are currently changing the league to a Super League which will take place in the summer starting in March 2011. Better weather and football in the summer is something most people in this country would love so hopefully more people can come to our games”.

The decision to make the women’s league into a summer event is a sensible one. Most men are aware of the usual withdrawal symptoms suffered in between the months of May and August, especially when there are no international tournaments, so the women’s league is guaranteed to have an increase in both viewers and awareness.

Most men argue that women’s football can’t be compared to their game and that the team spirit and atmosphere can’t be recreated in a women’s team, this is something Gemma was very quick to clarify: “Being at Arsenal where we have lost so many players to the new pro league in America has made things really tough for us over the last season and this current season. People have doubted us, especially last year when we lost some really big players such as Kelly Smith and Karen Carney midway through the season, people thought we wouldn’t be able to win the league without them, yet we battled and worked together as a team with huge belief to win the FA Cup and the Premier League. This year has been a similar story, so we have come together even more to be successful”.

With many of the highly rated English players heading overseas to the largest women’s professional league in the world, is that something Davison is eyeing? “I’d like to experience the American league, but I want to be a big part of making Arsenal football club as successful as it can possibly be”.

Having had two loan spells in the States, Davison is well aware of what it would take to play in the professional league out there. Brief summer spells with New York Magic in 2008 and Chicago Red Eleven in 2009, were set up by a coach at Arsenal called Emma Hayes: “We had been working on my game and I needed more games in order to gain experience so she set me up with New York Magic – I had the best time of my life out there. I came back to Arsenal a better player and a more confident person. I enjoyed it so much I went back the following summer to Chicago”.

With women’s football seemingly one of the more difficult sports to get into, let alone be recognised in, it is only natural Davison might consider what she would be if not a footballer: “I’d loved to have been a trainer designer as I’m obsessed with buying them! As well as playing though, I am also a football coach, helping kids from varied age groups develop into the game”.

At just 23, Davison has the best years of her career ahead of her – a completely dedicated footballer who can already boast more medals than most male players. With her current ability, she is already looking forward to her next ambitious goals: “Being a regular part of the England squad would be great and it’s a big ambition of mine to be a part of the Olympics and the World Cup”. Few would bet against her fulfilling them.

 

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