Jessie Stapleton is not the first young player from the Republic of Ireland to make the move over to the Barclays Women’s Super League, and she is unlikely to be the last.
The 18-year-old defender left Shelbourne in her native country this summer to sign her first professional contract of her career in east London, with the Hammers beating off several WSL teams to land her signature.
At ‘Shels’, Stapleton helped the Dublin based outfit to plenty of success, helping them to the 2021 Women’s National League title as well as League and Cup double the following season.
Stapleton also received a number of individual accolades too – having been crowned Young Player of the Year in 2022 and being named in the leagues ‘Team of the Season’ in two successive years.
On the international stage, Stapleton has captained Republic of Ireland at U15, U16, U17 and currently at U19s level, and was named U-19s Player of the Year at International level at the FAI Awards in 2022; an award she has been nominated for once again this year.
At senior level, Stapleton made her debut against the Philippines as a substitute in June of 2022 in a friendly match in Turkey and was most recently called-up to Vera Pauw’s squad in November 2022.
And Stapleton’s ambition over the coming years is simple – establish herself in the senior squad of both Club and county. She believes that the move to West Ham United will help her achieve both.
“When you come over to professional football, I think that makes you want to play international football even more,” she explained. “Coming over to West Ham, it’s a big step for me in every aspect.
“The physical aspects are a big one, the fitness work is a big step up from in Ireland because we’re training full-time here rather than three days a week. There’s been lots of support from everyone around the club – whether that be the medical team, nutritionists - all the staff have been brilliant.
“They’ve helped me make the transition into full-time football and there’s still plenty of work to put in.”
The Hammers are about to begin a new era under boss Rehanne Skinner, who was appointed manager of the team in mid-July.
And Stapleton is excited to be a part of the squad ahead of the upcoming season and explains why she believes that West Ham was the ‘right fit’ for the next stage of her career.
“I think it was just the togetherness and how friendly everyone was and how everyone just pushes each other to do better. I saw that when I came over to train for the first time, and that was something I was used to back in Ireland, so thought I’d be able to grow with the same sort of atmosphere.
“There’s always going to be a lot of change when you move away, but it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do.
"Since I started kicking a ball, I’ve wanted to sign a professional contract and play in the best league in the world.
“I ring my family every night and I have loads of friends that support me. The girls here are really nice, there’s a lot of girls that have had to go through that same transition as well, so there’s a lot of support around."
Stapleton became the third Irish player in the Hammers squad when put pen-to-paper, joining Izzy Atkinson and Jess Ziu in east London.
The central defender played with both during her time with Shelbourne, and she was pleased to have familiar faces when settling in, highlighting Atkinson's help in particular.
“It also helps that I know Izzy [Atkinson] – we’ve been on a couple of Irish camps together and we get on great. Izzy was away with the World Cup when I first moved over, so I didn’t have that support, but she’s been really friendly even when she was at the World Cup.
“With the time difference, anytime I gave her a text she’d reply as fast a she could so she was very helpful with the move.”
Stapleton watched from home as her country competed in their first ever Women’s World Cup this summer, and having already picked up one cap, Stapleton is hoping that more appearances for her nation won’t be too far away.
“My aim is to be in the senior squad. I think that’s what everyone’s dream is when they're growing up and mine is no different.
“Playing over here now, I think that will help me, but there’s a lot of girls in the team and anytime I’ve been in senior camps, I’ve been getting more experience. In the next year or two I hope to be part of the team and potentially the starting XI, that’s my goal.
“I think if you want an international career there’s a lot of things you have to sacrifice and you have to push yourself hard. But as I said, the managers have the communication, and they do what’s best for me and what’s going to benefit me most.
“Obviously senior football is what everybody wants to do, but when you get that opportunity to captain your country at any age group is not a bad second.”
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