Having just secured her place on our Multimedia Sports Journalism degree, we caught up with Molly Rogers, who is currently out in Australia soaking up the atmosphere at the Women's World Cup, to discuss her experience Down Under, get a Final prediction - maybe - and talk her career goals...
Firstly, congratulations on your place at UCFB… what are you most looking forward to in September?
Thank you, I’m really looking forward to the challenge. University was never something I really thought about or was fussed about until I found UCFB. From then on, there was no doubt that I was going to go, something just clicked.
You’ll be studying Multimedia Sports Journalism, what’s the goal with your degree once you graduate?
By the end of my course, I hope to be doing journalism within the women’s game. I love the idea of being a content creator and following a team around, just like I am now at the World Cup, and producing content for people to see.
The women’s game is only growing now and I can’t wait to see what heights it reaches in the coming years, it’s only what it deserves.
You’re over in Australia at the Women’s World Cup right now. What’s that experience been like so far?
It’s been the most unreal experience! I booked a flight and left four days after, so it was a very quick decision, but sometimes those are the best ones. I know full well it is, soaking up the atmosphere and just being here is something I will never lose.
What do you think the tournament will do for the growth of women’s sport in Australia and England given the performances of both teams?
From being here in Australia and experiencing it in all it's glory, I can already tell the view on women’s football has done a full 360 here. The way the country has got behind the Matilda’s has been incredible and they have been some of the best fans I’ve ever seen.
They have been filling the fan parks to the point where nobody else can get in, as well as pubs being jam-packed full with screens up all over the place. The stadia have all been sold out - having packed out stadia itself is a huge achievement, all wearing their shirts, it’s such a great sight to see.
From this I hope the Australia Women’s National Team get the credit they deserve and the right funding, because they’ve proven that they can come up against the greatest teams and put up a fight and can go so far. It’s only the beginning for them and I feel with the right support they can become one of the greatest teams.
As for England, we have seen the growth of the game since the Euros and the Lionesses have just proven every game that they are not to be taken lightly. They are shooting football for women in England in the right direction, the whole country should be getting behind them because they are doing something special here.
Your highlight of the tournament so far?
Ah it’s so hard to choose, I’ve been to quite a few England games; Denmark, Nigeria, Columbia and the big one versus Australia. I also went to a France v Panama game which was amazing, its good to watch it as a neutral because you can really take in the atmosphere and aren’t quite on the edge of your seat so much.
If I had to pick, it would have to be the semi-final. We were the only England fans in our section of the stadium so we stuck out quite a bit so felt a bit like the enemy. it was such an amazing atmosphere, and when Sam Kerr scored I’d never heard a noise like it, it was deafening. But to see England come back from that and against a crowd like that is superb and I’m sure was not easy. When Sweet Caroline came on at the end, it was all smiles and a few tears.
I’d have to say it was one of the best feelings seeing the big screen in the stand say we were in another final. I still can’t quite believe it. I will be there on Sunday so maybe if things go our way that’ll be my standout moment, all we can do is hope.
Finally, what’s your prediction for the final?
I’m not one for predicting games, I never have been, you can say it’s some sort of superstition but I’ve not predicted one game here unless it’s another team because I feel I will jinx it. I’m just hoping the girls come out with their heads held high and show everyone what they can do. They are a great bunch of players and people and rightly deserve to be in this final, maybe when it’s done I can say.
If, like Molly, you're looking to achieve your career goals with a place at UCFB give us a call on 03003735800 to speak to one of our Clearing advisors.
