In this instalment of our Women in Sport series, we hear from Lily Agg on her sporting inspirations, biggest goals, and how she minds her mental health.
Lily Agg is a professional footballer who currently plays for Birmingham City W.F.C. and the Republic of Ireland women’s national football team. A qualified teacher, Lily is also one of the 2024 recipients of the €5,000 bursary from Sky, using it to help with her own business, LA Tax Advisory, a specialist tax-advisory firm for women footballers.
Here, she shares her sporting story so far…
Name: Lily Agg
Profession: Footballer
Earliest sporting memory?
Playing for Eastbourne Borough boys.
How did you become involved in your sport?
From the age of five, my mum said I just always wanted to play in the garden with a ball.
What message would you like to share with young women and girls interested in pursuing a career as an athlete?
Look after your body, enjoy it. Ride the highs and lows.
Proudest moment so far…
Representing Ireland at the World Cup.
Favourite sporting memory…
Scoring the winning goal against Finland to qualify for the World Cup.
Do you think there is still a stigma around women in sport?
To a degree, although I feel times are changing and people now support and view women’s sport for what it is.
What is the biggest barrier to driving visibility in women’s sports?
Publicity and media, advertising games, and visibility is key.
The biggest stigma/misconception that exists in women’s sport is…
That we’re not as good as men, and that it’s a completely different game based on genetics. Value it in its own terms.
If I wasn’t an athlete I would be…
I’m a qualified teacher, although I want to be a manager once I retire from playing.
My favourite pre-match meal is…
Fajita pasta night before a game.
My pre-match playlist includes…
Normally Drake and D-Block Europe to get me a little bit hyped.
My daily routine is…
Wake up. Coffee and porridge, then walk my dog and head to the game.
My biggest sporting goal is…
Now to get to the Euros with Ireland and win the league with Birmingham.
Sports brands I love (Irish or otherwise)…
Kinetica Sports supplements and proteins, we always have them on camp. I also think Irish Cadbury hits different to the UK.
Biggest splurge to celebrate a win…
A Coke Zero haha!
How do you mind your mental health?
Always speaking openly to family and my partner.
My three desert island beauty products are:
Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Base, toothpaste, and mouthwash.
How much sleep do you need nightly?
To be honest, I’m not a great sleeper. I function well off any sleep.
Confidence, to me, is…
Believing in yourself, and trusting the process that you have put in the hours to perform.
How do you get over a bad performance?
Literally bank it and forget… Watch clips to improve on.
Lastly, why is sport such an integral part of community, on a club, local, national and personal level?
Sport has helped me grow in confidence and my overall health. It allows you to meet like-minded people and continue to grow.
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