Origins: Maya Le Tissier

From the streets to the shoreline, England’s Maya Le Tissier grew up on the second-largest Channel Island of Guernsey – the place that put her on the map.

In the next instalment of our Origins series, the Lionesses defender charts her story as we celebrate where every football journey truly began, from grassroots to the national stage.

As a child, long summer evenings would be spent playing football on the beach with friends and family.

She went on to play for a local grassroots team – with whom her dad is still involved to this day.

And Le Tissier, who left Guernsey at the age of 16, began travelling over to England to play for the Young Lionesses.

“Home for me is in Guernsey,” she said. “I loved growing up there. It was a massive community feel. I grew up in a parish called Castel which is along the west coast by the beaches.

“I played football for St. Martins which is another parish a ten-minute drive. That’s where I grew up playing football.

“My dad is a massive part of St. Martins, as well. He’s been coaching there for 19 years. I call him up and he’s in the container pumping up the balls or something.

“Everyone there is a volunteer – the coaches; the people that keep the pitch, cutting the grass; doing the bar.

“I represented Guernsey many a time, so to do it on a national level is amazing and I’m very proud to represent them whilst wearing the England shirt, too.

“Showing people that you can do it is the main thing. The first time I put on the England shirt, it was a ‘see, you can do it’ kind of moment.

“It’s a great responsibility to have. It’s one that I always wanted to have.

“Even though we do live on a small rock, you can still make it over here if you really want.”