Manchester United and England’s Jess Park on new chapters, her hidden talent and learning from Ella Toone

Jess Park has been a rising star in football for some time now, but this season has seen her reach new heights.

After contributing to England’s win at the Euros this summer, she joined Manchester United from Manchester City in September in a headline-making transfer. Since then, the midfielder, aged 24, has settled in nicely, scoring four goals so far – just one stat that proves why she was such an exciting signing for the team.

“It was a new challenge, a new chapter,” Park says of the transfer. “It was about being able to express myself the way that I think that I can on the pitch. And I feel like I’ve been able to do that.” Last month, Park played an integral role in United’s draw against Chelsea (ending Chelsea’s winning streak) and contributed to a 4-1 win over Everton. It seemed only fair, then, that she won the Barclays Women’s Super League player of the month award for October.

But despite all her recent success, Park is keen to pay homage to the women who surround her every day. “I appreciate my team. It’s really helped to build confidence.”

Her connection with the women around her is something that fed her love of football from the start. As a kid, she got into the game through a best friend whose dad had a football club; she’d play to hang out with her friends and loved it. And in that regard, she says nothing much has changed since.

“I just loved playing with my friends, and I think it’s very similar now,” she tells Stylist. “I love playing with the girls in the team and just having fun on the pitch. I have a smile on my face every time I play, and that’s what I did as a kid.”

After she took home the player of the month award, we spoke to Jess about her experience at the Euros, moving to Manchester United and her goals for the future. 

Hey Jess! Firstly, congratulations on winning the Barclays Women’s Super League Player of the Month. How does it feel winning that award?

It’s incredible that I got voted for it by the fans; I really appreciate them for that. And I appreciate my team. They set me up with brilliant assists, like Tooney [Ella Toone] has – I just finish off the chances.

You mention Ella Toone – you two have had a great partnership on the pitch this season. Do you enjoy playing together, and what have you learned from her?

Yeah, for sure, I love playing with Tooney. She’s an incredible player herself, and I think when we get the opportunity to play close to each other, we just know how each other play and how we move off each other. We’ve always done that since playing in the Manchester City development team together, so being able to do it now again with United is really good.

What have you learned from other players since being at United?

Being a United player, it’s so important to have that complete and utter team mentality and work ethic. Coming into the team, I saw how everybody works for each other and backs each other up. As soon as I got there, I knew: Right, this is what I need to do. No matter if I’m having a good game or a bad game. We all fight for each other, and we all work really hard together. And I think that’s probably a reason why we’re having so much success. 

You’ve had a busy few months with the Euros and transferring to a new club – how do you wind down and relax?

By trying to step away from football and just being me. I see friends, go for coffee, walk the dogs and try to completely chill out. It’s important that I make sure I’ve got everything in place and prepare right for games. But honestly, when I come away from the training ground, it’s important for me to just be me, forget about the football part of it for a little bit and completely switch off.

And how was the Euros? This was your first major tournament at senior level: what was that experience like?

It’s really hard to describe it. It’s just genuinely a dream come true; it was incredible to be a part of. It’s what you work your whole career for, and being able to say that I’m a Euros champion is just… sometimes I don’t even think it’s real.

[I’ve now got] the determination and the motivation to work even harder to be at the next one, the next World Cup – I want to be there again. So, I think it’s just focusing week in, week out, on what I do at the club and trying to put myself in the best position to get picked for the next tournament. 

Do you find the big games and the big wins addictive?

For me, every game is a big game. That’s the way that I look at it. No matter what, I always want to put the best performance out, enjoy the game and win everything that I possibly can. But yeah, definitely – you always want to win. Even when I’m playing silly card games there’s a desire to win.

How do you chill out after the buzz of a match day?

I wish I knew how to wind down! It’s really difficult after games. A lot is going through your head. It’s important I get straight into recovery and nutrition, and then I try and recap the match – what went well and what maybe didn’t. And then put it to bed.

But it’s very difficult [to wind down] after the buzz, the adrenaline that goes through your body all game. I’ll try and chill at home, put a movie on… I love the James Bond movies.

And what would you do if you weren’t a footballer?

Hopefully something sporty, maybe some sort of gymnastics. I can do a back flip and a front flip – that’s why I’m backing myself! 

Images: Barclays Women’s Super League; Getty