After a rollercoaster year, one shift back in her day job was all it took for Vicky Carleton to realise she needed to pursue her dream.
The Cliftonville midfielder was one of 22 players selected for Northern Ireland’s full-time training camp ahead of Euro 2022.
However an ankle injury “at the worst possible time” robbed the 25-year-old of her Euro dream.
Now back playing and helping Cliftonville edge towards their maiden Women’s Premiership title, Carleton has her eyes on making it as a professional.
The end of the summer’s Euro campaign meant the end of the professional NI camp and a return to the day jobs.
For Carleton, who was working in retail, the motivation of making it as a professional had never been stronger.
“As soon as I went back to work I knew it wasn’t for me, especially standing all day on my ankle,” Carleton recalled about her job.
“I couldn’t stay there and force myself to be unhappy. So I handed in my notice because it wasn’t worth it, and then I took up a part-time job.”