Lauren James knows exactly when her football is speaking for itself.
Of course, the default position when talking about the Chelsea and England star is that she’s ‘ Reece James’s sister’. And somehow not a player within her own right. The day when that chatter stops will be the time when she has stepped out of his shadow.
Breaking into Sarina Wiegman’s squad for the Women’s World Cup should help. Asked about wanting to leave her own imprint on the game, she said: “I do feel it. A lot. Even if someone says, ‘That’s Lauren James, that’s Reece’s sister.’ I want to carve out my own name – to be known as Lauren James."
She added: “At the moment, men’s football enjoys a lot bigger profile, it’s natural. I’m sure there are times when I’ve said – ‘oh that’s so and so’s sister’, but I think it’s just natural. It doesn’t bother me too much because I know I have my own career.”
The 21-year-old forward is certainly doing that – her brother is not the only one with the words ‘ Chelsea and England’ in their biography.
However, like her brother, who went on loan to Wigan to gain experience of first-team football, James’s development has been aided by a move to Manchester United while still only 16.
“I was young and it was weird at first,” she said. “Without making that move I don’t think I’d be where I am now. Sometimes people would say it was a step back because I went into the Championship but it allows you to take steps forward and maybe I wouldn’t be here now without that move.
“It was difficult. Days off were the worst. I was away from alll my friends and family in London. But living alone helped me grow up as a person – that and having to cook for myself.
“I couldn’t cook – although I’m all right now – salmon with some sort of rice is about as good as it gets.”
James was on the outside, looking in, as the Lionesses brought football home last July, but made her senior debut a few months later.
A starring role in the Arnold Clark Cup and continued impressive performances for Chelsea earned her not only a long-term contract but also a spot in Sarina Wiegman’s squad for the World Cup.
She said: “Watching it, going to the final last summer, made me feel much more like ‘I want to be there,’ for the World Cup. It has given me a bit more motivation and hunger. I’d like to feel the same as they felt last summer.”
