Catley: “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be” | Interview | News

Steph Catley has found a new home at Arsenal, and it’s one she’s going to be staying at even longer after the signing of her new contract was announced.

Our dependable defender is geographically a long way from home in Australia, but has settled into our surroundings over the last six years.

Reflecting on the moment at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, Steph told us: “It feels amazing. There’s really nowhere else that I would rather be and it’s always nice to have that faith from the coach and from the club. It was an absolute no-brainer.

“It’s been a journey of many, many ups and downs. When I first came to the club, I think my first training session I got injured and then that whole season I was pretty much out, dealing with different injuries and felt very, very far away from home. Completely new team, new country, everything.

“So that was a really tough time but as you sort of settle into it and as I sort of settled into the club, I realised very quickly this was exactly where I was supposed to be and I feel myself growing as a person, as a player. The friendships that I’ve made, it’s definitely more like a family and I’ve never felt as much at home anywhere in the world other than my home that I have here.

“That is one of the big sacrifices you make as an Australian footballer when you want to play overseas – that you are really, really far away and you can’t just drop home and hop in and see your family. So making those connections and feeling in your heart that you’re happy and you’re safe and the place that you’re at does feel like home is something very, very special and I think it’s rare in football.

“I don’t think many footballers can say that a club really does feel like home but for me that is definitely the case and I feel lucky to say that and I feel lucky to have the relationships that I do and the backing of the club as well to have me here.”

Across Catley’s time at the club, we’ve won four trophies, namely two League Cups, the Champions League and the new Champions Cup. So how does it feel to be a part of Arsenal in those finals and on those matchdays?

“I think the longer you’re at a club the more that those moments mean to you and I have been here a long time and those moments don’t come easy,” Steph exlpained. “There’s so many good players in this league, so many incredible teams that are constantly fighting for titles and then obviously the Champions League which is just something I never even dreamed of.

“I think coming to Arsenal I knew that it was in the realm of possibility because it’s such a big club and we have so many good players but actually getting to that moment and getting over the line and being able to say we’ve won a Champions League and look around and see I’ve done that with some of my best friends in the world. I think it was just the most amazing feeling and it’s been a journey but getting to moments like that makes it all worth it and I’m so glad that I was able to do that with a club that’s so special to me and that just made it feel so much better.”

Steph was initially signed as a left-back under Joe Montemurro, but since Renée Slegers took over from Jonas Eidevall as head coach, our defender has also showed how capable she is of shifting across to centre-back.

“I’ve loved it,” she said. “Obviously when I joined the club I joined as a left-back but I’ve played a lot of centre-back throughout my whole career. I played there for the national team in a couple of World Cups and filled in at other clubs as well when I’ve had to. It’s always been a position that I’ve had in my locker but I just always saw myself as a left-back for the majority of my career.

“Having that transition and then really feeling like I was able to grow into it and I had the trust from the coaches and the players around me to build into that role the way that I was able to was amazing. I just feel like it’s a natural progression of my career and my attributes on the field, off the field. I feel like I’m able to lead from that position and communicate with people around me and that’s probably one of my super strengths that I’m able to bring out more in that position. It’s been a natural progression but it’s been a fun one and I’m definitely enjoying it.”

Steph brought her dog Calvin to the boardroom when signing her new contract, and there was a nice surprise as her mother dialled in via video call to offer her congratulations.

“I was just saying earlier that these moments are incredible but they’re also moments you wish you could celebrate with those that you’re closest with and my family’s just so far away from home, so far away from where I am it’s just not possible,” Steph added. “Walking in there with Calvin, who’s my family here, was already amazing but then having my mum on the screen was a bit of a full circle moment and having her there just witnessing what I was doing all the way over here is very, very special and I’m so glad she could be part of it.”

After all these years, the novelty of walking out of our supporters at Emirates Stadium, Meadow Park or away from home never gets old, so what do they mean to Steph?

“I think that is in particular what makes this club special – the supporters and I can’t really think of too many other clubs in the world that have the level of support that we do and the dedication from the fans week in, week out,” she said. “We love having them at the Emirates, packed out, all together there at a home game but I think for me the most special part is whenever we go away, no matter where we are, they’re always the loudest.

“Sometimes there’s more Arsenal fans there than the home teams and we’re just so, so lucky and I hope that they realise that we appreciate them so much as a playing group and it helps us so much when we’re out there and when things are tough we know that they’ve got our back.

“They’re always loud and proud and there for us so yes, that’s one of the most special things about the club and when I was signing my contract that’s definitely something that goes into it. You know you’re supported as an athlete and that not only the people around you and the players and the staff have your back but the fans in the stands also do.”