Jess Carter: I feel more confident when surrounded by people that look like me

“Being here in the US and seeing a lot more people that look like me, it makes me feel happier and confident,” says Jess Carter as she explains the benefits of playing in a squad with more diversity.

After six seasons with Chelsea, the 27-year-old moved across the pond to join NJ/NY Gotham FC in the National Women’s Soccer League in July, with the move well-received by American fans who were excited to see the versatile English defender bring her determination and experience stateside.

Carter has delivered on the field so far – NJ/NY Gotham are riding high in third in the NWSL standings – and certainly seems to have found her feet in a completely new environment.

Settling into a new country and different way of life is never easy for any player, but there's elements of moving to the United States that have helped Carter feel at home more quickly.

In celebration of Black History Month (BHM), Carter sat down exclusively with 90min to look back on her experiences as a black player, both in the UK and US.

"When I was younger I didn’t really know much about black history and I’ve learned a lot more through BHM myself,” Carter says. “Learning about part of my identity as well is really important for me."

Carter, whose mother is white and father is black, grew up in Warwick in England and her love for football grew when she began playing in school. And she knows that the women who came before her helped make it possible for her to thrive as a youngster. 

Jess Carter spent six years at Chelsea / Crystal Pix/MB Media/GettyImages

“I was the only black footballer on my team for a long period of time in most sports in school, but it was never an issue,” Carter recalls. “It’s because of women and men who have broken these barriers that I was able to grow up and not have to worry about being black and playing football and being the only black person in my area. Because of what they’ve done, I was able to be confident in who I am and in my own skin.”

Before making the move to the US, Carter spent six years at Chelsea playing under Emma Hayes. She lifted the Women's Super League title on five occasions in a diverse environment that she admits was huge for building her confidence.

“I have felt the difference even at Chelsea, feeling more confident when I’ve been surrounded by more people that look like me,” she says. “Chelsea has been a very diverse team for a while, and playing for Chelsea, especially in the last few years, has felt really special. Being here in the U.S. and seeing a lot more people that look like me, it makes me feel happier and confident.”

Carter's talent didn't just see her succeed quickly at club level, she also caught the eye of England' national team at an early age. She represented her country in the under-19s, all the way through to the under-23s, before making her senior debut in 2017.

It’s no secret that over the years the Lionesses have been criticised for their lack of diversity, but while acknowledging this, Carter says the issue lies not in the selection of players, but the player pool to begin with. 

“I believe [coach] Sarina [Wiegman] picks the players that she thinks are the best suited for the national team, and of course there is a lack of diversity in that, but I also don’t think players should just be selected to tick a box,” Carter says. “I do think the issue comes from much lower down at the grassroots. It’s about trying to make football as inclusive and accessible for everyone all over the country.”

Since joining Gotham, the club has clinched a top four spot in the NWSL playoffs, ensuring the squad plays at least one playoff home game – a first for of the NWSL’s original teams. Although Carter is no stranger to championships, she is taking this opportunity at Gotham to learn not just about the American playoff structure, but how she can better adapt her game to a highly athletic league. 

“The athleticism here is out of the world, and not only from American players,” Carter says. “It’s really exciting to be part of and everyone at Gotham has been amazing, welcoming, and kind. It’s really special to be part of.”

At Gotham, Carter has quickly adapted due in part to a ‘super positive’ environment created by her coaches and teammates. In fact, this has been the biggest difference she’s seen in her time playing in England.

“When I first came and it was super positive, I was like, well, this is a little bit much – everyone is so energetic!” Carter laughs. “But it’s more the fact that I could probably count on one hand in the WSL club football how many times my managers or coaches turn around and say, you did really well, good job, well done. That positive reinforcement I don’t think really happens much in the WSL, or not in my experience, anyway.”

The standards remain exceptionally high at Gotham, and she’s asked daily to push herself in ways she hasn’t before, but the culture of positive reinforcement has been a welcomed change for Carter, allowing her to maintain her confidence, grow her game, and overcome the challenges of joining a new team in a new league. 

With the NWSL playoffs quickly approaching, Carter is adapting to not just Gotham’s style of play or to the quirks of American culture, but answering the question, what even is a playoff game?

“It’s really exciting, but if I’m being honest, I’ve had to try and learn quickly what even are the playoffs, and understand the whole system and the structure,” Carter laughs. “I’m just going to put on the jersey and try my best to win every game until we win a trophy! The excitement within the team is really great and what they accomplished last season was incredible. We really hope to do that again this year.”

READ THE LATEST WOMEN'S FOOTBALL NEWS, FEATURES & ANALYSIS