02/05/2025
💪 Resilience. Grit. Heart. 💙❤️
Female athletes are significantly more likely to suffer serious knee injuries like ACL tears - especially in football. It's a growing issue in women’s sport, and one that doesn’t get talked about enough.
This Female Football Week, we’re sharing the story of one of our own - Lucy Roberts - who embodies what it means to come back stronger.
Lucy suffered a devastating knee injury during the 2024 Summer Cup Final - ruptured ACL, torn MCL, bone bruising, and microfractures. It took her out of the game she loves. But through it all - rehab, setbacks, and self-doubt - she kept showing up. And last week, she made her return to the field of play.
Here’s Lucy’s story - in her own words:
1. Can you take us back to the moment you found out it was an ACL injury - what was going through your mind at the time? Can you explain your injury?
“It happened during the 2024 Summer Cup Final against Devonport. I went in for a challenge to win the ball, and as I fell, my knee collapsed. I heard a series of snaps, cracks, and pops - it was terrifying. I honestly thought I had broken my leg. I remember holding my shin, unsure where the pain was coming from because it was so overwhelming. It was the worst pain I’ve ever felt.
I had to be stretchered off, but as soon as I started talking to the team physio, the pain disappeared. I was desperate to go back on the field, but the physio told me I needed scans as soon as possible.
The day after my scans, my physio called with the results. My mum took the call, and as she walked up the stairs, I knew it was bad - I had a horrible gut feeling. I’ll never forget hearing that I had ruptured my ACL, torn my MCL, had bone bruising, and microfractures. I broke down in tears.
I felt like I was at the peak of my soccer career — the fittest, strongest, and most confident I’d ever been. And in just a few days, I was back to square one. It was genuinely the worst day of my life.”
2. What did the recovery and rehab process look like for you, both physically and mentally?
“Rehab was a long and difficult process. In the early stages, I saw my physio every two weeks for the first couple of months, then once a month for the next ten.
Returning to training challenged me the most mentally. I was extremely nervous, but not because of my knee. I was scared that I’d lost my touch. After playing soccer for 15 years, I genuinely worried that everything I’d built up was gone - that I’d have to relearn how to play from scratch.
Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. Once I got back into the swing of things, it all slowly started coming back, and I realised my instincts were still there.
Physically, the gym was extremely challenging at times. There were so many repetitive exercises and slow progress points that tested my patience. But I was lucky to have such an amazing support network - my family and friends constantly showed up for me. They kept me going, especially on the days I didn’t have the motivation to do it myself.”
3. Were there any particular moments or milestones during your rehab that gave you hope or motivation?
“Definitely getting cleared to train again. That was hands down the best news I’d had in soooo long. Even though I was only allowed to join in for the warm-up, it meant everything. Just being with my team again and doing even a small part of training reminded me why I was putting in all the hard work. I felt back at home. ❤️💙❤️”
4. What was it like stepping back onto the pitch for the first time after your injury?
“I was nervous, but honestly, more excited than anything. Being back out there with my teammates felt incredible. For me, soccer is my way of a break (as weird as that may sound). In those 90 minutes, nothing else matters. It was finally a break from all the overthinking and emotions I felt during my rehab journey.”
5. What advice would you give to other athletes going through a long-term injury recovery?
“Just keep showing up - even on the days you don’t feel like it. That made the biggest difference for me. Most days, I didn’t want to go to the gym, do my home exercises, or even go for a walk. But I still showed up. Doing something, even if it’s small, is always better than doing nothing.
Another big piece of advice: don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. I’d find myself scrolling on my phone, looking at where other athletes were in their recovery, and it never helped. Everyone heals differently, and your body knows what it needs. Trust the process, listen to your body, and stay focused on your path.”
Lucy’s journey is a powerful reminder that recovery is never linear - but it’s always worth it.
To every player facing a setback: your strength isn’t just in how you play, it’s in how you rise.
Interview and photo Victoria Morton
