Hungry Hayles: 'You're constantly trying to prove yourself' | OneFootball

United’s top scorer this season is a humble player off the pitch but confident enough as soon as she crosses the white lines to be a two-time Barclays Women’s Championship winner and a Jamaican international.

It was humble beginnings for Newcastle’s number seven, so humble that she admits to not liking football immediately after being left to play in the rain and cold by her mother, but little did she know what was to come.

Time with her local boy’s team, Belvedere, was soon followed by Stretton Swifts, where she set the Sunday league football scene alight, sparking interest from both Villa and Birmingham Women.

“I didn’t like football at first,” Hayles admitted. “My mum first took me when I was five years old, and I was thinking, why was she leaving me there all day in the rain and cold?

“Then I decided to give it another go, and since then I’ve never stopped playing.

“I started playing for a team called Belvedere because a lot of the boys I played with at school were on that team, but I had to start playing with girls when I was nine.

“I went to a team called Stretton Swifts and played there until the age of 15. I was loving life and remember scoring 70 goals in a season with them, then I decided to go for trials at Aston Villa and got into their academy system.”

Hayles has always had self-belief in her ability, albeit people may not realise that from her quiet persona and head-down approach to football.

It was a rapid rise to prominence for Hayles, who went from playing with her friends to one-on-one sessions with Ellen White and penning her first professional contract when only 18, but it certainly didn’t come without hard work, which she’d carried through her career.

“From about 16 or 17, I was always around the first team (Birmingham City Women) with players like Ellen White,” she added.

“Then, at 18, I earned my first professional contract. That was the moment it clicked, and I thought this was real and made all the hard work and sacrifices worth it.

“I knew then I could make a career out of football, but my journey certainly hasn’t been straightforward, and I think that’s made me the player and person I am.

“I’ll always keep my head down, do my talking on the pitch and work hard because I know what I’m capable of in front of goal.”

It was no mean feat for Hayles to earn a professional contract at 18, but she learnt a lot at Birmingham, with high praise coming for then-manager Marc Skinner, who was clearly a big part of her early career.

Stepping into the world of first-team football certainly opened up Hayles’ eyes to how much she still had to learn, but it was all worth it on September 19th, 2018, in Solihull.

“My time with Birmingham was where I learnt about tactics and understood football a lot more, and playing under Marc (Skinner) was great for me.

“When you’re on the bench, you never know what’s going to happen and whether you’ll get on, but when I got the call to go on and make my debut, I was ready.

“Marc called me off the bench to tell me I was going on, and he just said, ‘Go on, kid,’ and I loved every second of it.

“I remember my classmates from college were at the game, as that was in Solihull, and we played at Solihull Moors’ stadium, which was a great feeling for me. I’ve always had good people behind me and believing in me.”

Despite increased opportunities on the pitch, Hayles was never one to rest on her laurels and has always looked at improving herself and her career, which is why a return to Villa came about before leaving Birmingham as a city.

The Burton-upon-Trent-born forward won a league title with Villa and earned several youth call-ups within the England set-up, enjoying her time, but it was a three-season spell, which then brought about an 88-mile move further down south, which brought her more out of her shell, she told newcastleunited.com.

“I think making that move (back to Villa) was one of the best decisions I made because of what we achieved as a team.

“You’re constantly trying to prove yourself, and when you’re a striker, you can only do that by scoring goals, so getting 11 in my first season was a proud moment.

“For me though, eventually, I just wanted to get out (of Birmingham). I felt as though I knew everyone there and knew the city well, and getting to live on my own was a big thing.

“Bristol could offer me the game time I wanted, and getting to play in the WSL after promotion was important for me, although I feel I’ve been unlucky when I’ve gotten into the league by not playing as much as I’d want to.”

Newcastle’s top scorer this season was the first summer arrival, having joined following Bristol’s relegation to the Championship, and it was a move which ticked every box for her.

The striker wanted a club that matched her ambition but also one which would allow her to focus on footballing matters, with none coming bigger than the winning goal in a North East derby, something which was near the peak of her career.

“I knew Becky from playing with England colleges a few years ago, so I knew she was a passionate manager who really wants to win.

“It’s a massive club, and to be honest, I didn’t realise how big it was until I moved here, and of course, the fans are massive. I knew where the club wanted to go and couldn’t miss out on the opportunity to jump on board.

“I just want to be able to focus on putting the ball in the back of the net, and getting to do so against Sunderland in front of over 38,500 fans was surreal. To be honest, I think it was probably the best weekend of my life.”

Club honours are the bread and butter of Hayles, who frequently referenced her desire to return to England’s top flight, but with a World Cup to come in 2027, she’s not shying away from her dream of playing on the biggest stage.

There has been a recall to play for the Reggae Girlz that has come about following her impressive displays in black and white, especially a hat-trick against Charlton Athletic Women.

Starring for the England youth set-up didn’t lead to any first-team recognition, so when the chance to represent Jamaica came, it was a move that she knew some would label as ‘controversial’ but one which felt right.

“I really loved my time playing for England, and it was one of my dreams to represent England, but, and I know some may call it controversial, I’m ready to play senior international football, and Jamaica gave me that opportunity.

“I’ve got my sights on playing in a World Cup, and the best way for me to achieve that goal is with Jamaica. I’m very proud of my Jamaican roots from my grandparents and my dad’s side, so playing for Jamaica was just as important for me.”

Representing your country is one of the highest accolades a footballer can achieve, but Hayles couldn’t deny a few off-the-pitch perks have her smiling when a call-up comes her way, she added.

“It's always scary going across the world, but I’m always grateful for the experience which football has provided me with.

“Something I love is that sometimes we get to go to business class, and while I am always grateful, I do take moments to think of all the hard work and sacrifices I’ve put in throughout my career to get to this point.”

United’s lethal finisher is not limited to the white lines of a football pitch when talking about her swagger, with a brief look at her Instagram showcasing more of her personality.

The adaptive forward admits to always having an individualistic style and getting into fashion on her own, claiming nobody else in her family takes the pride she does when putting together an outfit.

“Nobody in my family really cares too much about what they wear, but I think over the years I’ve always had an individualistic style.

“I always just want to feel happy in what I’m wearing, but I never try too hard. I’d certainly say I have a shopping habit; if I like something, I’ll usually always buy it.

“That’s just me and how I can express myself. I like to look at what other people wear, especially some of the footballers’ fits in the men’s game.”