Eagle-eyed football fans may have noticed a familiar face in Roma’s Christmas video. As Stephan El Shaarawy took charge of the turkey, Robin Olsen and Morgan De Sanctis put the finishing touches to the Christmas tree with English defender Emma Lipman, who joined the club last summer. Lipman – who made her debut for Coventry City as a 14-year-old before moving on to Leeds, Manchester City and Sheffield FC – says her decision to leave England for Italy is “100% the right one for me”.
Eighteen months on from making the initial move, it’s easy to see why she is happy with life in Italy. Following a successful debut season in Serie A with Verona – Lipman appeared in 21 of the club’s 22 league matches as they finished midtable – the opportunity arose for the 29-year-old to join AS Roma for their first season in the top flight. With the club keen to have the women’s team at the heart of their vision and be competitive from the outset, Lipman was immediately sold on the idea.
“As soon as I heard about the interest from AS Roma, followed by the club’s plans and vision for the future, I instantly knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. Every player wants instant success, but to be part of a project with a much bigger picture, in my opinion, is something much more special. I feel very grateful to be part of such a huge club in its historic first year and I’m excited for what the future holds.”
Roma have won four of their last five games and currently sit fourth in the 12-team league. With fixtures to come against the top three – Fiorentina, Milan and Juventus – qualification for next season’s Champions League is just about within their reach, though Emma is staying grounded. “It’s important to be realistic. We’re a new team with no previous playing experience together to reflect on. Therefore, all we can do is take it game by game. The results speak for themselves, how much we have grown in such a short space of time and I am very confident we will continue to grow even stronger.”
As well as having a bright future on the field, Roma are leading the way for football teams in the world of social media. The club’s quirky posts and irreverent tone have opened Roma up to new fans around the world. As well as appearing in the club’s Christmas video, Emma was first in the hot seat for a lighthearted Q&A with the club’s YouTube channel.
“We have a very innovative media team who are dedicated to raising the profile of both the club and the players. The Ladies First film gave fans an opportunity to get to know me more as Emma the person rather than just Emma the player. This is so important to help with the growth of the women’s game over here in Italy.”
Emma is a natural in front of the camera and enjoyed her role in the club’s hugely popular Christmas video, in which the players and staff almost made the colossal error of tucking into the feast before club captain Daniele De Rossi arrived. “That’s the beauty of being involved with a big club like AS Roma. The opportunities are not only limited to on the pitch. Being part of the video was great fun and just another example of how much the whole club are embracing the women’s project.”
Social media is an enjoyable way of reaching fans but there is one magical experience for which there remains no substitute – the thrill of hitting the back of the net. Emma’s first goal in Roma colours arrived in a comprehensive 6-1 victory over Chievo before Christmas. “Of course I was really happy but my main feeling was relief. It had been that long since I last scored a goal I was beginning to think I’d forgotten where the net was!”
On the subject of goals, Emma recently met the club’s all-time top scorer, record appearance holder and perhaps modern-day Rome’s most celebrated son, Francesco Totti, who is now a Roma director. “It was a huge privilege to meet such a footballing legend. I always admired him as a player from England but seeing how much he is thought of by the Roma fans made me even more grateful for getting the opportunity to meet him. The conversation was limited due to the language barrier but if anything I took away how much love he had playing for this club and how much love he still has for the club now.”
Emma has no problem filling her time in her new home. “There’s so much to love about living in Italy. The food, the weather, the exploring, the wine – on a rest day, of course! – the history, the people, the beach. I sometimes have to stop and realise not only am I getting paid to live here but also to do what I love every single day.”
Emma has no regrets about moving to Italy and would encourage more British footballers to try Serie A. “As the women’s league continues to grow, I can see how Serie A has the potential to become a very attractive offer, both for playing and the lifestyle. For sure, I had moments questioning whether it was the right thing to do but I knew If I turned the opportunity down, I would be left with too many what-ifs. I would rather try something and fail rather than not try it at all.” Wise words.
• This article first appeared on The Gentleman Ultra
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