Everything but the Football: Brighton & Hove Albion

WSL Football sat down with Brighton and Hove Albion’s Rachel McLauchlan and Marisa Olislagers for a conversation about everything except the game they play.

Footballers, just like any athletes, are often multitalented humans. Although, it’s not every day that you come across a player whose niche skill is…riding a unicycle. Rachel McLauchlan is still not sure why she ever decided to acquire the rare craft, but one Christmas, many years ago, “I remember my mum and dad asking roughly what I wanted to get. I was like, ‘oh, a unicycle.’” Always determined, the defender taught herself to ride, and while she doesn’t regularly practice nowadays, “I went home not that long ago and we took it out from the garage and I can still manage it a little bit.” However, she laughs, “I wouldn't trust myself fully on it anymore!”

Marisa Olislagers doesn’t believe she has an equally unexpected talent, but is excited to share, “actually, there is something new that I really enjoy doing. I'm doing a dog grooming course!” The Dutch international is actually not the first player in the league to do so, with Everton’s Melissa Lawley completing her training last year.

Olislager’s own pup, 11-month-old labradoodle Ollie, has been a welcome addition to her time away from the pitch. “He is adorable,” she says, explaining the joy she finds in taking him out for walks, “it just makes you happier and think less about football.”

The 25-year-old has taken training Ollie seriously. “We did these courses in the summer because we really wanted him to walk off the leash and all those kinds of things.” Now, as he becomes less of a puppy with each passing day, Olislagers has become the teacher herself, “I like it when he learns new things, it makes me happy.”

McLauchlan’s collie shepherd cross, Bailey, is, in her own words, “maybe not as well behaved as Ollie!” Nevertheless, she’s a much loved part of the Scottish international’s life, “I absolutely adore having her.” Like Ollie, Bailey is quick at picking up new tricks (she can’t ride a unicycle though, of course). “She learns them so quickly that I need to think of new ones,” says McLauchlan, “but she's got a few in her locker for sure.” Like Olislagers, the 28-year-old finds having a pet a useful distraction from her career. “Coming back [from training], even going for a walk after, it just clears the head.”

Neither player would consider themselves artistically gifted, which became apparent on a recent team activity where the Brighton and Hove Albion squad attempted to paint various ceramic items. “I'm really not creative at all, but I like doing things with people,” explains Olislagers. “Yours was better than mine!” McLauchlan declares, with Olislagers adding, “I think us two were the worst on the whole team.” The pair admit that, in hindsight, they hadn’t necessarily set themselves up for success with their design choices. “I tried to draw me and Bailey,” McLauchlan shares, confessing, “dogs are harder than I thought.” Olislagers went down a similar route. “I tried to paint Ollie’s paw and a dog I have [in the Netherlands]. Well, it really didn't work out.” It’s fair to say, they won’t be quitting the day job. “I’m gonna take a break from it for a little bit, I think,” jokes McLauchlan.

Both McLauchlan and Olislagers signed for Brighton in July 2024 from Rangers and FC Twente respectively, and, in the nearly two years they’ve been at the club, have fallen in love with the city of the same name. “Going through The Lanes with the amount of coffee shops that are all quite independent, I really like that side of it. It's probably my favourite part of being in Brighton,” says McLauchlan. Olislagers concurs, “I do like the shops in Brighton. Of course, London is very close, but it's just so big. Brighton is just a bit smaller.” When it comes to Brighton’s famous fish and chips, McLauchlan acknowledges, “the ones down here are very good.” However, the Scot stays loyal to her home country, declaring that Scotland does the dish better. On the flip side, Brighton certainly has the superior climate, “the weather's so nice to have. Maybe not just now, but it definitely gets warmer coming up into the summer.” Olislagers adds, “I think it's better down here than going a bit more up north! It's a very nice place to live.”