The Southampton duo on tree trunks for goal-posts, studying, a Thailand proposal and why family always comes first first.
Do you remember your first club coach or grassroots match?
Emma Harries (EH): I do. It was for my local boys team, and it was literally around the corner. I remember feeling so excited to play football. It was great fun. I actually think I ended up scoring and running a lap round the pitch. I was probably, like, a little six year old in a little bob. I think that was my first football moment. I still remember.
Ellie Brazil (EB): That's cute. The fact that you're that much younger that you remember these things! My first memory playing in a female team was when I was in the Nottingham Forest Academy. I think the shirt that I wore then still fits me now!
It was very oversized and that was just the way it was back then. I had to go to a boys' team because the girls' teams were folding, and I just remember being the traitor that went from Nottingham Forest to Derby. When you’re growing up that is a big one to do.
What about the first match that you watched, either on TV or live?
EH: I don't know if it was my first, but my dad used to put on the Premier League Years, on Sky Sports and we used to just sit and watch those. My family are Arsenal fans so it would just be videos of Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry… the Golden Age of Arsenal.
EB: It’s probably not the first, but the first one I recall was the 2005 Champions League final. My brother is a diehard Liverpool fan, so I don't think I'll ever forget that… I remember him being so excited at the comeback.
What was the first foreign country you ever visited?
EH: Spain. We always went to Spain.
EB: Yeah, I would say... either France or Spain. I was very lucky as a little kid to go to Disneyland. That's one of my core childhood memories.
What about the nicest place, or favourite place you've ever visited?
EH: I think mine's definitely Thailand, and probably Ellie’s is the same. We went to Koh Lanta and ended up getting engaged there. We absolutely loved it. We got to see elephants in the sanctuary, which was amazing. Beautiful beaches, beautiful people. It was a great place. It was stunning, wasn't it?
EB: It was, we were very lucky.
Who's the first person you call and you have some big life news?
EH: Other than Ellie, probably my little sister.
EB: Likewise. If not, Emma, probably Jack, my big brother. He's always the one that I end up telling news to.
Who's influenced your life the most, would you say?
EH: I would say my whole family, but my little sister has influenced my life probably the most in a lovely way with just how she is. It's a credit to her, but she's made me the person I am.
EB: I'd probably say my brother. Especially when I look at the fact that I've been able to have football as a career, I wouldn't have been able to do that without Jack. He knew from a very young age that he wanted to be a coach, so the back garden was our Wembley. It was tree trunks as goalposts, cones out, and he had a whistle; it was like a miniature boot camp! But he’s the reason why I play.
Who makes you laugh the hardest?
EH: Though it's annoying to say, probably Ellie.
EB: Thank you. We do spend a lot of time together.
Which place feels most like home outside of your hometown?
EH: Ooh, great question. My hometown is Bracknell. I went to the same school as Aimee Claypole (Nottingham Forest). Nottingham is probably my next favourite place, because we’ve got in-laws there.
EB: I think the most homely place I've lived in my football life has been Southampton. It's lovely.
Biggest risk you've ever taken?
EH: I would say probably doing my degree alongside football. I think that's quite a big risk because it's almost like, how do you balance the two? It was intense.
EB: Mine would probably be more injury related. There have been a lot of operations and things like that that have probably been somewhat risky but, without them, I won't be able to play, and I wouldn’t have been able to come back.
Has there been a moment that's completely changed your perspective on life?
EH: I think West Ham was the biggest turning point for my career. It was an amazing move for me because I got to play with some brilliant players and had a manager that was excellent in what she did. However, I didn't play a lot of minutes and so I think it showed me the beauty of what being a teammate is and how much of an impact I can have off the pitch as well. Football isn't always about just playing. It's all also about other factors, and I think that changed my perspective on what makes a footballer important.
EB: My brother got cancer and that changed our whole family's perspective on life. It was kind of like, okay, we need to see each other more, we need to enjoy more time together, we need to reach out and be there for each other more. He's absolutely fine now, which is lovely, but since that happened I think we've all grown a little bit closer.
What makes you feel happiest away from football?
EH: Spending time with family. We've got a little niece now and we go and see her during every international break.
EB: She's a little Geordie. She's gonna have a thick accent when she grows up.
EH: We love being aunties.
EB: We also quite like just, even if it's not football, just being active. We're very much into paddle and pickleball. That’s about as active as you can get away from football as a footballer.
EH: Nice walks and coffee too.
What's one thing that excites you about the future?
EH: Well, we get married next year in the Cotswolds, so I think that's definitely something that's quite big to look forward to.
EB: I also love the idea of a family, and if it works out, being able to walk out of hospital with your child… that would be quite dreamy. That would be a very special moment.
