VfL forward Lineth Beerensteyn knew from an early age that she wanted to be a professional footballer, but for a long time it was unclear whether she would make her dream a reality. In this interview she discusses how it all began.
When did you start playing football?
Lineth Beerensteyn: “I started playing when I was eight. I played with boys until I was 15 and then I joined my first professional club in the Netherlands. That’s how it started. Step by step, I got to where I am today.”
Why did you choose football?
Lineth: “I chose football because I just loved playing it. I would often play with my brother and his friends. My brother is two-and-a-half years older than me, so I always had to push myself to keep up. The game is quicker and more physical when you play with boys, but that really helped me to grow a lot as a player.”
Did your brother influence your decision to play football?
Lineth: “Yes, I think so. We were always outside playing with his friends and mine. I think that played a big role in my decision.”
Was there a point when you realised that you could play football professionally?
Lineth: “It was my coaches who noticed that I might be able to make a living from my hobby. When I was younger they could see that I was a talented girl with a lot of pace. And when a coach tells you that, and then you notice it yourself in training and in games, then at some point you start thinking that maybe you could do it as a job too.”
It was something you had always dreamed of, wasn’t it?
Lineth: “Yes. When I was two or three years old I told my parents that I wanted to play in a stadium with lots of people in it when I was older. My mum replied by saying, ‘I hope you’re right but I’m not so sure about that.’ I said: ‘Believe me, I’m going to do it!’ And I’ve done so.”
