We played out on the street every single day as a family, with neighbours, at the community centres, and I developed the desire to win very early. That environment instilled a competitive edge in me, which has paid dividends in my life. Nikita Parris Read Quote
From the age of seven, I knew I wanted to play football – I didn’t think about it in a professional sense in terms of making money from it; it was more about the social aspect of being with my friends and losing myself in the sport. Nikita Parris Read Quote
The feeling I had at 14, getting selected for Everton’s Under-15 side – that excitement, pride, all the emotions – it never goes away. It still happens when I’m waiting for the England squad announcement. I’ll get sweaty palms, I’ll sit and scroll through my inbox, refreshing it continuously making sure that the email comes through. Nikita Parris Read Quote
You’ve got to have dedication because there’s a lot of sacrifice which goes into it – a lot of your time is minimal with friends and family, especially in the past 10 years. Nikita Parris Read Quote
As long as I can keep one child off the streets or change one child’s life for the better, then that’s enough for me. Nikita Parris Read Quote
I grew up in an area of inner-city Liverpool. There were plenty of opportunities but also plenty of challenges – you could go down the right or wrong path, depending on one moment. Nikita Parris Read Quote
I still play a bit of tennis, but only a knockabout to help with my recovery after a game. Nikita Parris Read Quote
The pride you feel when you represent your country, not to mention scoring, is something you can’t really explain. It’s massive. Nikita Parris Read Quote
I’m confident in myself. It’s not a case of I’ve missed a penalty, and I’m down. Nikita Parris Read Quote
