My biggest ambition in football has become to make an impact. Leaving the game in a better place than I found it, is important to me.
ISOBEL DALTON
Born in England and surrounded by a family with a love for the beautiful game, it was only a matter of time before Isobel Dalton fell in love with football.
Growing up she remembers endless summer nights when she would play football with her brother under the lights of the blue sky until darkness fell.
A move to Australia with her family at the tender age of 9 didn’t quell her love for the game, if anything it grew and set her on the path to becoming a professional football player.
Now it could be said that the phrase Carpe Diem had been coined specially for the A-League, Perth Glory star.
If there is an opportunity that ever comes along, Izzy as she’s affectionately known seizes it instantly. She has an incredibly fearless attitude, where she wants to experience everything and all that life has to offer.
FINDING THE JOY OF FOOTBALL AGAIN
On leaving high school, Izzy had the opportunity to join Brisbane Roar, where she impressed and earned a move to England signing for Bristol City, a club that would go on to compete in the Champions League.
Then came a dream opportunity to further her education and career in America, as she embarked on a football scholarship and the journey of a lifetime.
Living in America provided her with some of the greatest memories of her life, but her confidence took a knock through a lack of playing time. However, it’s something that didn’t deter her ambitions.
“My piece of advice to anybody would be to always go after your dreams. There are always going to be people who tell you you’re not good enough or don’t see your value but you should never lose sight of your aspirations and always believe in yourself.”
Following her graduation from the University of Colorado, Boulder, Izzy signed for Nottingham Forest and it was here where she found the joy of playing football again.
Rediscovering her confidence led to a move back home to Brisbane Roar before Napoli came knocking at her door.
“Napoli was in Serie A at the time and I got to play in the Coppa Italia as well which was incredible,” explains Izzy, “I did cut my time short there though, but it was for the opportunity to return to Brisbane Roar again for the following season. Which, on reflection, I couldn’t have made a better decision.”
It was her return to Brisbane Roar where Izzy excelled, enjoying one of her best-ever seasons to date, and her form encouraged Lewes LFC, one of the most innovative clubs in the women’s game to make a move for her.
In 2023, a move back to Australia and Perth Glory beckoned, and it is a place that for Izzy has become home.
Her performances on the pitch for Perth Glory have earned plaudits throughout the game, and her stunning injury-time equaliser against Canberra United also saw her win the A-League Women’s Goal of the Season.
It’s fair to say it’s been one hell of a career so far for Izzy and at just the age of 27 there is already so much she has achieved.
“Some of the biggest highlights in my career in terms of accolades would have to be representing Australia at youth level, being a part of a Champions League Quarter-final squad, playing in an FA Cup Quarter Final with Lewes, winning Player of the Year at Brisbane and most recently the goal of the year at Perth.”
In a career full of incredible highs there have also been some challenging moments that have shown the full determination and resilience of Izzy.
“The biggest challenge to date for me would be a knee issue that had me on and off the pitch for about 13 months from October 2022 to November 2023 so there was a massive mental battle trying to understand what was wrong and when or if I would get back on the pitch.”
Since Izzy first made her debut over ten years ago, women’s football has changed immeasurably, capturing the imagination of millions across the world, and opening up the eyes of so many people to the full potential of the women’s game.
Izzy has played a huge role in helping to provide a pathway for other women, as a role model who has shown what is possible when you pursue your dream.
It was an absolute pleasure to sit down with Izzy as we talked about her love for the game, her incredible career so far and the growth of the women’s game
I HAD SUCH A LOVE FOR FOOTBALL
I grew up in Barnsley, a small town in South Yorkshire and moved over to Australia when I was 9 with my family, so my parents could give us new opportunities.
I was young so it wasn’t too difficult to adapt to this new life, but leaving relatives behind was hard and probably has become a lot harder as I’ve got older and they’ve got older.
Fortunately, with football and lengthy off-seasons, it has meant I get to go back to Barnsley during those months and spend time with them, particularly my grandma.
Being English has meant that football is all I’ve known. I grew up playing in the garden with my older brother in the summer when it was light until 10 pm and we were always the kids at our dad’s football games kicking the ball down the side of the pitch.
Even to this day both my dad and brother still play, so football is something that has always been ingrained in me and I still spend a lot of my downtime while I’m at home watching them play.
I feel like there was never a light switch moment where I knew it was something I wanted to do because it was just something I kept doing even if for fun.
I’ve always been someone who’s just run with it and when I finished school it was something that I was able to switch into my new reality and it became my 9-5 “job” if that’s what I should call it.
It all happened without too much thought, and it was more that I had such a love for football that it became an obvious path to follow.
I FOUND EVERYTHING THAT I HAD LOST
I feel like opportunities presented themselves and I took them with both hands. I got to make my professional debut at the end of high school when I was 17 with Brisbane Roar.
I always had a dream of going to college in America, but when Bristol City came knocking on the door, giving me the opportunity to go into a full-time environment, it was a no-brainer.
I was definitely out of my comfort zone and challenged during that time by moving back to England and being quite far from where I grew up but the experience I gained being there was incredible.
Some of the players I was surrounded by have gone on to become some of the world’s best, so it is definitely a moment of reflection to be proud of.
During my time there we went away in the Champions League Quarterfinals against Frankfurt. I didn’t play but I was in awe watching the likes of some of the German legends who played in that team
Moving to America off the back of that time at Bristol was honestly like a dream come true. It was something I knew was right. I wanted the college life and to be an athlete whilst also getting a degree.
For me, the 4 years I spent there were some of my fondest memories, but there were also lots of challenges, as I majorly lacked playing time.
When I graduated in 2019 I questioned whether football was something I could really pursue as I’d lost a lot of confidence and love for the game but I gave myself an ultimatum to play again and then make my mind up.
So I joined Nottingham Forest back in England in July 2019 and like all love stories it couldn’t have been more perfect. I found everything I’d lost and really started to enjoy playing football again.
MY TIME THERE INSPIRED ME TO LEAD IN FOOTBALL AND PLAY WITH EXPRESSION
After only 4 months with Forest, the coach at Brisbane had asked me if I wanted to return to Brisbane Roar for the upcoming season in December, so within 2 weeks I was on the plane and heading back to the place where my career began.
I felt it was my foot in the door to what potentially was the real start of my football career as a professional and I was starting and playing regularly.
When the season ended, COVID had just hit and initially I’d signed a short-term contract with Glasgow City which meant I was going to play in the Quarter Final of the Champions League, but within 2 weeks of arriving in Scotland, we went into complete lockdown.
Strangely during those months of uncertainty, my agent at the time was like ‘lzzy, Napoli wants you, what’s your thoughts?’ Straight away, I was like ‘Get me on that plane let’s go!’ So there I was in Napoli.
The culture, the people, the football, the food, all of it was a massive eye-opener and I absolutely loved it. I could barely speak a word of Italian but every day I was immersed in the way of life, and the passion they share.
I think reflecting on my time there inspired me to lead in football and play with expression, just like they would.
IT CAN’T BE EXPLAINED BUT IT’S SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL
After I left Napoli, I returned to Brisbane Roach, and I really made my mark. I finished the season with the highest number of assists in the league and won the Brisbane Roar Player of the Year, so it was a really successful transition back into being in the orange colours and in the A-League.
Then came the opportunity to move to Lewes and it was a chance to try something new. I didn’t know much about the club apart from being in the championship, but once I got there I knew it was special.
I spent 2 years with the club and from top to bottom the people involved with that club are some of the greatest people I’ve ever met.
They set the benchmark in women’s football as a club and what it means to treat female footballers the right way.
The community surrounding the club and town has a feeling to it that can’t be explained but it’s simply beautiful.
THIS PLACE TRULY FEEL LIKE HOME
Coming back to Australia to play for Perth Glory has been perfect. I knew I wanted to try somewhere new when I returned but I wasn’t sure where I wanted that to be.
I wanted to be closer to family, and although Perth is quite far, at least the time zone isn’t miles off and to be able to have a more balanced football and lifestyle suits who I am.
Choosing Perth couldn’t have been a better decision, I feel like for the first time in my career this place truly feels like I’m right at home.
I love playing for this club and the city and it’s somewhere I would love to permanently live one day.
THE GROWTH OF THE GAME IS HUGE
I think the game in Australia has ebbed and flowed over the past 10 years since I first made my debut.
It has been able to attract some of the world’s best and at times it has been a competitive top league to be a part of.
Recently with the likes of the Women’s Super League having more money pumped into the game it has meant other leagues have fallen behind as they haven’t been able to match the wages and resources.
On a personal level for me, I think the A league is on par with all the other leagues I’ve played in and in terms of facilities is up there with some of the best in the world. Particularly off the back of the World Cup here in Australia, the growth of the game is huge.
We are now seeing more and more girls playing from younger ages through to professional levels, and in terms of attendance, it is the best the league has seen which are all massive positives.
In order for Australia to continue progressing as a top destination league, we need expansion teams, full-year wages, and full-time contracts for 12 months.
MAKE AN IMPACT
My biggest ambition at the moment is to continue playing at the highest level I possibly can.
Time probably isn’t on my side in terms of my football career and as much as I would love to go play in some more countries at the top level, I am also motivated to continue my journey at Perth for as long as possible.
As I’ve got older, one of my biggest ambitions in football has become to make an impact. Leaving the game in a better place than I found it, is important to me.
ALL OUR THANKS TO THE BRILLIANT ISOBEL DALTON