An interview with Maisie Adam

Maisie Adam on Soccer Aid, Jill Scott and promising an incredible celebration

With her fourth Soccer Aid for UNICEF appearance on the horizon, Maisie Adam is about to make history, becoming the most capped female player alongside Jill Scott in 20 years of Soccer Aid… But if she had it her way, it wouldn’t stay shared for long!

Ahead of the 20th anniversary match at London Stadium on Sunday 31 May, we sat down with one of the UK’s most beloved comedians and Soccer Aid royalty to talk records, what it means for women to play, and what she has in mind for her goal celebration…

Q Maisie, welcome back to Soccer Aid. What do you love about it, and what does the cause mean to you?
I love everything about Soccer Aid; the camaraderie between us all when we’re playing and the mad little scenarios you’ll find yourself in. I’ve been sitting next to Sir Mo Farah having my dinner, and then the next minute doing a drill with Bonucci. It’s utterly bonkers, but a real joy to be part of.
More than anything, we all love the important cause that we’re there for, to raise funds for UNICEF. That’s always at the forefront of our minds when we’re there – in training, we’re seeing these films, and we’re talking about the various things that UNICEF are ensuring people have safely. That’s my favourite thing – feeling like you’ve played some small part in helping Soccer Aid for UNICEF continue its work.

Q And you share an honour, with Jill Scott: you’re both making your fourth appearances for Soccer Aid, which means you’re both going to become the most capped females over the 20 years of the event.
Wow, wow. I need to overtake Jill there. Somebody drop Jill from the team, please! I need to have one thing over Jill Scott, surely. We always have this little thing going on, me and Jill trying to outdo each other. So yeah, I’ll try and have a word with the England managers and see if they can drop her for next year and hopefully I’ll be back so I can beat her! But no, in all seriousness, it’s amazing to be the most capped female player with Jill; it’s really special.

Q Kudos to you in your own right because you’re the female with the most appearances who’s not an ex-player. How does that make you feel?
I think that actually counts as an extra cap- so I beat Jill. I’m definitely super proud to be a professional give-it-a-goer, and I love that Soccer Aid is that kind of place where you can step onto a football pitch with a player of Jill’s calibre and still feel like you’re meant to be there. It’s a lovely atmosphere, and where else do you get to play alongside your heroes?

Q Since 2019 Soccer Aid has been a mixed game. How important and inspiring do you think that is for kids watching at home?
Massively. I mean, it’s that age-old saying, ‘you can’t be it unless you see it’. As I said, I used to watch Soccer Aid when it was all men playing, and there was a part of me that thought: I love seeing these people come together, how do you end up with someone like Gordon Ramsay, a chef, playing football alongside Robbie Williams, a singer? The fact that there are no women in it made me think it’s not something that could happen to me.
So, seeing it now is just as simple as that- seeing people from different backgrounds. It’s really important for representation and you see that on match-day, when you look out into the crowd and it’s not full of men, it’s full of families, couples, football fans, Robbie Williams fans, One Direction fans, you get it all, people who love Gladiators, people who love YouTubers. There’s every sort of sector of the UK there. And they’re all there for this one cause because of who’s playing on the pitch; it’s a phenomenal thing to happen.

Q Is it nerve-wracking? Do you lean on your experience of going on stage and performing to a live audience?
I think that definitely does help. Speaking to other people who’ve made their debut and maybe if they’re actors and they’re used to rehearsals, and then you get to go again, if you fluff your lines. I think there is something slightly helpful.
I’m not saying it makes me a blooming Ballon D’or performer, but it definitely helps with the nerves when you’re in the tunnel about to go out and do something that’s live because that’s your bread and butter every night.

Q Who are you looking forward to catching up with and who from the opposition are you going to watch out for?
I’m looking forward, of course, as ever, to catching up with Jill Scott, though I will constantly be playing the mind games- you’ve got to start them early with Jill, get in her head. But it is always lovely to catch up with people who are a good laugh. Joe Marler is joining this year, and I can’t wait to see what he’s like.

Join Maisie and the rest of the Soccer Aid for UNICEF stars as they take to the pitch at London Stadium on Sunday, 31 May. With tickets selling fast, you won’t want to miss your chance to be part of the 20th anniversary celebrations… and find out if Maisie finally gets one over on Jill Scott.

Get your tickets now before they’re gone.