For Allyson Swaby, football teaches values that transcend the sport.
The 27-year-old has a wealth of footballing heritage to her name, which has taken her from Roma to PSG to Angel City FC over the past few years. Alongside her elite club-level calibre, it’s her role as a key member of the Jamaican squad at the Women’s World Cup that has seen her let her values be known and lead the way for the future of the women’s game.
Swaby is not only responsible for helping the Reggae Girlz rise on the pitch and secure their second World Cup appearance in their history. Along with her teammates on the Jamaica Women’s team, Swaby has been using her platform to seek meaningful changes from the Jamaica Football Federation and demanding fair pay and support in the lead-up to the tournament’s kick-off.
Swaby is supercharged by these values and is eager to be a role model for a new generation of followers by giving them a voice they can get behind. While there’s still a long way to go, the last few years of genuine, progressive change have seen the women’s game become more competitive, marketable and better-backed than it’s ever been before.
Having played in Paris, Los Angeles, and Rome, Swaby is firmly tapped in with the exciting cultural shift the game is enjoying across the world. It’s this energy that underpins her new partnership with legendary sportswear brand Diadora. Having served up some of the most iconic boots and kits of all time, the Italian sportswear manufacturer is now looking to shape the future of the game by helping kit out Swaby at the Women’s World Cup 2023.
Equipped with lifestyle wear, kit and boots that ooze Diadora’s enduring sense of style and class, Swaby is Jamaica’s rock-steady defensive force at the back. Fuelled by fearless determination and a unique sense of unity, Swaby and her side are looking to upset the odds and progress The Reggae Girlz out of a tough qualification group, having already secured a well-earned draw against a very strong France side.
To celebrate her new partnership with the brand, HYPEBEAST caught up with Swaby to discover more about her journey to the top of the game, her biggest challenges in breaking the mould, and her excitement about the future of women’s football.
Diadora
Diadora
What were your earliest memories of growing up playing football?
My dad loved playing – and he instilled this passion in me while I was growing up. But, if it makes sense, I don’t have an “earliest” memory, I just don’t remember ever not playing! Football has always been a way of life for me.
When did you first believe you could pursue it as a career?
Rome functioned as an accelerator for me, in that regard. I came out of college and started playing that summer, and before that, I truly never thought it could be my career.
Coming into a club like AS Roma, with its built-in fanbase for the franchise, and with teammates that had a real heartfelt connection to the jersey, I thought – oh, this is going to be it for me. Now, I couldn’t see myself pursuing anything else.
What have been the biggest challenges in your career so far — and how have you overcome them?
The last six months have been very challenging. I was stopped from playing due to some administrative oversight, and I couldn’t be eligible to play with either of the teams that wanted me. Some days, it was difficult to see a bright side to this – but I kept at it, even by myself, waiting for the time when I could go back to doing what I love.
Diadora
What’s been the highlight of your career, or do you believe that’s still yet to come?
I’d like to think the best is ahead, I don’t like looking back!
Talk to us about working with Diadora — how did that relationship come about?
The relationship with Diadora was born through their desire to expand in the European market and my ties to Italian football. It’s great to be a part of the team!
What are the boots like to play in?
The boots are a great fit. The materials used allow for a really smooth transition into a new pair and are exceptionally lightweight, so they move great with me.
How would you describe your sense of style off the pitch – and would you say it matches your style on it?
I like to be strong and feminine. I like to feel comfortable in my own body and my style changes according to the situation, and evolved sort of sportswear with a bit of athleisure thrown in for good measure. Also, I always have some really fun nail art going on!
Diadora
What else would you like to see put in place to level up Women’s football?
I think the main thing I’d like to see is just a continued increase in investment across all levels of the game. It’s easier now to recognize a star at the highest level because of the exposure of the game.
How excited are you ahead of the World Cup? This is your second time, do you feel like a veteran now? How is it different?
I am incredibly excited for this World Cup. Being the second time, I’m hoping to see the team build upon our last performances and as always enjoy the process and experience.
There’s been a lot of progression seen in Women’s football over the last few years. How excited are you by the future of the Women’s game?
The progress in the women’s game has been exponential over the last few years. It’s incredible to see the faces of the best women’s footballers in global campaigns as well as the investment at the club level that many teams are now really tapping into.
