Sophia McBeth: From Liverpool to Cyprus, a Unique Story

For Sophia McBeth, playing football has always been a huge part of her life with her passion for the game starting from a young age. Simply standing on the sidelines watching her brother play was enough to ignite her interest, “I’ve always been competitive,” she explains “so when I’d see the boys playing at school, I always wanted to jump in."

This competitive streak stuck. She began her journey by playing with some boy’s teams; by nine years old, she was signed to Everton’s academy. Everton gave her a first proper experience of a high-intensity football environment which was well-organised and demanding in equal measures. After a spell there, she moved to Stoke City, where she spent some important years; playing up age groups at just 14 pushed her physically and mentally, and taking on strong opponents taught her what it meant to grow as a player.

Over time however, she began losing confidence and the initial passion that had first brought her towards football. Instead of pushing through for the sake of it, she made the brave decision to leave and join Wigan’s U16s, U18s and eventually the women’s team. That decision paid off as she not only immensely developed as a player at The Latics, but she also rediscovered her love for the game once more.

“I spent one of my favourite seasons of football there,” she says. “I built my confidence back up, impressed against academy sides, and fell back in love with the game.”

Her next career move saw her join Liverpool’s PGA U21s, where she spent two years in an environment she describes as intense, professional, and incredibly competitive. Now enjoying her football again, she has had the opportunity to test herself against some of the best young players in the country.

Proudest moments

When she looks back on her club footballing journey, two key moments stand out clearly. The first of these being her cup debut for Wigan Women against Bolton aged just 16. Wigan were 2-0 down with five minutes left. Sophia came on and bagged a brace to pull the game back. “That was special,” she says.

The second standout moment came when she was playing for Liverpool PGA in a league game against Aston Villa. Coming off the bench at half-time, she scored a hat-trick - another moment that gave her the confidence that she belongs at this high level.

As for stand out moments on the international stage, nothing tops the feeling of scoring her first senior goal for Cyprus in a 3-2 win over Luxembourg just this November. “Playing for your country isn’t something you can really describe,” she says. “It’s more of a feeling. Every time you put the badge on, you fight for it.”

A Big Decision: Leaving Liverpool for Aris Ladies

Leaving Liverpool behind wasn’t easy. But last year, the pathway from academy football to the women’s professional game in England became increasingly complicated. Sophia describes a difficult landscape where teams were folding, funding was disappearing, and even experienced pros were struggling to find clubs.

“I knew I needed to step into women’s football as early as possible,” Sophia says. Aris Ladies offered exactly what she needed: the chance to play in a professional environment, gain senior minutes, compete in the Europa League, and increase her visibility for Cyprus - a country very close to her heart. It was a risk, but one that has undoubtedly paid off.

Life and Football in Cyprus

Football in Cyprus has been a new challenge. When asked about the level, Sophia believes it is equivalent to a mid-table Tier 3 team in England but admits that the style of play is very different. The heat in Cyprus might slow down the tempo but Sophia states that the aggression and competitiveness is still very much there,

“It’s tough to adapt to,” she admits, “but it’s helped my game massively.” Off the pitch, the move has been life changing. “It’s my first time living away from home, so being independent has been huge for me,” she says. “I’ve made really good friends, and I’ve learned so much from older, more experienced teammates.”

The Pride of Wearing the Cyprus Badge

Representing Cyprus at U19 level and playing at the UEFA U19 European Championships has left a big mark on her. She’s had to learn to deal with the increased pressure and expectations that come from playing at the biggest stage. She’s also overcome challenges like joining a new squad without speaking the language.

“It was difficult,” she says honestly. “But I’m stronger because of it.”

Looking Ahead

Sophia’s goals for this season are very clear cut. She simply wants to play as many minutes as possible and make a real impact at Aris, all whilst continuing to break into the senior national team setup. Above all, she wants to keep enjoying her football.

Her long-term ambitions are just as clear: she wants to reach the highest level she can whilst continuing to enjoy her football.

“I was always told that no career is a straight line,” she says. “I never imagined I’d be where I am now, but I’ve learned to stay open-minded and expect the unexpected. I can’t predict the future, but I can control what I do now.”