20 questions with Demi Stokes

With 64 caps to her name, Demi Stokes is one of the most experienced members of the England women’s senior team but how well do you know the defender?

Here the 30-year-old answers 20 questions around a host of subjects, revealing what she likes most about herself, the importance of being ‘just Demi’ and her hatred of spiders!

1) What’s your earliest memory?
Just growing up on the estate playing football, kicking the ball around with the lads and on the weekend having mini tournaments. We used to chip in a couple of quid each to buy a trophy so whoever won that weekend got to keep the trophy. Those would be my earliest memories of playing football and being a kid.

2) If you could go back in time, would you? And where to?
I think I would definitely go back in time. But where would I go to? Maybe the 70s. With the hippy style and everyone being peaceful and all chilled out, that would suit me because I am a bit laid back.

3) What do you like most about yourself?
I think that I am quite positive. I like that about myself. I try to put a positive spin on things and it has helped me in my career and in life. I try to look for a positive spin on things and with that people come to me, with I quite like. I like helping people.

4) What's your biggest achievement?
I think playing for England. When you are younger, you have all these things you want to do. I look at where I am today and when you are younger you say you want to be a professional footballer, you want to play for England and I am here doing that! I am proud of that.

5) What’s your worst habit?
Cleaning. I get told I have OCD so it is definitely that. If the cushions aren’t plumped properly then I am running back in the living room to sort that before I go out. Or crums in the butter, I hate that. But yeah, the insistence on tidiness is probably my worst habit.

6) What makes you most angry?
I don’t think I get angry very much. I would probably say people being selfish. That is something that I don’t like. Or people who are not understanding of others.

7) Who is your biggest influence?
I would probably say my Nan was a very good influence on me growing up and just family in general. I feel like now my Nan has passed away, I have that role I need to play for my family and I try to take care of everyone.

8) How do you react under pressure?
I think I try to stay calm in the most part and try to think logically when I am under pressure. 

9) When do you feel most at ease?
When I am happy, feeling relaxed and chilling. I am quite a calm and laid-back person any way.

10) What do you dream about when you sleep?
Probably food! I don’t know. To be fair, my most recent dreams have been about spiders because spider season is coming up and if one more person tags me in a spider post…The spiders are starting to come in the house now and I hate them so much.

11) Favourite phrase or word?
I don’t think I have one. I do say ‘ah that is lush’. But not everyone likes that. I know I can say that with my northern mates because they use it or we will say ‘that is mint’. But I know not every Manc likes that word.

12) What reminds you of home?
So this is where the debate is. People always ask me ‘is Manchester home, is South Shields home or is Birmingham home?’ I think home for me is probably South Shields, so fish and chips by the beach – wind, rain or shine, you are there. I think that. The beach, and fish and chips.

13) Are you superstitious about anything?
No. I have a shower right before I go out for a game but if I don’t have it then I am not worried about it. I don’t walk across three drains but that is about it.

14) What makes you cry?
I get told I don’t cry enough. I don’t cry when you are supposed to cry and it takes a lot for me to cry.

15) One song that makes you feel good?
Anything reggae, anything with a bit of a beat. But yeah, probably just reggae overall.

16) Biggest obstacle?
I’m not sure you know. I see that almost as a negative. 

17) Favourite place in the world?
I’ve been to a lot of places but not as holidays. But I do love Barcelona. When I have been there I really enjoyed it because it is a city but you can go to the beach, so Barcelona would be up there.

18) Most valuable possession?
I would say my Nan’s necklace. She had it years and every time I wear it someone stops me and says ‘how have you got that because I have not seen one for years?’ I always say I don’t care about anything but if I lost that I would be devasted, so I always take care of it.

19) Worst fear?
Spiders. I don’t like them at all. I won’t go in the shed because they are everywhere in there. I am trying to overcome it and I will get some spiders now with a tissue which I didn’t do before! 

20) How would you like to be remembered?
Just as Demi. Cheerful, happy, helpful. 

The England women’s senior team are playing three matches across the country this month as part of the inaugural Arnold Clark Cup.

England Women v Canada will take place at Riverside Stadium on Thursday 17 February, England Women v Spain on Sunday 20 February will be hosted by Norwich City’s Carrow Road and England Women v Germany will be at Wolves’ Molineux Stadium on Wednesday 23 February.

Tickets are available from £10 for adults and £5 for under-16s and can be purchased from here.