Much like any younger sibling, Sjoeke Nusken wanted to be just like her big sister. Whether it was because of the sports she played or her hairstyle at the time, Hjordis was the one she admired.

That was the reason why Sjoeke started playing football as a child. Many years and good memories later, the midfielder’s sister remains one of her biggest supporters.

‘My sister played and that’s why I started,’ the 23-year-old tells us. ‘She’s been with me for my whole career.

‘Every time I have a game, I text her and she says to me: 'You can do this better' or 'You did this good' – she’s the one person I always talk to after a game.

‘When we were younger, we always played in the garden together every afternoon and evening. She had short hair, and I didn’t, but everything she did I wanted to do. I wanted to be like my big sister.’

With Hjordis being four years older than Sjoeke, they never got to share the pitch other than those kickabouts in the garden.

Little did the siblings know those evenings spent together would be the beginning of a journey which would take Sjoeke from Hamm - a small city in Germany - to London. Senior football arrived at Frankfurt before Chelsea came calling in the summer of 2023.

‘Me and Hjordis never played for the same team because she’s older than me, but we started with the same local club,’ she adds. ‘We both started playing with the boys.

‘She went to the second Bundesliga and I was still playing with the boys because of my age. I decided to go to Frankfurt, and this is maybe why we went on different paths. I would say she was more talented than me, but she wanted to focus on doing other things than football.’

And although Hjordis took a different path from Sjoeke, the latter values her big sister’s opinion thanks to the vast experience she gained on the pitch.

Hjordis has continued to be by Sjoeke’s side every step of the way. From winning Women’s Super League titles with Chelsea to claiming Olympic bronze with Germany, our midfielder hopes to make her big sister proud.

‘I do think she’s very proud of me,’ Sjoeke explains. ‘She’s always on my side. When I won the Olympic medal, she came to Paris with my other sister.

‘When I play in Germany, she is always there. She has been here to London sometimes, but we are in contact every single day. We have a very good relationship.

‘She reminds me to just enjoy playing football. She always tells me to keep playing because it’s something I love and I find fun. It’s really good to have someone with me who knows something about football. She knows how to play. Her opinion is really important to me.

‘She was really good… is really good! Well, I think, I’m not so sure because we aren’t playing together in the garden anymore!’

You have certainly come a long way from playing football with Hjordis in the garden, Sio.

Sjoeke Nusken scored a brace when we last faced Arsenal at Stamford Bridge - 20,000 tickets have already been sold for this season's WSL clash on 26 January and you can get yours here!