Amber Barrett says her new goal celebration is here to stay - because it symbolises her journey to the World Cup.
The Hampden Park hero scored twice in last month’s 3-2 friendly win over Zambia, and she marked both occasions by pointing to her bicep with one hand and to her head with the other.
It wasn’t pre-planned, but in those moments she wanted to send out a message, that despite a tough season at club level, mentally she was as strong as ever.
“That’s something that I’d not actually done before,” Barrett told the Irish Daily Star, speaking in her role as brand ambassador for AYA supplements, “but it had been in my head for a good few months.
“I think it was a player who played for Borussia Monchengladbach who did it and I really, really liked it.
“One of my teammates is a big ‘Gladbach fan and she used to do it, so I said that the next time I score I’d do it.
“The more I read into it, I think there is a good meaning behind it, that your mentality is your biggest asset; it’s not the muscles in your body, it’s your mind.
“That’s something that I have really bought into over the past few months.
“To be honest with you, I never plan these things, I never plan what I am going to do, they just happen naturally, and that was my natural reaction against Zambia.
“I think it is really symbolic of everything that has happened to me over the last few months, so it’s something I think I’ll stick with.”
Barrett has spoken openly about her strife this past year at German side Turbine Potsdam.
She returned to her club last October basking in the glow of Ireland’s historic World Cup qualification and her match-winning role against Scotland in the play-off.
Rather than getting to build on that famous Hampden night, she found herself either sidelined or stuck at right-back, and needing all the mental resilience she could muster to keep her World Cup dream intact.
“The only time I could probably compare it to, in terms of how tough it was, was when I was in lockdown in Germany,” Barrett continued.
“I remember I was in Koln for nine weeks, away from my family and everyone, and that was obviously a really mentally tough time.
“This was a different type of struggle in the sense that, barring the shoulder injury, I was just constantly being overlooked for game-time.
“It was really hard. Any player will tell you that you get paid to play football, but it’s no good for you when you’re not playing.
“All you want to do is play and I didn’t get that opportunity that I think at times I deserved.
“But I think I just needed to have the World Cup as my goal. It never left my mind. Having that there helped me focus on what I needed to do.
“If I wasn’t mentally strong, this year would have probably broken me. At times I was really close to the line a wee bit, but I always managed to wind myself back in.”
Barrett believes she has always had this resilience.
“I think so, I’m very self-reflective, and when you are self-reflective you always have that ability to be able to put yourself in a good place mentally,” she said.
“You can see where you have done well and you can see where you need to improve. You take responsibility for your actions.
“I think that is a huge characteristic that I have, I do take responsibility, maybe sometimes too much.
“But the way my parents brought me up and how I was involved in sport, I think I’ve always had a good mindset, I’ve never relied on anybody to keep me happy or to give me what I wanted.
“From an early age, both my parents told me that whatever I want in life, I have to work for it.
“When you have that mindset and mentality, you take it with you through sport, through work and relationships, and I think it’s a really positive trait.”
It’s one that she attributes to her upbringing.
“Maybe it is a bit of the Donegal stubbornness that we have,” she said.
“Mum and dad have been such a huge influence on my mentality, so it’s probably a family thing. But there’s a bit of Donegal stubbornness in us as well.”
Vera Pauw has made no secret of her admiration for Barrett.
The Ireland manager this week spoke about the phone calls they had during the season, and Barrett’s determination to keep as fit as possible, despite her lack of game-time.
“Obviously I spoke to her a lot over the last few months about what was going on in Germany,” she said.
“I think she knows that when there is pressure on me or my back is against the wall, that’s when I flourish. She has seen it in different situations and I think she likes that.
“But that’s not just me, that’s a mentality that the Irish team, that a lot of the players have, and I think Vera really admires that.
“Even when everyone says we’ve no chance, we always back ourselves. That’s the type of confidence we have and it’s a big factor in our success.”
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Amber Barrett has teamed up with AYA supplements for the launch of AYA Electrolyte Plus, which provides a rapid hydration formula enriched with 13 vitamins and minerals.
AYA Electrolytes Plus contains essential minerals including magnesium which contributes towards electrolyte balance and is essential for taking water into the cells effectively.
The formulation includes vitamins B and C which aid towards normal energy yielding metabolism and a reduction in tiredness & fatigue to promote general well-being.
The Effervescent tablets dissolve instantly in water and the nutrients are absorbed quickly in the body, and are available in two delicious flavours, Lemon and Lime & Blackcurrant.
AYA Electrolyte Plus is available in pharmacies across the country for €8.95.
Barrett said: “AYA Electrolytes Plus provides rapid hydration, gives an energy boost, and contains vitamins and minerals! It’s my go to ensure I am feeling good and game ready.”
