Laura Jackson may have played professionally for top British clubs, but nothing comes close to the unique experience of donning the Jamaica shirt.

The England-born midfielder, who played in the United Kingdom’s top women’s football competition for years, by tone and words says debuting for her ancestral home Jamaica against Chile on Thursday night is a moment to savour.

“It was amazing, honestly… it was, and more than I hoped it would be…there was so much support and I was not expecting that, but I am so blessed to be here joining the Girlz on this trip to the World Cup, and I am just so honoured,” she told the Jamaica Observer on a visit with the rest of her teammates to the newspaper’s offices on Friday.

Jackson, who is currently the assistant coach at the University of Kansas, admitted she was blown away by the atmosphere inside National Stadium, where the Girlz battled to a 1-0 win over the South Americans in their friendly international, the first of two.

“I was very surprised by the support of the fans, the way they cheered us on with every good pass. And it felt like we had an extra player on the field and that was good,” she said.

The 28-year-old, who has a doctorate in exercise sciences, said playing in the FA Women’s Super League for Arsenal has helped to improve her game.

“I grew up in England where football is the most important sport, and I have played for Arsenal, Watford and Leyton Orient, which are top-level teams, and playing for those teams have prepared for this level,” Jackson noted.

She said coaching in the USA has also aided her overall development, which she thinks will redound to the benefit of the Girlz and their historic journey to the Fifa Women’s World Cup in France this summer.

“It’s good (playing and coaching) because you are dealing with football every day at various levels, and that’s how it is when you remain a student of the game. So coaching at the sidelines and talking about the sport is helping the playing part of my game,” Jackson said.

The rookie Reggae Girl, who partnered Marlo Sweatman and Chinyelu Asher in the three-prong midfield against Chile, is confident her qualities could be of benefit to the team going forward.

“I am a big player and very strong, but I think my greatest strength is playing over the top and getting those through balls, and just connecting the game,” she stated, in a matter of fact way.

Jackson noted that other members of the team welcomed her with open arms, which made it much easier for her to settle and express herself.

“The Girlz are like family, and from the first time I came into the camp they have been welcoming. You don’t get the feeling that anyone is better than the other, and I am really honoured to be a part of such a family,” said the daughter of Jamaican-born Patricia Cover and Robin Jackson.

Even though the 28-year-old footballer knows it will be difficult to snatch one of the 23 places in the squad to France, she intends to compete for one with her last ounce of sweat.

“I definitely want to be in the 23, but it’s obviously a competitive environment and they can’t take everybody, so I have to just keep playing and working hard to prove myself, as there are already good players in the team before I got here,” Jackson ended.

— Sean Williams