Shop You founder finds fitness and friendship on the soccer field

Kelly Slessor is founder and chief executive of Shop You, a virtual shopping mall and personalised mobile shopping app. She lives in Sydney.

What are your first memories of playing soccer?
I remember playing with my brother and his friends as a child, although I think they used me as a moving target as opposed to passing me the ball.

Are you a member of a club and how often do you play?
I played for Mosman Football Club for 16 years. I moved to Curl Curl Football Club recently because it’s closer to home. I play in a winter soccer competition (11-a-side) and a summer competition (five-a-side).

What position do you play?
I’ve played in various positions, but generally I play up front or on the right wing.

Did you ever want to play in the big league?
No. I only started playing soccer when I came to Australia from the UK 18 years ago. I joined for the exercise and to socialise. It’s a great way to meet people and to get fit.

What's your training regime?
We train once a week and play on Sundays. It’s not a serious league. Our weekly ritual after the game is wine with cheese and biscuits, which is the main reason I play.

Soccer has allowed me to meet new people, keep fit and have a lot of fun over the years so if you enjoy it, soccer will serve you well.

Has COVID-19 affected your routine?
I try to go to the gym or run every day. During lockdown, I really struggled with not being able to go to the gym and not playing any sport, so I signed up to a couple of online fitness programs.

Do you have good ball control and dribbling skills?
I would love to say yes, but the honest answer is no, not really. I like to run around and challenge myself fitness-wise, but I am very aware of my limitations as a soccer player.