Lade practises daily and even invents
new tricks. “The great thing about
freestyling is that I can train anywhere, so
long as I have my ball,” she says. “Most of
the time I practise in my garden.”
Freestyle football has helped her
secure a television slot – on Disney XD’s
Goalmouth
programme this spring. “I’m so
excited about it, it’s a new challenge and
something I’m really enjoying. I’ve always
wanted to combine football freestyle with
presenting. And I’m really pleased to be
able to show the girl-power side of it.”
For those who want to emulate her,
Lade has some advice for budding
freestyle footballers. “The important thing
is to work hard and be dedicated. Every
time you drop the ball, pick it straight
back up and try again.”
Goalmouth
is on Disney XD throughout April
N
ot many get to challenge
Wayne Rooney to a football
face-off, but 25-year-old
Charlotte Lade did just
that – and taught the
Manchester United striker a thing or two
in the process. She has also appeared in
an ad with Cristiano Ronaldo and Rio
Ferdinand – “They were really good fun,”
says the Man Utd-supporting Norwegian of
her footballing super-co-stars.
Lade is a star in her own right, one of
the biggest names in the freestyle football
world – basically, doing tricks with a
football. Her biggest career highlight so
far has been performing at the 2010 World
Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa.
It’s a long way from practising keepie-
uppies in front of her father as a child
growing up in Sykkylven, near Ålesund.
How many can she do? “When I last tried
it I was 13 and my dad stopped counting
at 5,000,” she says. She had dreams of
playing football for her country: after
working her way through the Norway
age-grade sides she was set to play as a
central midfielder in the national team’s
under-19 side. However, a fatigue injury
halted her progress.
Pictured
⁄
Charlotte
Lade shows off her
freestyle football skills for
our exclusive shoot on the
De Beauvoir Road estate in
east London
Despite the setback, Lade discovered
she could still follow an alternative soccer
dream, by freestyling. “I first discovered
football freestyling through injury and the
rest, as they say, is history.”
Freestyling was a natural fit for the
young footballer and has led to work
around the globe. “The injury turned
out to be a blessing in disguise because
freestyle football has ended up becoming
a full-time job – it’s getting so much
bigger all over the world now. Along the
way, I’ve met some fantastic people.”
She moved to London to build
her career and capitalise on the job
opportunities there, but still returns to
Norway. “I don’t get any special treatment
at home, though – where I’m from in
Norway is a tiny place and everyone knows
everyone else!”
“
I’m really pleased to be
able to show the girl-
power side of freestyling”
Find more online
twitter.com/
CharlotteLade
disney.co.uk
Book your tickets
norwegian.com
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