She was only 10 years old when her family arrived in the UK fleeing the civil war in Somalia.
Jawahir Roble’s name has grabbed front-page headlines after she became the first-ever female Muslim, black, and hijab-wearing referee in British football.
The 26-year-old ‘JJ’ as she’s affectionately called by her friends, told the BBC she fell in love with football as a way to socialise and meet new people.
“I didn’t speak English but football was there from day one,” she said. “I would bring my own ball and whoever has the ball at primary school is at the top. All the boys and girls there would play with me and it was the best feeling.
”In the classroom, it was all grammar and I was so confused but the only time I was actually trying to speak was when I was playing with the kids. I would say ‘please pass me the ball’, ‘thank you’ and ‘shoot’.”
”Words would just come out naturally and I was like, I’m speaking English.”
Roble’s dream was to play professional football but her dreams were shattered when her parents forbade her from playing. However, a new passion of refereeing was born.
“I started volunteering at my local clubs and then one time I was asked to this local girls’ league and they did not have enough referees so they asked me to volunteer,” she told the Press Association.
“It was such a cool Saturday, I just went straight into it. I love football, I love the rules. I’ve learned to appreciate referees more and I’m so glad I gave it a chance, because sometimes you have to give it a go.
“My plan in life was to become a professional footballer and then a few years later it became a passion with refereeing. That was never my plan but I am glad it happened.”
hijab shock
Roble says her headscarf often took many people by surprise.
“When I first go to the ground I do not wear my kit,” she said in an interview with BBC. “So I go to the groundsman and say, ”Hello sir, I’m the referee today, please can you give me a changing room?”
“Then it’s usually: ‘Are you?’ At the beginning, I was wondering why they would be surprised, but now I can’t wait to say it and you get used to it. I like the shock.”
In the field of play, she says players also pass some nasty remarks.
“During a game, some players might say things like, ‘This is a man’s game.’ I say it’s a man’s game and a woman’s game. You just missed the goal and you are having a mare so focus on yourself.
“After the game finishes they usually apologize.”
With her name already carved in history, Roble’s next mission is to conquer the lucrative English Premeir League or the Women’s Super League.
“I’m getting my fitness up, I’ve lost a lot of weight you know, I’ve got cheekbones and everything. It’s happening – the university has finished and I am going all out.”
