Katie McCabe opens up on journey from Nandos waitress to Ireland's World Cup captain

Katie McCabe is edging ever closer to becoming the first player to lead the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team out at a major tournament.

Not only is it a first major tournament for the Girls in Green, it’s the World Cup no less. And not only will it be their opening game of the group stage, it will be the opening game in Australia, against the co-hosts in front of a sold-out crowd of over 80,000 at Olympic stadium in Sydney.

But before that historic moment, McCabe has penned a piece for The Players Tribune – a website that publishes first-person stories from professional athletes – to share her journey from being a kid with big ambitions, to a Nando’s waitress, to an Arsenal midfielder and now to being the Irish captain inspiring the next generation of female footballers in her beloved Ireland.

“For me, that journey began with something very small … a simple signature” begins McCabe.

“I can still remember going down to Inchicore to watch Ireland play. There must have been around 50 people there in total: Friends and family of the players, and us, a loud crew of 12-year-old girls from Templeogue United. After the game I was standing there with the free ticket I had received, and I was pleading, begging the Ireland players to sign it. I made the biggest Bambi eyes ever!!

“Will you sign it?? Will you sign it?? Hahahaha.

"You know who did? Emma Byrne, the Ireland goalkeeper. I’ll never forget it.

"At the time she probably had no idea what kind of force she had just unleashed. I ran home to my dad going, “EMMA BYRNE SIGNED MY TICKET!!”

“Dad was like, ‘Well, do you know who Emma Byrne plays for?’

I thought that she just played for Ireland, so I was like, ‘No?'

She plays for Arsenal.’

“Two months later Arsenal were