Full-Time Job, Full-Time Passion: Captain Giota Papaiannou from Plymouth Argyle Women FC

I sat down with Captain Giota Papaiannou from Plymouth Argyle Women's FC. When you think of a footballer, you might picture the roar of the crowd, stadium lights blazing, and a life wholly dedicated to the beautiful game. But for many women in football, the reality is far more complex and inspiring. Between hospital shifts and weekend away games, the Giota redefines what it means to be an athlete.

In this candid conversation, we sat down with one of the club’s standout players to talk about her journey from Greece to Plymouth, the challenges of juggling a full-time career with football, and what it’s really like behind the scenes of a growing women’s team in 2025. It’s a story of resilience, love for the game, and the quiet revolution happening across women’s football.

Q: So, tell me a bit about your journey into football. Where did it all begin?

Well, I’m originally from Greece. I started playing when I was around 13 and ended up getting involved with the national team for a few years. Around 18, I hit that classic “What do I want to do with my life?” moment. I knew I wanted to keep playing football, but I also wanted to study—so I came to the UK for university. That decision led me to Plymouth, where I’ve been able to combine my degree with playing football at a decent level. I’m also working full-time as a physiotherapist now.

Q: That's a lot to balance. How has your football career changed since joining Plymouth Argyle?

It’s changed quite a bit! Especially now that the women’s team has moved away from the community trust and is now under the club’s umbrella. That shift made a big difference—off the pitch especially. We used to play at Coach Road most of the time, but now we’re getting regular games at Home Park. That’s huge. There’s hospitality, better exposure, more sponsors, and more people just knowing that we exist.

When I first joined, there were actually people who didn’t even know Argyle had a women’s team! That was quite shocking to me. Things have definitely moved forward since then.

Q: Where do you feel the game stands right now, especially the gap between men’s and women’s football?

We’ve come a long way in the last decade—especially thanks to the success of teams like the Lionesses. But there’s still a massive gap. It’s not just financial, either—it’s in the media coverage, the marketing, and the general interest of the public.

That said, I can see positive changes. People are backing the women’s game more, and having people genuinely invested in our growth makes a real difference. But it’s going to take time. You can’t jump from amateur setups to full-time professional environments overnight. It takes structure, planning, and—let’s be honest—money.

Q: What could help elevate the game even further?

It really does come down to investment. Not just throwing money at it, but putting it in the right places—with intention. Facilities, staffing, travel, marketing… all of it. And backing it with the same seriousness that men’s teams get.

I heard a rugby player say her club set up a women’s team just to get funding—and then poured all the money into the men’s side. That’s shocking and, sadly, not unique.

Q: So, what does the future look like for you?

Right now, I’m juggling full-time work with a pretty full-on football schedule. More away games, more overnight stays. Ideally, I’d like to keep playing at the highest level possible—but that might mean going part-time at work at some point just to manage everything.

I love being a physio, but my commitment to football is increasing every year. It’s a balance I’m still figuring out.

Q: Have you experienced any negativity in the sport as a woman?

Personally, I’ve been lucky. My family and friends have always supported me—inviting me to five-a-side games growing up and encouraging me along the way. But on social media? That’s a different story.

There’s still a lot of negativity online. If the men’s team shares something promoting us, you’ll always see a few comments that make you roll your eyes. I don’t think you’d see that if it were a tennis player or a volleyball match being promoted. Maybe I’m biased, but football seems to bring that out more.

Q: Do you interact much with the men’s team at Argyle?

We do now, yeah—more than we used to. A few years ago, we didn’t really know much about each other. But now we share photoshoots for kit launches and use the same facilities sometimes. Our training schedules don’t always align—they train in the morning, we train in the evening—but when we do cross paths, they’re really supportive.

Last year, a couple of the men’s players asked about our schedules and how we balance football with work… they genuinely wanted to understand. That kind of support makes a difference.

Q: That’s amazing. But still—it’s unbelievable how many of you have full-time jobs alongside football.

Exactly. A couple of years ago, players weren’t even being paid. That’s slowly changing, thankfully. But yeah—most of us are still working 40-hour weeks and training on top of that. Sometimes, that’s another 16 to 40 hours a week, including gym, travel, and match days.

This weekend, for example, we’ve got an away game at Watford. We’re leaving Saturday morning, won’t be home until midnight, and then I’m back at the hospital on Monday. You don’t want to use all of your annual leave just to recover from travel, so you just power through.

Final Thoughts

Women’s football is growing. Slowly, steadily—but undeniably. And the players driving it forward are doing more than just showing up on the pitch. They’re studying, working, training, travelling—and still finding time to inspire the next generation.

Because for them, it’s more than a game.