As well as playing for the England Women's football team, you're also one of the stars of Arsenal Ladies - are you on a winning streak?

Yes, we won the FA Women's cup last week when we beat Leeds 4-1.

Did you score?

I scored two of the goals.

It's the end of the season; can you put your feet up?

The England team have two weeks off before we start training for a friendly with Germany in July. Then we have two more qualifiers for the European championship later this year.

So it's a fortnight of partying before putting your boots back on?

Not quite. My coach has suggested that I try low-impact exercises such as yoga and cycling. Yoga's very good for stability and core strength.

Is that relaxing?

More so than training.

Do you train as hard as the boys?

Absolutely. We train every day; lots of weightlifting and long runs to build up stamina. It's harder for us though as we all have other jobs.

What's the day job?

I have a full-time job as assistant director for the Arsenal Girls' Academy. I help to train the girls and organise their matches. Other women in the sport work as postwomen or teachers.

A far cry from the men's game?

Yes. All the money is in the men's game. I get paid a little bit to play for Arsenal and a bit when we go away for England, but it's barely enough to survive on.

Does it unleash the green-eyed monster?

It can get frustrating seeing how much male footballers earn, and that they don't have to do a day job on top of training, but you do it because you love the game. And the crowds are growing.

Women's football compares well?

I think people have negative preconceptions about women's football. But if you watch a high-level women's game the technique is the same. We may not be as physical, but in terms of movement and excitement it's very similar.

Were you a tomboy?

I just wanted to be outside.

No Barbie dolls then?

I wasn't interested in girlie things; I didn't have dolls. I wanted to be active and I always had more male friends than female friends when I was little.

Ever get up to tabloid exploits with your team mates?

I work all week at Arsenal, train with my team mates and then play on a Sunday, so I only have Saturday off and that's for friends and family.

Have you ever dived to win a free kick?

There's not much play-acting or diving in women's football.

But you still get the odd red card?

Sometimes. I missed the UEFA Cup Final last year because I was suspended. But that's just two yellow cards - it's not as serious as a red.

What were they for?

I can't remember. Honestly. It might have been a bad tackle, but they happen in the heat of the moment.

Broken any bones?

My worst injury was when I tore my cruciate ligament in my right knee. It happened in 2001. I've had to have two operations since.

Pioneering surgery?

Yes. They replaced my ligament with one from a cadaver. We don't do it in Britain, but I was playing in America at the time. Usually they take a piece of your hamstring and use that as a replacement ligament but that means you have two areas to heal and it's not the right material for the job. Using the donor ligament means the rehabilitation time is reduced and you've got the right bit in the right place.

Is it back to full strength?

It's much better but I do special exercises for it. I have to keep the muscles strong around the knee to support it.

Anyone to kiss it better?

I was dating someone in America but it didn't work out.

Try any alternative therapies?

No, just physio. I did lots of stretching and weights.

Ever worry about your footballer's thighs?

Obviously we think about our weight and how we look, but it's not negative. It's because we have to take care of ourselves; we have to watch what we eat and exercise appropriately.

No food vices?

I am strict with my diet and we have a nutritionist on the coaching team at Arsenal who helps us to choose healthy food that will give us lots of energy, but Friday is chocolate day. I allow myself almost a whole day of bad eating.

Any pre-match superstitions?

I'm always the first to get ready in the changing room. Most players go and look at the pitch, but I need to get my head right.

How do you psych yourself up?

I do visualisation exercises the night before. I imagine myself on the pitch, taking players on, scoring and celebrating. It gives me more confidence.

To follow Kelly Smith, log on to www.arsenal.com

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