The 5-minute Interview: Kelly Smith, footballer

'I should have been a male footballer – then I'd be a millionaire'

'The ideal night out is dinner with friends and family, and then a show' (PA)

The Arsenal and England footballer Kelly Smith, 29, was recently appointed an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours. She also received the British Lung Foundation's Lungs of the Year award as part of its Breathe Easy Week, which runs from 16 to 22 June

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be...

Talking to my students at the college where I coach.

A phrase I use far too often...

"Stop moaning". The kids I coach are always moaning.

I wish people would take more notice of...

Elderly people. People should open doors and be more caring in public places.

The most surprising thing that happened to me was...

Receiving the MBE.

A common misperception of me is...

That I'm rude. I'm actually quite shy.

I'm not a politician but...

If I were, I'd employ workers to clean people's recycling bins. I have dogs – I hate recycling.

I'm good at...

Football, being loyal, and eating chocolate.

I'm very bad at...

Anything to do with maths.

The ideal night out is...

Dinner with friends and family, and then a show.

In moments of weakness I...

Call my best friend – she makes me less panicky.

You know me as a footballer but in truer life I'd have been...

A male footballer, because I'd be a millionaire.

The best age to be is...

25 – still youthful.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is this:

Take each day as it comes.

Deborah Sterescu