Lisa Murphy, Bohemians' teak-tough defender, will be doing it for her son Jackson when she lines up in today's Sports Direct FAI Cup final against Athlone Town at Tallaght Stadium.
The 30-year-old embodies the spirit in Alban Hysa's side, offering precious experience to a young bunch.
Murphy spent time at Shelbourne's academy when she was younger, but stepped away when she fell pregnant with Jackson.
She got back on the pitch with her local side Kilmore, near Coolock in Dublin, banging in goals for fun until a coach at Shelbourne convinced her to go and train with Bohs, who were looking for new players.
That was in 2021, when Murphy was working in a butcher's.
She took the plunge, and a job with Paddy Power, to better suit her training schedule and home life, and never looked back.
Bohs has given Murphy a League of Ireland career but it's also been a home away from home for Jackson.
"Everyone knows Jackson around Bohs," Murphy smiled. "He rocks into Dalymount Park like he's playing the match, not me.
"'Are you Jackson's mammy?' That's what I get. Not, 'are you Lisa Murphy that plays on the team?' No, it's 'are you Jackson's mammy?' He's a legend around Bohs already and let's hope he can put on a Bohs shirt when he gets older.
"I can't thank the lads enough for what they've done for Jackson. He'll walk out with me on Sunday and I think that would be my proudest moment as being a mammy that I can give him. It will be electrifying.
"I told him I'd go back and play in the FAI Cup final and that was always a dream. That's been the dream for the last year I've been with Bohs. Every heartbreak every year, he'd be like, 'Mammy you're not good enough'. This year we got to the final, let's hope we go one step further."
Just as Julie-Ann Rusell's baby Rose became an extended part of the Republic of Ireland squad, Jackson is part of the fabric at Dalymount Park.
"I couldn't have done it without Bohs," Murphy added. "When I tell you, I've had stages… My mam is very sick at the moment. I don't have the help. My dad helps me a bit.
"Without Bohs, I would have never been able to play football. It's as simple and plain as that. They accept him. Every manager that comes in, they accept him like he's part of the furniture now. You come in and you're becoming a manager for Bohs, you're told that Jackson's part of the team as well.
"This club means absolutely everything to me. More importantly, for what they have done for me and my son."
Last June, Murphy made her 100th appearance for Bohs.
Her stats tell a story: she's third in the league among centre-backs this year for aerial duels and joint-first overall (with Athlone's Natalie McNally) in shots blocked.
Murphy is a fighter who relishes the battle.
"I would like the dirty side of the game," she admitted. "I'm blocking the shots but I'm not the gifted player. I can have my dribbles now and then and then I'm trying to get back as quick as I can.
"Obviously, that's my job. My job is to stop goals in and hopefully I can put the ball in the back of the net when I'm up for a corner. That's my job, stop balls going in the net."
Underdogs Bohs will need Murphy at her absolute best if they are to do something special this afternoon. Cup finals are a day for warriors, and Murphy is determined to leave it all on the field.
"The excitement even walking into Tallaght Stadium today, even though it's not my favourite room in the place with a Bohs top on me! This pitch is unbelievable, the excitement, the girls are buzzing at training this week. Our first FAI Cup final for the club, what else can we ask for?"
