Bethany England will take on her former side, Chelsea, this weekend, A couple of weeks ago, I interviewed her for the Daily Star, as she supported the Tottenham Hotspur foundation. She opened up about how cancer has affected her family, as well as why she cares about doing LGBT advocacy.
Speaking ahead of the win over West Ham, England reflected on the season so far. "We've obviously started the season really well in the first half. Probably one of our best campaigns that we've had to date," she said. "I think we've probably passed the points that we got in total for last season. Keeping more clean sheets now, being tougher to be playing more exciting football, more football that the fans want to come and watch."
She's lived through the growth of the women's game, telling me: "I've loved football ever since I was a little girl. Always played. But I never thought it could be a fully fledged career. For me, I think it got really serious when I went to Chelsea." Previously, she was semi-pro at Doncaster Belles.
England is thrilled at the growth of women's football and is aware of the advantages the current generation has. "I do think things are more readily available for them than what they were when I was younger."
Bethany England, Leading From the Front
The Spurs skipper also commented on the racist abuse Jess Naz was subjected to earlier in the season. "We did the T-shirt pledge, because we was like, there's more that can be done than just taking a knee, and I think it does kind of lose its meaning, you want to give more meaning towards that where serious women say, that it should not and will not be tolerated in and around the sport."
It shows how England leads from the front, both on and off the pitch. Also ahead of the West Ham game, I asked manager Martin Ho about her importance. He said his striker is "really important in terms of her leadership qualities and her impact on the team, her impressions on the team. She's been remarkable in terms of how she brings the group together."
He added that "the initiatives in the programme, she goes to speak volumes about Beth as an individual. And we need more players to step up in those moments to bridge those moments of leadership and management around our team." Clare Hunt was with England on this visit.
Bethany England scored the first WSL goal I ever saw in person. A screamer against Spurs at Stamford Bridge. I started describing the goal and she immediately started apologising, which one I meant.
Perhaps she can score another tomorrow to make up for it!
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