BETH ENGLAND has revealed how she worked night shifts in a chippy while playing semi-pro before hitting the big time with Chelsea.
The 25-year-old striker would work from 10pm to 6am three days a week to make ends meet while at Doncaster Belles.
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The England star said: “When I was part-time at Donny and at college I had to pay my way, I had a car to run and everything.
“I worked in an Indian, a chippy, Marks and Spencer and I had a paper round for five years. My family have always been grafters since I remember.
“There would be times when I would have two or three hours sleep before getting on the coach for an away game.
“If we went to play Yeovil we’d get back around 9pm so I’d have a quick shower, get my tea and then straight back out to work and do a night shift.
“On top of that juggling A levels was difficult, I think the younger ones of today don’t appreciate it, women before me that put these things in place.
“Youngens can just come from colleges and schools and go straight into being professional, they don’t really have to experience the real world just yet.”
England grew up in Barnsley and began playing football in a boys’ team with twin her sister Laura.
She was scouted for Doncaster in 2011 and spent five years there before signing with the Blues.
Fast-forward from starting out with the Belles and England has made her long-awaited senior debut for the Lionesses.
She has scored twice in six appearances for Phil Neville’s side and is Chelsea’s top scorer this season all while studying a law degree.
And is in with a chance of fulfilling her childhood dream of competing in the Olympics if she makes it into the team GB squad at Tokyo 2020.
England said: “It’s crazy to think that a lass from Barnsley is now deemed one of the best in the world for football. It’s a bit surreal really.’
“Growing up as a kid I did athletics and football so if I could turn around to my parents and say ‘look I’m going to an Olympic games’ that is a dream come true.
“I can’t be thinking about that too much because I want to win the league with Chelsea and if the Olympics comes? That’s just an extra bonus, I’m a Blue through and though.”
Most people don’t know that England went through a dark period during her time at Chelsea.
She had to compete with legends like Eni Aluko, Gemma Davison, and Fran Kirby for an attacking spot when she first signed.
And when told she would be loaned out to Liverpool in the summer for the 2017/18 season her confidence was massively dented.
England recalls bursting into tears and thinking that was the end of the road with the Blues when the news broke from Chelsea boss Emma Hayes.
She said: “I thought that would mean I wasn’t going to come back because every other player that’s gone on loan from Chelsea hasn’t come back.
“I’m the only player that’s managed to go away and get a call back.
“I think it was more of a test of whether I would sink or swim up there and thankfully I chose to swim. I couldn’t be happier being back here with the girls.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
