Women’s Super League

TOTTENHAM striker Bethany England led a very different life before becoming a professional footballer.The 29-year-old Lioness worked in a chip shop in the early stages of her career while juggling A-Levels and playing for Doncaster Belles.
Tottenham star Bethany England worked in a chip shop before becoming a professional footballerCredit: PA
England (C) had a job outside of football while playing for Doncaster Belles as a teenagerCredit: Getty
In 2011, England established herself as one to watch in the inaugural Women’s Super League season.
At the age of just 17 she became a first team regular at the highest level of women’s football in England.
However, she was being paid just £150-a-month – an amount that barely covered the cost of fuel when driving to and from training and games several times a week.
The striker subsequently had to find an extra job and she went on to work in a local chip shop for over three years.
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England worked two nights a week at the Wellington Street chippy in Barnsley alongside her twin sister, Laura.
And the former Chelsea star has revealed that she barely had time to sleep between shifts and football matches on the weekends.
She told England Football: “I ended up working for three-and-a-half years in a chippy, doing night shifts on a Friday and Saturday.
“It would start at around 10pm and finish at 5am to 6am. I would then have a couple of hours sleep and go straight to my football game, and then do the night shift whilst I was at college.
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The striker featured for the Lionesses during the Women’s World Cup this summerCredit: Getty
She also helped England to Euro 2022 glory last yearCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
“You’d be surprised how many people want fish and chips after a night out! It’s not for me.
“But it paid me through college, it paid for my driving lessons and everything. So, it got me where I needed to be.
“I’ve done all sorts. I’ve worked in a bakery, a factory, I’ve worked at M&S and I’ve worked in an Indian.”
The striker added: “As a Yorkshire girl, I love gravy but from a chippy, I actually prefer curry.
“I did either service or frying. At Easter time, we used to fry Creme Eggs. You couldn’t get battered Mars Bars and Snickers but we used to batter Creme Eggs. It sounds nasty, but you’d be surprised. It’s alright.”
Following her spell with Doncaster Belles, England went on to join Chelsea in 2016.
She spent seven years with the Blues before joining Tottenham at the beginning of this year.
And last month she was named as the club’s captain.
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England was a member of the Lionesses squad that won Euro 2022 last July.
She also featured in England’s run to the Women’s World Cup final this summer.
England was named Spurs captain last monthCredit: Getty More

ASTON VILLA WOMEN wore the club’s sweat-heavy kit in their Women’s Super League opener.The WSL is back underway today with the Midlands-based side kicking things off against Manchester United.
Villa players wore the sweat-filled shirt despite complaintsCredit: Getty
Alisha Lehmann started for VillaCredit: Reuters
Sarah Mayling was in actionCredit: Reuters
Villa players have been forced to wear the wet-look kit despite huge backlash with no short-term solution found.
Both the men’s and women’s teams have complained about the Castore shirt and say it impacts their performances.
The kit appears to retain sweat and become heavy for players.
The men’s side wore it as they beat Brighton 6-1 yesterday.
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It was thought a solution might be found prior to the women’s match today, but it wasn’t.
Speaking ahead of kick-off, Aston Villa Women’s boss Carla Ward said: “It’s up to the football club’s legal team and Castore to discuss that and deal with that.
“It’s something I’ve tried to completely ignore as difficult as that is.
“The football club are in full control of that. They’ve been excellent with us, myself and the players around it.”
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The kit manufacturers responded to the controversy by stating they intend to “address this issue as quickly as possible to meet the standards we expect”.
A Castore spokesperson said: “There has been some media speculation about a potential issue in the football kit supplied by Castore to Aston Villa Football Club.
“We are working closely in collaboration with the club to address this issue as quickly as possible to meet the standards we expect. We would like to thank the club for their patience and support to date.
“As a proud new British brand, we always hold ourselves to the highest of standards and strive to do everything we can to constantly improve the performance of our products. This means addressing any customer concerns with promptness and humility.”
There has been reports that Villa could terminate their deal with Castore.
Broadcaster Jacqui Oatley led criticism of the situation, saying she had hoped a solution would have been found before the WSL began and it’s not something the players should have to worry about.
England ace Rachel Daly was among those having to wear the kitCredit: Reuters
Lehmann covered up after the matchCredit: Reuters More

BETH MEAD is eager to make her long-awaited return to match action after a serious knee injury. Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall revealed the Gunners star could get a run-out when the team play Liverpool today with a 50,000-strong crowd expected at the Emirates.
Beth Mead and Arsenal summer signing Laia Codina could both be in line to make appearances at the Emirates laterCredit: Getty
Mead has returned to fitness after being sidelined by an ACL injury she sustained last NovemberCredit: Getty
Mead  ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament during Arsenal’s 3-2 loss to Manchester United at the stadium in November. 
The injury saw the WSL star, 28, sidelined for much of this year including missing this year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand
However the Gunners ace’s return to the pitch looks imminent. 
Speaking to the club’s web site, she said: “I am chomping at the bit to get on that pitch!

“I’ve worked hard to get to this point, so I can’t wait for the season to get going.
“I can’t wait to put that shirt back on and hopefully help Arsenal to an amazing season. 
“It’s one step at a time with this injury. You get integrated into little different sections of training and now I’m back in completely. 
“I’m like a kid at Christmas running around and playing again. 
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“Ultimately getting fit and getting myself in the best shape and sharpness possible is my main aim.”
Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool comes two days after the Reds officially opened their new training facility at Melwood. 
Reds defender Gemma Bonner told the club’s website: “Melwood has such an amazing history.
“I’ve been at the club from quite early on in my first spell and to see the changes and to be finally able to call Melwood home, I still can’t believe I’m saying it because it’s been a long time coming.
Natasha Flint and her Liverpool team-mates will take on Arsenal at the Emirates this afternoonCredit: Getty
“We have been wanting a top-class facility for so long and we’ve finally got it. 
“I think the game has grown so much and for us as a team we want to be successful – it’s part of the Liverpool DNA. 
“That is winning games, winning trophies and being successful.”
Arsenal vs Liverpool in the WSL will kick off at 2:00pm and will be broadcast live on FA Player More

MARC SKINNER fears weary WSL aces could be playing walking football later due to international window fatigueAnd Aston Villa’s clingy shirt issues are set to rumble on with the club expecting a long-term solution from kitmakers Castore rather than an immediate one. 
Marc Skinner says some players have been left fatigued following busy international match schedulesCredit: Getty
Skinner’s United aces will take on Aston Villa this afternoon in the first game of the new WSL seasonCredit: Getty
Alisha Lehmann and Rachel Daly are among the Villa players who were involved in Women’s Nations League fixtures earlier this weekCredit: Getty
Manchester United chief Skinner will oversee his side in action against the Villans at Villa Park in the first of six WSL curtain-raising fixtures happening today.
Their game comes just five days after scores of players were away on international duty in the Women’s Nations League. 
These include four of United’s Lioness stars and six England, Scotland and Holland aces from Villa who took part in games in the contest last Friday and on Tuesday. 
Fixtures in the contest, which determines which teams will qualify for next year’s Olympics, includes the Lionesses’ 2-1 loss to Holland five days ago. 
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Skinner said: “You have players who have just come off a World Cup and coming into an important game where there were two qualifying games with difficult opponents. 
“Yet, we (England) were not at the races and that’s because the girls have to mentally reset as well as physically reset. 
“I just hope it doesn’t lag into the (start of this) season. 
“We all want this energetic start, however I might predict in the future and I might get this wrong, but I’d imagine every game this opening weekend will end with walking football at the end.
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“By the last 20 minutes there will probably be walking football because there will be people that are fatigued. 
“From my perspective, it’s a crazy way to just shovel (Women’s Nations League) games in.
“I get the format and I get the intent, but I’m not even sure the international managers were happy with it.
“Some might have been (whose teams) didn’t compete in the World Cup, but others won’t be. 
“So from my perspective, I think it’s a strange window and will definitely lead to a lack of cohesion for a lot of teams going into all of their markets, not just England.”
Villa’s clash with United comes in a week in which their WSL aces flagged concerns about wet look shirts manufactured by sportswear firm Castore. 
Players have flagged that the fabric retained too much sweat during matches.  
It’s understood the club, who shared players’ concerns with Castore, are not expecting an immediate solution to the shirt issues
And Ward explained that the ball is now in the court of the sportswear firm and Villa officials
Carla Ward says Villa officials have been in constant communication with players in regard to sweat-clogged shirt issuesCredit: Getty
The Villa Women’s boss said: “As far I’m concerned it’s over to the club and Castore.
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“My focus has to be this weekend and making sure the players are focused. 
“One thing I will say is the club have been absolutely superb in these last few days with constant communication of how we can help the players.” More