The Lionesses completing the double and getting to the World Cup final in between really means so much to every single girl who loves football and the fact that now they can dream of becoming a professional footballer. That has not always been the case and the strides forward in the professional game has been an incredible journey to witness.

I’ve since been reflecting with a walk down memory lane and realised that I pretty much lived in football shirts as a kid. Some great memories playing in some cracking teams at Uni and on a Sunday! It also made me realise that during the 1990s and into the 2000s I was constantly in football shirts and then it got me thinking that actually in the 90s that wasn’t really something that happened all that much a girl being that into football.

When I then think back to how it was actually accepted more during the Primary School years it actually made that Secondary School transition even more difficult because in a lot of ways I then couldn’t continue to be me. I think within that primary bubble everyone accept that I loved football, was pretty much what we used to regard as a tom boy but stepping into that bigger school it felt different.

Back then as well football was seen as a boys sport so throughout my PE journey it wasn’t possible for me to take part, even though I would have a kick about with the lads at lunchtime. I do always remember that when I got to year 10 and did GCSE PE they started football for girls in years 7-9.

Then it’s coming up to 20 years since my coaching journey began, taking a different step into football. Again some outstanding moments, memories and experiences all around the world! Proud to see so many of the girls still playing now at different levels, as professionals and some have started coaching journeys of their own. I love nothing more than seeing them still loving and enjoying the game, knowing that for each and every player it has never been easy but they work hard and put so much into it!

With all of the good I have had some truly tough times as well, been broken, cried and almost given up on the long term dream. Self doubt and imposter syndrome being tough to deal with, but somehow I’ve carried on. Achieving three degrees within sport and education, while my coaching time is not as high as it used to be I am still striving to make an impact in different ways.

The timing of this to starting my PhD in October which is going to have a psychological focus using the self-determination theory and the impact on female footballers in the YDP (12-16 year olds) as truly exciting given the constant changes within the game.

Advice for all of those young girls in football and any other sport, work hard and don’t let anyone take away your sparkle!