Just As Well, The Women's Health Podcast - They Said Girls Didn’t Belong in Football - Now I’m a Lioness Legend | Lucy Bronze

Episode Date: July 9, 2025

Lucy Bronze is a Lioness legend - treble winner, Euros champion, and one of the most decorated female players of all time. In this powerful conversation Lucy opens up about her early struggles in the game - from sofa surfing and being banned from boys' teams, to dealing with injury, late diagnosis of ADHD and autism, and becoming a role model for the next generation. She talks training, mental resilience, body image, and what it really means to lead from the front—on and off the pitch. Her strength routine How neurodivergence became her superpowerThe truth about winning across three countriesWhat drives her now—and what’s next after the Euros If you’ve ever been told you don’t belong, this one’s for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Amex Platinum, you have access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide. So your experience before takeoff is a taste of what's to come. That's the powerful backing of Amex. Conditions apply. This episode is brought to you by Peloton. A new era of fitness is here. Introducing the new Peloton Cross Training Tread Plus, powered by Peloton IQ. Built for breakthroughs with personalized workout plans, real-time insights,

and endless ways to move. Lift with confidence, while Peloton IQ counts reps, corrects form, and tracks your progress. Let yourself run, lift, flow, and go. Explore the new Peloton Cross-Draining Treadplus at OnePeloton.ca. The coach went up to my mom and said, Lucy can't play with us anymore.

It was the local boys team. She's a girl, and the FAF said she can't play with us. She need to find her a girl's team. And he was like, trust me it. You need to find her a girl's team because she'll play for England one day. And I think that was the moment where my mum was like, oh, like, this is a real thing. Like, she loves it and she's actually good at it.

I'm Gemm Atkinson. And I'm Claire Sanderson and I am the editor-in-chief of Women's Health. And welcome to our podcast, Just as Well. Today's episode is a special guest, Lucy Bronze. You actually went to meet Lucy, didn't you, to do this? She invited me to her gym in Sarit, where she trains. This place was really quite incredible. I'd never seen some of the...

equipment that they had in this gym. It really was an education. I was invited down when you were up in Manchester on your radio show and how exciting for me because I'm a huge women's sport fan. Especially rugby. You love your rugby. I do love rugby, but I like women's football. Less keen on men's football.

No. They fall over to you much, don't they? I can't deal with all the histrionics and the feigning injury and all that. I genuinely love it. And I love what an inspiration these women are to children like my daughter, Nell, who's nine and who's a goalkeeper, and who came with me, actually.

Oh, but she loved it. Yeah. Lucy was so sweet with her because she told me that she loves working with children and she loves set in an example for the future generations and especially young girls. So she was so sweet with her. It was a really, really fascinating talk because she's been through a journey, Lucy runs.

She started in football at a time. when it wasn't professional and she had to sofa surf in order to get by to where she is now, the oldest lioness, something she is proud of. Good, yeah.

She's a stalwart of the lioness. The lionesses. She describes herself as the mum of the team, which I love. I love the image of her sort of mentoring the younger players cutting through. And she's a legend of the game. I truly believe she will go down

as one of the most legendary female footballers of all time. because she has been there almost from the beginning and now joined her team at the age of 34 at the Euros. Lucy's been open in the past with interviews and stuff that she does have ADHD. Does she speak to you about that as well? Yeah, so she was diagnosing adulthood with ADHD and autism.

She said the reaction to her diagnosis to who going in public, I should say, of her diagnosis of ADHD and autism far exceeds anything, any of the achievements that she's ever gained from playing the game. She's had children coming up to her, women coming up to her on the street, thanking her for being so open.

It was a really emotional chat and a privilege for her to go through it with me. I felt it felt quite an intimate moment, but obviously she was sharing it with all the listeners that we have. And it's nice as well that she did touch on that because it gives people hope who have already had their diagnosis and so if she can do all of that,

it's not going to stop me. It's like your superpower almost. Well, absolutely. And she has described her ADHD as her superpower because she says it allows her to be hyper-focused and has given her that drive to succeed. I ask the question whether her autism diagnosis can impact her enjoyment of crowds and loud noises.

You know, you can imagine the deafening wall of noise in those stadiums because the lionesses pack out Wembley. Yeah, the chance, the songs, everything. But she said no, because that's her happy place. But interestingly, she doesn't like being hugged. And what did I do when I first met her? For a big hug. Went in for a hug.

And then, and I sensed her unease of the situation, but she was terribly polite and terribly professional. and we just carried on chatting normally. And then later on I read that one of her, not pet hates, but one of the things she finds very uncomfortable is hugging. So I apologise to her, sincerely apologise to her.

And I said, but that must be really tricky that you go through life, having to deal with normal day-to-day actions that people do that make you feel uncomfortable because you can't walk around with the signs saying, don't have me. Yeah, so it was interesting to hear

how she copes with that. how she has to mask, how she has to ape other people's behaviours in certain situations because she doesn't actually naturally know how to behave in that situation. It was a really fascinating chap. But we covered all sorts as well. We covered her training, how she strength trains. I mean, the woman is incredible. She looks sculpted.

It was a sight to behold how strong and powerful and gorgeous she is. And, you know, genuinely came away from there with a crush on her. And she talked about her nutrition and mindset and how she coaxed with the pressure. And also the responsibility she feels, well, mentoring the younger lionesses and future generations. It was a really broad, interesting conversation. Nice. Well, I look forward to listening. I'm going to listen with you guys now.

Enjoy it. Lucy Bronze, welcome to a woman's health just as well. Thank you. Thanks for having me. We are privileged to have you as a guest because you are, hot off the tales of winning the treble with Chelsea and in fact you are the only woman, if not the only player, ever to win the treble in three countries.

Yeah. Wow. I know. I mean, I didn't know it was a thing until someone else told me. But yeah, I guess I can see how it can be quite rare. So it must make you the most decorated female football of all time, I would imagine. Oh, I don't know. I don't know because people who stay in one country with a top team.

Right. They've won a lot as well for that one team. So I have no idea, to be honest. Still a remarkable achievement. And we are chatting just before you're flying out into the lioness camp. You will be esconsed with the lionesses in Switzerland, ready for the tournament. Excited?

Very excited. Especially now, like, it's hard because we have a season with Chelsea and then you want to play for England and then you play for the Euros and everyone's like, are you thinking about it? You're always thinking about it. it but once the season's finished with Chelsea it's like that is all you've got to look forward to so I think it's more exciting now than it has been before and then got a little break to train again and go so it's it's really exciting now how do you still have the hangar though

because you you have won so many trophies and tournaments you can win one thing but you can you can win it as multiple times it's like you say oh we've won the treble in three different countries like there's still always more to achieve even if it's the same trophy it's like how many times can you do it how many times can you play in this team that team there's always some sort of achievement that you can drive for some sort of goals i guess i look at it that way and the women's game has come on so much in recent years in terms of its popularity and the number of um spectators you get in stadiums and the investment as a result of the I've been at Women's Health

eight and a half years and when I first took over the brand I'll be honest Women's football was nowhere really and I've seen it explode but you've been part of that journey and seen it gone from a game where maybe players had second jobs

to fund themselves to becoming fully professional and well-known celebrities in their own rights. Well you are a celebrity You're, you know, globally recognised, and you've played for abroad in Europe and for the top clubs in the UK. It's incredible. How has that journey been?

I think I always say I feel like the luckiest player. I know players playing now who are younger than me and after me, they'll make more money than me, undoubtedly. They might have more fame, whatever that is. But I just absolutely love that I've been on that journey. Like, I've been there from nothing. I had an extra job. I went to university. balanced university with a job, with football, and then to watch it grow at the same kind of

speed of my career grow, it's like I've, it's like hand in hand, like a twin sister or something. And I feel like it makes me appreciate and understand everything that's going on. And I think that's why I have so much motivation to want to give back to the game as well, because I know how far we've been able to take it. I wouldn't have changed it for the out of suit world, not a chance. So you're on the current issue of women's health on the cover You went off onto the Thames and did an incredible photo shoot It's one of their moments where I think my grandma, my auntie and my mum

They're all going to be buying I think it'll be sold out everywhere In their local towns and villages I think you won't be able to find women's health magazine Because they'll be all over it Stuff like that is things that you couldn't imagine happening before And I think it's so amazing that we have Not just myself

But there's so many girls, so many players now who represent on different magazines, different commercials, different things, places where young girls and young boys can see them and have these role models, whether it's looking strong, looking sexy, looking whatever, and having more female role models to look up to is fantastic.

Because you mentioned looking strong then, and I think that's so important because body image and body image struggles amongst young girls and boys, because it's not exclusive to girls, but it's an ever-present problem and the pressures on young people with social media and AI and filters.

It's really important that women like yourself, who are strong and fit, are putting themselves out there and showing young girls like my daughter, Nell, that it's beautiful to be strong and it's beautiful to have big biceps and define shoulders and be powerful and that your body is a machine

and a tool that can be used to be the best? Yeah, I mean, I feel like sometimes I feel like it's changing that perception and sometimes I look at stuff and I think, oh, it's the same as, you know, when I was younger. But I think the whole body image struggle, I think it's something that so many girls go through. Even myself, even my teammates have gone through it within their career because there's always going to be comments, I feel like more so when you are a woman. And especially in sport because there's not one way to be. I think and historically you've not always had the variety and diversity of different women to see what strong looks like.

What does strong and beautiful and successful look like? And I think when I think of the people who I admire role models, it was like Dame Kelly Holmes. I think she was one of the strongest women I'd ever seen on TV and I was just like, wow. I think she was someone who gave me confidence. Then I think of Serena Williams, like an absolute powerhouse and successful. but again there are people who had to fight to be seen and I know how they made me feel and I have this conversation so many times now

with girls that I play with even about being proud to have strong thighs and strong arms and be strong and it looks good and it's just be confident in your body but it's easy to say but it's hard to live that when there are so many eyes and people want to make comments but I think it's so important because we are in a society where people can just make

comments. There's keyboard warriors and trolls and for every 250 positive comments you might get, if there's one negative, you'll focus on that one. And it sticks in your head, yeah. Always. I think that's the same with everyone, yeah. And you are the oldest lioness. Yeah. Something to be proud of. I am proud of it. And in the interview, in Woman's Health, which is on sale now, you describe yourself as the mum of the team and Millie Bright as the dad. Yeah. Or yeah. Either or.

Do you take that responsibility quite seriously then? Because you do have younger players who are just coming through on the world stage, being scrutinised under enormous pressure, weight of the country, expectations of the country on their shoulders. How do you help them cope? Yeah, I think it is a role that myself, familiar especially to really seriously.

Again, she's a similar player who's been through that evolution of women's football, had the ups and the downs, being celebrated, being dragged down, the same as myself. And I watch some of the younger players now and I think it is difficult when you're not, maybe it's confident

and there's millions of eyes on you now compared to when we were maybe younger. So just trying to give them advice and like I said before, I can tell them as much as I can, but it's hard if, you know, they maybe can't see it or it's hard to believe it in yourself.

So just try my best to be authentically myself in the way I look, in the way I talk and just know, just show them that that's how I am with them that's how I am with everyone you can be yourself like it's fine and be successful myself familiar to the most successful

players in the England team it's fine like everything's going to be fine but yeah it's a tough role and it's a tough role for the younger players as well coming up now there's a lot of weight in that England shirt but I mean at the same time it's so exciting to be part of it and if I can help these younger players

even just a small bit it just yeah I can feel it and I can see it in them. I feel like giving that back makes me feel so good that can make a little small difference to their career. Because you're on the board of the PFA, the professional football association for players, is that correct? You do work with the UN.

So you take that role seriously then, that you are a leader and you can be an inspiration to those around you. Yeah, I think it's like there's so many situations I think I went through as a younger player or even now. And I always think it shouldn't be that way. And then it's like I've created a stage for myself where I can speak out.

I can talk on podcasts like this and it reaches so many people. And I think, why not make a change? Like, I've got the opportunity to. I don't want people to go through the bad things that I want, that I went through. I want them to go through the good things.

I want them to celebrate and not have to worry. So, like, it genuinely is something that I enjoy. And I do like arguing. I think I get it from my mum and my auntie. I enjoy the arguments. I hate things that are unfair or unjust. So yeah, I try my best to be on these different boards, work with different federations, also with the FA as well.

And sometimes it's a struggle and sometimes there's a fight, but when things work and things change, it's like all that hard work was for something, and I feel like that happens more and more. It just makes me more motivated to do it again, I guess. You mentioned your mum and your family several times already. Growing up in Berwick-upon-Tweed, your mum was instrumental in getting you into sport. Yeah.

Because you said in our interview in women's health that school wasn't the easiest environment for you. So your mum put you in every sport going to boost your confidence. Yeah, quite literally. Every single sport you can imagine. I think she wanted me to be like the next Serena Williams. So in her head I was going to play tennis and I was going to play at Wimbledon. But equally, she gave me every opportunity to play every other sport because I think she saw that that was when I was most myself.

You know, I was good. Academically, I was good at school, but I was so shy. I just didn't know how to speak to people, but as soon as you put me outside, it's a bit like when you see me on the football pitch, and I've got a smile and I'm running around, and then sometimes I can just sit down and be calm again. As soon as I'm playing sport, I don't know,

it just brings out the best of me. So my mom just put me in everything, and I loved every single sport that I played. So how long did it take you to find football? I played football from a young age but that was because my brother played. Yeah. My parents actually didn't like football.

My dad nor my mum. Oh, I do. Yeah, they didn't know the rules, they didn't know offside, they didn't know what positions, like, did what or anything. And they took me to football because they knew I loved it. My mom would sit in the car or have to look after my little sister. It was when I was around 11 years old and the coach went up to my mum and said,

Lucy can't play with us anymore. It was the local boys team. She's a girl and the FAA have said she can't play with us. She need to find her a girl's team. My mum was like, a really kind of thing. And he was like, trust me it. You need to find her a girl's team because she'll play a for England one day. And I think that was the moment where my mum was like, oh, like, this is a real thing.

Like, she loves it and she's actually good at it because my mom had no gauge. No idea. They had no gauge of what it. I looked good when I was playing. I was having fun. but she realised like, okay, so she went on Google and was like, women's football and just became an expert. To this day, I think she thinks she's an expert.

And in all things, women's football, and she probably is, to be honest. Because it can't, there might not have been that many girls' teams back then. Did you have to drive far to find a team? Yeah, I was quite, again, I'm so lucky. Like my mum and dad accommodated anything that me and my siblings wants to do. So my dad used to finish work early, pit me up from school, drive me like an hour and a half to play for a son-land academy at the age of 12. After a couple of months, I was like, I was 12 years old.

I was like, I didn't want to sit in the car for three hours twice a week. So then we found her one that was a little bit close, so it was about 45 minutes an hour away. It wasn't an academy, but it was a girls team, and it was a good girls team. And I made a lot of friends there, and I enjoyed it. So I stayed there for a bit, but my mom and dad had to, yeah, pick me up, take me there, take me back all the time. obviously it was worth it in the end but I was very, very lucky, unfortunate

that I had parents like that. Because I've seen pictures of your family on your Instagram with your recent trophy and I suppose it's your way of paying them back almost for their dedication when you were younger. Oh I think they've been paid back plenty and more. They come to Australia like my brother, my sister, my brother's got two kids, mom and dad.

I make sure they get to all the games wherever they are in the world. And they love it. Like they love being part of that journey. They'll be in the Europe, in Switzerland, made sure that they've got like the hotel room all sorted. So they get good holidays out of it now. They spent like four weeks in Australia.

They can actually get ready to spend a fortune in Switzerland. Well, the most expensive. The bill, that's the thing. Goodness, me, the most expensive country I've ever been to. It's great. Literally even a coffee. Fally, it's crippling. To be there, it's quite good because with the tickets for the women's euros,

It gives you free public transport and their transport's really good. Yes. So at least that's covered. Because they can get on the bus free. Yeah, they can get on the trains and the buses. So they can get to games for free, that'll be all right. So when did you realise I can make a career out of this? Like I am good enough to make it.

I always felt like I was good enough to make it, but it wasn't really a career. And I went to universities to study sports science. So that I thought at least that job kind of intertwines with playing football. I was always going to play football, even if it was just a hobby. And then it was literally like the year, my last year of university, the league started to go professional. And after uni, it was like, I kind of just went,

I'm just going to go for it. My wage was horrific. Like I slept on friends' sofas for most of the season. Didn't really, like, again, I was quite lucky that my mum helped me out with money at time to time. But yeah, that was the moment where I was like, I'm just going to make it work, even if it's for. a few years and I can't afford it. I make it work. I want to live this dream and yeah, like I say, the timing was perfect. I had that few years. It was a little bit rocky and after

that I became self-sufficient, became a professional, not to the extent that you think of now or think of in general, but I didn't have to sleep on a sofa and I didn't have to ask my mum for money. How have you had to adapt your training over the years to continue performing at the peak level that is necessary. Yeah, I mean, I think, again, that's been a big journey. I'd say I was quite naturally gifted athletically. My dad's, I got very good genes for my mum and dad. And in my early 20s, I had a lot of injuries, but I had a good mindset to train hard and to push myself. Mid to late 20s, I feel like my metabolism was unbelievable. Then I hit 30 and I was like, what the hell's going on here?

And obviously, I had a lot of knee surgeries as well. The amount of games I've played, it takes a toll on your body. And I always used to remember the girls who I played with who were in their mid-30s, early 30s, and they'd be saying, oh, my knees, my knee. I thought, it can't be that bad. It is. But that's part of it.

And again, I think I've always been aware of that. So I've always been aware of the right supplements to take, the right exercises to do. When I've always been told by, like, the doctors and the feet, physiologist, you need to hold yourself back a little bit. I could never do that. As I've got older, I've been able to say, okay, I've done enough today,

which the England doctor's so proud of me every time I say, I'm going to stop now and he's like, wow, I would never thought I'd see the day when Lucy Bronze would say no to training. But yeah, you just have to be smarter with things. I love ice baths. That's a good. You love an ice bath? I love an ice bath.

Oh, goodness. I think, I don't love doing it, but I think I like the feeling of what it gives me afterwards and I know how good it is for me. I think that's the thing. I love things that I know how good they are. So how long can you sit in an ice bath? Very long. A long time. Yeah, yeah. I think I've become used to those sort of discomforts. I was going to say pain, but some of it's pain, some of its discomforts. Bramer than me. What does training look like for Lucy Bruns on a day to day? Like how many days off and then what do you do on the days that you have to train? Days off, I mean one probably. One.

Two days of max depends on the games we play and how much I've played one day off but it normally tends to be a recovery where you do ice bath swimming, jacuzzi, so on and those kind of things. Training days again it depends but we always do like 30 minutes in the gym beforehand. I like to bike I feel like it kind of warms my knees up especially. A lot of the other players maybe do a little bit of strength and things but I really enjoy stretching I think I'm, again, I'm someone who's quite strong anyway. I get it from working hard. So I do a lot of stretching before training.

And then in the gym, yeah, tends to be like a couple of lifts that are quite heavy, lower body ones, good core exercises. And I think there's like, with core exercises, it's quite good because we kind of do ones that are more functional for running. Whereas I think a lot of people who go to the gym do core exercises that will give you good looking abs. Do you find, as you are getting slightly older, you have to work more on your mobility? Yeah, I feel like I have to work more. Maybe not on my strength. I feel like I got such a good core of strength anyway that I've never ever lost that. But I think mobility definitely like the stretching that said.

I'd like to do hot yoga. I think I've always liked that anyway. But as I've got older, I've really felt the need to stretch, especially like my hips and my knees. You do feel it. And the amount that you're running and that constant movement, muscles are getting tired. and now it's like not only my muscles getting tight and my joints are but I do take a lot of supplements that are helpful with that but yeah a lot of mobility a lot of stretch and definitely helps if there was three supplements that you couldn't live without what were your talk three

collagen glucoseamine umiga-free so collagen is muscles but take it take me through what collagen I think collagen, like people probably know it is like, oh, hair and nails and your skin. Yeah. But it's really good for your joints. It's really good helping to repair. If you think the things that it does for your hair, nails and your skin, what you get told about, it's kind of that same. But on the inside. Glucosamine, again, for joints.

Help protect your joints. Similar with omega-free. I think omega-free, again, is quite healthy for you anyway. Like fish oils in general is really good for your skin. really good for similar to collagen, I guess. I could maybe live without omega-free because I do like eating salmon and stuff. But it's actually interesting how much omega-free you actually need, and we've been tested for it.

Like as an athlete, what's a good percentage to all, like, measurement to have? And I got told I need, like, quite a lot. And it's lucky that from a young age, my dad used to give us the cod liver oil, spoonfuls that didn't like it, but I think I just got used to it. There's a sort of a chatter amongst medics that we're over supplementing and that people are taking too much when they're not actually deficient and then that can lead to problems because there's a misconception that you just weat it all out but actually some of your organs can...

Can't break it down. So I thought you're quite lucky that you do get all the tests in. You know exactly what you need to supplement. Well, that's the thing we get blood. England and the club. We get blood tests maybe once every three to six months gives you like your vitamin D deficiency. I mean I take a lot of vitamin D, a lot of iron, two things

even though you think I'm out on the sun every single day and I'm half Portuguese. My vitamin D is like one of the lowest in the England squad. So I have to like supplementing quite a lot. But yeah, it's quite good because we have exact numbers and it shows the doctor will be like, have you been taking your supplements because it's gone down or you've been doing really well with your vitamin D

because it's gone back up even though you're in the winter. So yeah, like I feel like we mebis have that more exact science around it of how much we actually need and each player is completely different to each other. So you still supplement vitamin D even in the summer? Yeah, all time. I have like a little spray actually. Yeah. It's a new thing which I find is kind of good

because taking tablets for all time can be difficult. But yeah, a little vitamin D. spray even though I'm out on the sun. Because that's really interesting because you absorb it, my understanding is that you absorb it here and on your face and you imagine you of all people that. Yeah.

But at the same time if you've got like sun cream on and I wear sun cream every single day. And me. Yeah. And on my arms, I'm on my face. And I just think I'm not that good at absorbing it anyway. That's in all my blood tests. It's always been like that.

So they've always just said, like, just keep it going. It's so good for you. And it's quite an easy supplement to take. So nutrition-wise, do you have to follow any particular plan? Or are you largely able to eat what you want because you are so active? You mentioned that it's changed since you hit 30. So I'm guessing you need to be a little bit more considered now. Yeah, I think I'm someone who loves food anyway.

I really love eating healthy as much as I always say I love cakes and ice cream. I do. I also love salads and steaks and fish. Like, I think growing up, my dad being Portuguese, like, I was growing up on quite a Mediterranean diet anyway, so I learned to love all those things that maybe young kids wouldn't normally eat. But yeah, I mean, with your nutrition, I guess it's kind of up to you. Like, it's your body. If you want to take it to the next level and be focused, like, we have nutritionists.

You can have a chef, we have chefs at club. You can be, like, really, really on it. But equally, if that's not something you enjoy and you don't want that. extra 1% it's kind of up to you. I think I'm someone who enjoys it and I like the fact that it gives me more when I'm playing. Like, why would I not? And it's not something that's difficult for me because I like so many different varieties of food. But I do think as I've got older, in my late 20s, there was times I could just eat a whole packet of like biscuits. It would not make a difference. It was like I just needed the calories. Well, if I did that now, I think I would know the next day.

You wait until you hit your 40s. See how I don't talk. And all just go off a cliff. Off a cliff. Recently, you went public with your adult diagnosis, with ADHD and autism. And it went viral. Everyone took note of this.

And it really opened up the conversation about neurodivergency, especially in elite sport, actually. Take us through that. take us through your decision to get yourself diagnosed as an adult and also your decision to go public about it. I got tested for dyslexia when I was at school. Yeah.

Because although I was in like good classes and I did well, my teacher was noticing that I was struggling a bit and my mum was a teacher at the school. So she'd mentioned it to my mum and my mum was like, maybe we should get you tested because it might help with exams. And that was the time where my mum was like, you know, I think you're autistic and you've got these other. things as well, but I don't need to test you because it's not going to make a difference to

how I or anybody else treats you because we know you're Lucy. And she was kind of like, I don't really want you to be put in that box that stereotypically people were like ADHD's naughty kids or something because I wasn't a naughty kid. 20 years ago, it was seen that way. It was a stigma. Yeah, it was a stigma. Like, I think it still is now, but I don't think it's as bad as previously and especially when you're in school as well. So yeah, my mom's always said it from a young age, but she was just like, oh, it's what makes you you. And I think she always put like a positive spin, maybe because she was a teacher. She really understood it because she'd worked with so many different kids with, you know, ADHD, autism, dyslexia, neurodiversity, like, loads of different

kids. So I think, yeah, she just tried to see it as a positive thing. And part of that was me being in so many sports, I absolutely love maths. My mom's a math teacher, so kind of helped. She just made sure that I had, like, the things that helped me focus and that I enjoyed, I was given those opportunities quite regularly. I never had any problems I felt school-wise and whatnot. But I think when I started to get older in football, I feel like I was misunderstood a lot. Maybe it's treated a little bit differently or I couldn't quite like conform to like the norm of what was expected, how to act. But I was really competitive and I was really focused, but it was in like a different way to everybody else. And there was so many times I would, I was getting comments from coaches. I was thinking,

but I'm not like, everyone knows I'm just a shy kid, but because I had a different persona, first of my, like, hyper-focused was football, because I had a different persona, it was like, you're arrogant or you think you know better, but it was like, my brain's just working 10 steps ahead, even from, like, the age of 15. So I struggled a bit then,

and then as I got older and a bit more successful, people just thought it was, I was just really motivated and determined. And then I guess in my mid-twite, kind of in my late 20s, I had then another problem with being misunderstood. And I was working with a psychologist quite a lot at England anyway, like a lot of the players do anyway. And I'd said, I'd mentioned to her,

oh yeah, I'm dyslexic, and my mum's always said I'm autistic, but I never need to be tested because it's not a problem. And she was like, well, why don't you get tested? And I was like, I don't need to. And she was like, no, it might be a good thing. So we did the test, number it, like maybe three or four years ago. got the results back and just reading it, I was just like, this just makes sense.

Like, I always knew it, but then to read actually what it meant because autism presents so differently and so many different people. So I think I knew what it was, but to see what I actually was like, I was just like, wow, this makes sense. And I told people close to me,

and they were like, well, obviously, like, duh, like, so many teammates, coaches were like, yeah, like that's you, that's you to a tea and it's never bothered us but obviously for some people it did. Just knowing myself more was amazing I think then seeing things in the media and I guess it'd become a bigger talking point

I'd always kind of once I got myself in a better place I was like oh I want to speak about this and it was just like when is the right time so I think it took a couple of months to set up the right interview I obviously did it with Alex Scott who's someone, again, who I told and was like, yeah, obviously, Lizzie,

because I'd played with her so many years. And yeah, I just wanted to speak about it just to kind of share that story as well because I think it's so different to what people maybe imagine. Like, it's seen as something that might stop you from doing something. Whereas actually for me,

autism and ADHD has been the reason, big reason in the success that I've had in football because I've got like this, hyperfocus, I've got this extra energy that other people don't have. So it's like, I said it was my superpower. And I know if everyone is that way, but for me it was like the best thing that could have happened to me. And then speaking about it, yeah, I couldn't believe, like, the impact it had.

For the first couple of weeks, I had so many people, had more people walk up to me about that interview than when I won the Euros. It's the matcha or the three ensemble cado Siphora of the FAC that I just Just just to deniches that's the ensemble. The format standard and mini regrouped,

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Wow, yeah. And you've had children come up to you, I understand. Games. Kids at the end of games saying, oh, I've been diagnosed, I've got ADHD, like, or friends of mine who are teachers, and they're, like, the kids at school are all asking

because there's so many kids who are diagnosed and they want to know how you managed it. They want to know, like, your story more. I've actually had a couple of women, like, similar to my age, come up to me and be like, oh, I only got diagnosed me a few years ago as well. Like, it was so amazing to hear your story. Like, honestly,

so many people I think I've been recognised for that more than playing football for like that month so yeah I just I was like kind of overwhelmed to be up to be honest in the first week it was like I didn't realize what an impact it was going to have but now like I'm so happy I did it and being able to talk about it openly and to share the story and yeah just have so many people come up to me who are in a similar situation and I guess me just trying to be myself and showing like you can use it to your advantage and be proud and be happy and like there is a way to understand yourself better. There's a perception of autism that loud noises, busy situations can become too much.

And you've obviously been in the middle of stadiums packed with tens and tens of thousands of people which are imagining of all of noise. Does that become too much for you or is there something you've got in used to? I think that's like when I'm in my happy place so it doesn't affect me. I've had times where, like we spoke about the fact that sometimes I like doing gym by myself, like it more bothers me there, which is probably weird. I've had that at England sometimes. I remember at the World Cup once.

We have a speaker and we were walking in the gym with a speaker and had music on and loud music. But in the gym there was already another song playing. And we walked in with speaker and I stepped in for two seconds and I was like, this is awful. and I stepped back out and said to the doctor and I need to do it outside and he was like is it like overwhelmed and I was like yeah it's too much for me

but normally like I don't think I'm as bothered about the loud noises it's just like I have certain irritations of noises that in my ear I'm just like stop that you mentioned in our interview in the magazine that there are situations where you don't quite know how to act for instance when you won the Euros

you were copying Jill Scott in how she was behaving around people, I guess it's called masking. Is that something that you have to do often? I feel like I've gotten used to it, but definitely in my early 20s, it was like, I was terrible to doing interviews. I couldn't look people in the eye. I hated hugging.

I still don't like that, and we have to do it every England camp, but I think now people go, you don't want a hug deal with you saying, I'm like, no, whereas for years I had to like deal with stuff like that. But yeah, I guess for me, it was something like there was a discomfort that I just try to get around to be like to kind of fit in but it's been nice to be able to just turn around and say stuff now and be like I don't like that it's not because I'm being funny like it's just not nice for me and yeah like seeing how other people act and what how people like create friendships or become friends or laugh at things and stuff like that I have watched so many people and

I don't think I've turned into them but I just like oh that's how how you're supposed to act, or that's quite normal. I think, wow, when I was a child, I couldn't do any of those things. Then as a teenager, yeah, still, and I know you're super awkward as a teenager anyway, but yeah, I really struggled. And then it's funny because I've got, like, people in my life now, and they say, they say, I can't believe that you do all these interviews and you talk on TV or you take microphones, you speak to strangers,

You've lived in three different countries. I couldn't imagine that for you, like 15 years ago. I couldn't imagine you even speaking to anybody else. You must be so proud of yourself. Yeah, now when I do interviews and stuff, I'm just like, what, this is so crazy. Like one of my best friends, I'm still friends with now, Demi Stokes, she played England with me.

I didn't, for the first two years of knowing her, and I'm playing on the same team. And my mum used to pick her up, to take her to train them with me. I didn't speak to her. I used to play for Everton and I played with Farrell Williams at England. I played at Everton with her for two years and she was like, I don't think I knew what your voice sounded like when you were Everton because you didn't speak.

You played hard, you trained hard, didn't speak to anyone. And then later when I played with you at England, that's when I got to know you and seen like a different version of it. But she was like, don't think I heard you speak between the ages of like 18 and 20. Was that quite lonely that you didn't speak to? people. Not really. I think I was happy. Yeah. Like I was content with it. I think

other people think it's lonely or like do you have friends? Like course I had friends but I was just like I'm happy like with I'm playing football and I'm happy with the people around me. I don't necessarily I always used to think like

I don't need to know like what your aunties name is. Whereas now I understand how that's like how you create relationships and friendships but I used to be like I don't really care what you're doing at the weekend, to be honest with you. Do you know where you are with you then?

Yeah. I think I've drawn and I've like changed my understanding on that. But I used to be like, but I genuinely don't care about that. And I don't need you to care about what I'm doing or what my mum's doing next week. Yeah. It's irrelevant. Like to me that's... You want small talk. Yeah. Yeah. Like, just talk to me about football. That's fine.

So I owe you an apology. because when we first met in the woman's health HQ, I went straight in for a hug because it's just how I greet people. In Wales, we call it a coach. And I just went in and gave you a coach and I didn't think anything more of it. And then I read that you hate hugging.

And I was mortified that I'd put you in that situation. And I felt really, really, I wanted to email your manager and to pass on my apologies. I thought clear you're going a bit over the top now. But it did strike me here that I cut you in an uncomfortable situation. I think, I mean, I don't think it's like uncomfortable anymore, but I think a good 10 years ago I would have, I would have like froze.

It's a coyness. Yeah, but I understand that that's like, it's like people are just trying to show like, well, be welcoming and stuff. But yeah, I have that at England. Like, there's a play of Grace Clinton, the girl, like, wants to hug a tree if she, like, if no one wants to hug her, she'll go and hug a camera or something. Like, so she's like, everyone's like, you're the only person that Lucy lets hug her.

So I understand that, like, and there's certain things that I might do that someone else doesn't like, but they put up with. I think it's just part of like the society and meeting people. Like, you try to understand each other, you make mistakes and no one's, like, I'm not offended or bothered. It's just like, that's just how it is. So let's look forward then. Firstly, to the very near future and the Euros, dare I ask you how you think England are going to get off in the tournament? Are we going to repeat the last success?

Very, very good. I mean, we've got... I think we've got one of the best teams in the world, to be honest. Yeah. When everyone's fit and firing, like, I'd be scared to be on another team. So I'm glad I'm on the England team. But, yeah, it's one of those things, like, it's so cliche, but there's, like, I'd say a handful of teams who are good enough to win.

It's just who shows up on the day. I think we've got the mentality to do it and we've got the players to do it. So I don't see why not, but there's always a but because other teams are involved and they're very talented as well. Who's your biggest rivales do you think?

I think Spain's obviously the favourites, the World Cup winners. But yeah, both teams, like we've evolved since we played them in the World Cup. They've evolved. I think Germany and France again, those are probably the four teams

that everybody's got in their mouths for like who's going to win it. There's always a chance for outsiders as well because other teams are really strong. Switzerland are the holders. So you think got a bit back in there. We know how that feels to have that home support. I think Spain are probably a lot of people's favourites and it's a team I know very well obviously. I haven't played in Spain for two years. So yeah, it'll be good though. I think so many good teams and I think there'll be a lot of good football played and hopefully it's like the biggest tournament that we've ever had again.

Like just keeps getting better every four years. And then in the in the future, the not so distant future and far after in the future, what do you hope to achieve? On the pitch? Football and then in life. Yeah, in life. Where do you see your football career going from after the Euros? I want to keep playing for as long as possible. I know that time's getting shorter and shorter

as much as I hate to admit it. Everyone's always asking when I'm going to retire. I don't know. I love playing and my body at the minute can put up with it. I'm still at a good level. I play for some of the best teams in England and Chelsea. But yeah, I guess when my body's done, I'll be done. And then I'll see what, off the pitch, I think, when I stop playing football.

Similar to what I do now, like I want to be involved in football. I do not want to coach. I do not want to be a pundit, don't want to be a commentator, get me off the TV screen. But I want to help. I want to, you know, whether that's involved in a team or a federation. in the FA or FIFA, whatever it is. I think I've gained a lot of knowledge in my career. I've obviously got to the top of the game.

I think I can give so much back to make it even better than what it is. And I think that's, I love doing that, I enjoy it. So if there's a job that exists like that, I might just have to make one up. And if not, I'll just retire on the beach and... Well, that'd be nice. Yeah, get away from everyone. Because you're an ambassador for the Autism Society as well. So that's a sort of a leadership role, helping future generations,

helping people who don't have a profile feel better about themselves. Yeah, so I think working with autism society, I do stuff with refugees as well. I think what within them I really like the side of working with children, like misunderstood or not got a voice, something that I felt as a younger person, as a child. So yeah, now that I've kind of found my voice, I love being able to

help those people who maybe is misunderstood can't speak up, don't know who to speak to, don't know which way to go if there's a way that I can help them and like I said maybe it's leads by example or lead them to a better place to help figure things out. I would love to do that as well.

And personally, what are your hopes and dreams for the future? Personally, have a family. I mean, I think that's the one. thing. The only thing I'm jealous of my brother for. I've been more successful than football than him. But yeah, I've got a beautiful niece and nephew. I love

spending time with them. I've just said I love children. I've always loved kids, I think, because my sister's like eight years younger than me. Like, I grew up with a baby. Yeah. And with a little girl. And I just absolutely loved it and helped, loved helping her in her life.

I just can't wait to start family. Oh. Yeah. Well, on that lovely note, thank you so much for joining us today on Just as well. I've loved every minute of it and good luck with the heroes. Thank you. We'll be watching every game as well on my daughter, Nell, who you know is idolized you. She's a goalkeeper and

we'll be watching every game together. But thank you for joining us. Thank you. Thanks for having me. Thank you. Rinse takes your laundry and hand delivers it to your door, expertly cleaned and folded. So you could take the time once spent folding and sorting and waiting to finally pursue a whole new version of you. tea time you. Or this tea time you.

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