That Lionesses Podcast - Niamh & Maya: Jill’s Freebies, Missed 21st & Walk Club | Ep.4 That Lionesses Podcast Connected by EE

Episode Date: June 13, 2025

Joining Harriet Rose are two defenders who have been called up but certainly don’t need to defend their credentials… it’s Niamh Charles and Maya Le Tissier! They lift the lid on what a training schedule really looks like and who had to miss their own 21st birthday party because of football. Plus the pair reveal the best celebs they’ve met since becoming Lionesses and who once fell asleep during a meeting… oops! Follow @lionesses on Instagram, WhatsApp and X, plus @england on TikTok, Facebook and YouTube so you don’t miss a thing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I miss my own 21st birthday party. That's how bad. Remember that one more? You went through. Wait, guys, you can't whisper amongst yourselves. You've got to tell me. This is the Spilling the Tea podcast. Let's not put that in.

We're definitely putting that in. Do not show Serena that. I hate you. Holiday. Holiday. Holiday? Holiday? It's a holiday.

Yes. Excuse me. Hello and welcome back to another episode of That Lioness. Holiday? Holiday? Holiday? What part of the euros is a holiday? Yeah, excuse me! Hello and welcome back to another episode of That Lionesses Podcast, connected by EE. I'm Harriet Rose and today we are diving into what really makes this Lionesses squad so special. The friendships, the team spirit, the inside jokes and everything that brings this team to life on and off the pitch. Before I introduce today's guests, please hit the subscribe button on YouTube and follow us on your preferred podcast platform if you haven't already,

because you do not want to miss a single episode. Today, I'm joined by two players who might be rivals at club level, but when they're in camp, it's all about connection, chemistry, and of course, their friendship. It's Niamh Charles and Meia Letizia. Yay!

That's the energy we were looking at. How are you doing, girls? Very well, thank you. How are you? Oh, I'm very excited to have you guys. Thank you for asking. We're going to get to know the pair of you, because that's what the fans want. They just want to know all about you guys. Are you prepared to spill the tea on one another? Mm-hmm.

Maybe. Just a little bit. Niamh's ready to throw you absolutely. She's straight in. I know she was. First I want to cast your mind back to the early days in your youth teams, because you've been preparing for this moment for a while.

Niamh, what was it like going to your first England training session? Well, fun fact, it was actually in this Astro. I still remember it so clearly, because I got into the England setup quite relatively late compared to the others. Obviously, your Alessia, your Lotto were here before and I was absolutely petrified. I rocked up with Astro trainers on. They all had the freshest trainers on. Anna Patton, who I'm really good friends with now, was like, oh, the new girl. Look at what she's wearing. I'll go with her, she won't be any good and then I was okay. It wasn't great

You're literally in the lionesses. So I think you're pretty good. But yeah, that was my first memory Yeah, and so what made you feel weird about wearing AstroTurf trainers? Is it just because it's not the done thing? No, because like when they give you a camp list like obviously my first time didn't know anything and I was like rule-follow Oh, you need AstroTurf boots. We played in them at the time so I turned up in my AstroTurf boots. But the players that had been here and looked. It's a bit like the first day of school. I got it all wrong.

I can just imagine. Was that a bit traumatizing for you? Clearly. I'm getting a bit triggered from school days of what clerks are you going to wear, what pair of clerks are you going to wear. I guess it was a bit traumatizing, but now I've really embraced it. Oh, good.

I'm glad. You've got to bring them back. Bring back the Astros. I should have worn them. I should have worn mine. I don't have any. Maybe you can get yourself a pair. Yeah, I will.

And then I'll turn up. I should have turned up on my first day in them. Yeah. Mayer, did you ever have any sense back then that eventually you'd get to this stage and be here? It was pretty scary to be fair when he was at the youth age groups. Didn't really know anyone, so it was a bit nerve wracking,

but yeah, obviously you want to get to this level, but there's so many girls in the squad, like you think, oh, I wonder which one's going to make it out of this group. But yeah, I'd hoped, but you never really know, you need a bit of luck as well so yeah I'd hope but it wasn't something that I was like I'm definitely gonna do that. I think it's a weird one isn't it because you just like you say it's kind

of just a journey that you have to go on and it's like anything in life you can't see the end game so it's just about kind of experiencing it and that must be how it feels now for you guys like going into this next stage it's like what's gonna happen next we just don't know. I think that's what football's all about though, isn't it? I feel like we'd get bored if we knew what we was going to do all the time. I think we're very good at living our life week to week.

Anyone who's not in the football world, they're like, how can you not plan? But you actually can't. See, that's actually a really interesting thing because I am a real planner. I'm like... You planner. I'm like. You can't plan in football. You honestly can't.

Like you actually can't. Is that because you could just at any stage be switching up your plan so you can't like make a date for three months time? Oh god no. Yeah you have absolutely no idea. Maximum like two weeks. Two weeks maximum.

That's like luxury, Aira. Yeah. That is high levels of anxiety for me. Yeah. You get used to it though. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Just maybe not the people around us. Yeah.

Like we're all okay, but then like, your family and that is just like, it's a learning process. Can you come to my birthday? I'll tell you the day before. That kind of vibe. Yeah. Well, I miss my own 21st birthday party.

That's how bad, like that's how bad. My whole family planned and we all went to like this big house in the middle, like we all went and stayed together. I was the only person that wasn't there. Of course they still went and had a great time and showed me all the pictures and took a cardboard cut out of me.

That slits your son's football off. Yeah. I am screaming. Yeah. Trauma. It's trauma guys. Niamh didn't attend, It's also kind of iconic, not attending your own 21st birthday.

Yeah. Do you know what, though? Why don't you redo it for the next one that you can plan for? Oh, wait, you can't. Yeah. Ignore me. That's a really bad idea. Don't worry about it. But listen, in 30 years, you'll have a birthday and it'll be fine.

Maybe, maybe, yeah. Yeah. What's your favourite memory from that time, like the early stages of your career? Do you have any? Other than the Astro Turf Trauma? Yeah, mine was, I did have some better moments after that, was we had a really good group in like the 17s, the 19s, it was probably all the times you got to go away into like the 17s Euros, 17s World Cup. There was a year where we were just away so much in the

Euros and the World Cup and we had such a good group that, yeah, we proper bonded for life and just had such a good time off the pitch, but also played well on the pitch. It was just like... It's like a big girls' holiday. Yeah, it was so good. Yeah. So good. Sack off lads' holidays.

Yeah. It sounds incredible. Yeah. And I guess it's different to a normal girls' holiday because you're not sort of doing the, shall we say, naughty things that maybe happen on some girls' holidays, but you've got that comradery and that sort of sense of we're all in this together even though you're working shall we say naughty things that maybe happen on girls' holidays, but you've got that camaraderie and that sort of sense of we're all in this together even though you're working really, really hard. What's your one thing that you have to take away with you when you go away?

To keep you, I guess for me, I get quite homesick, so I need to take something with me that makes me think of home. I don't really have anything like that, do you? I used to, but I've grown out of it. The Astros. I will never. The Astros, they went everywhere. Was it a teddy bear? It was yeah. Oh please, is it a girl or a boy? A boy. Oh bring him, bring him. Yeah but I don't like, it's just like I just know he's there. Is he retired? Yeah he's retired from like cuddling. That's very cute. No, let's not put that in that show. We're definitely putting that in.

And maybe when we actually get to Switzerland, I can bring him out as a special guest. No one's getting his hands back. Excuse me, he's on the lock and key. How dare you? You don't know how powerful I am. Meija, did you make any friends back in the youth team that are- Any friends? Full stop. Did you make any? Have in the youth team that are... Any friends? Full stop. Did you make any? Have you ever made a friend?

There is. I can come across like that. Hold on. Oh, sorry. Did I forget to say this is also therapy? No, did you make any friends back in the youth team that are Lionesses now that you're Pali with? Do you know what? There's not actually anyone that's... I grew up with the youth age groups here now. Ellen Morris is here. This is her first camp, but yeah, not actually in the youth age groups. Hopefully they're all going to come through quite quickly, but no, most of my mates are in their 23s

at the minute, especially Emily Orman. I love Emily. Big shout out to Emily. Shout out Emily. You heard it. And shout out, what's your teddy called? Na-a. Na-a. Not going to find out, but I will by the end of this. I will. Are there any players that you two looked up to that you're now playing with or working with or friends with now you've moved up?

To be fair, I did look up to Bronzie. Me too. But my mum is a bit more Farrah Williams, but I know we don't play with her now, but I'm pretty sure I saw her today and she always seems to be around, so. Yeah, and Steph. And Steph, yeah.

It was Steph and Bronzie for me, but I never got the chance to go on count of Steph. Yeah. Also Jill as well, I remember meeting Jill when I was playing in my grassroots team and she was playing for Everett, and I just remember I was like, I just want to ask her a question, because I thought that would make or break my football

career but I still this question and I still, yeah she hasn't got a clue but yeah. Did you ask her? Yeah I can't remember, yeah I was like oh my god I need to ask this otherwise I'll never make it. But I mean to be fair you asked it and now you're here so it obviously worked. Yeah so she was like, I really miss her actually. Oh my God, don't put that in. Why, what? You just don't want to come across. You're so soft.

You don't want to come across. I can't tell you about, I really miss this girl. It's too soft. Don't worry, I think Jill's coming out so you'll probably see her. Hey! I think she might be coming on this podcast a bit. Hey!

That's going to at least make you come back. Hey! May, when you got the England senior call up, who was the first person you sort of connected with on the team? I was with the United girls quite a bit. So I was with Toonied, Les, Mary as well. So I think most of that lot we just played games all the time and it made me feel really kind of at ease on camp. So that was really nice. I feel like we're quite a close group when

we're playing our games as well, aren't we? What games do you play? No, we play- She was really like integrated well in the squad when she came in. Oh, I like this. Yeah. We play a game called Partners.

Can you tell me what that is? Yeah, there's only allowed to be four people. No, like you can't have any less or no more as well. And you just have to get around the board, but you have like your own partner, but you're not allowed to speak to them, but you have to like swap a card with them at the start. Is this a real game?

It's like my worst nightmare, they're just playing silence. It takes a lot of kind of concentration. That does sound like hell to me too. I used to be playing with Zell, and oh God, that was so stressful, because I wasn't very good at the switch cards, and I'd usually swap me in her things. So I wasn't, yeah, the switch cards and I'd usually swap me and her things.

So I wasn't, yeah, it took a lot out of me actually playing partners on camp quite early on. They take it serious. Really? More serious than the actual football? There's like an ongoing score for a camp. Really? Yeah.

Yeah. I'm wondering like if this is a good idea for when you actually go. Oh, it's a great idea. Oh, okay. Yeah, yeah, it's a great idea. Good switch off time. It is, yeah. Who's the more competitive out of the two of you? I'm feeling like I'm getting the vibe, but.

I'm very competitive. I'm also very competitive. Well, that kind of makes sense and is a good thing, I guess. Yeah, you need that in the team, don't you? Oh, of course. Can you imagine if people just didn't care? It would be an extremely boring season. Exactly.

Right, we're going to talk about the wider team because they are a fantastic bunch. Mayer, what makes someone a great teammate other than being really good at playing partners or whatever that is? Just someone that's just there, chilled. Don't feel like you have to speak to them all the time, but if you want to speak to them, go get a coffee. I'm actually really gathering like a version of like your personality here.

The need for lack of conversation is what I'm getting. Just- I am quite sociable, like I do speak to everyone. But we all need time, I mean, we all need time out, hon. I would say I'm quite a social person, aren't I? You are very sociable, but sometimes it can be like, remember that one walk we went through? Wait guys, you can't whisper amongst yourselves,

you've got to tell me. This is the spilling the tea podcast. Basically, I love to go on walks, and like, if I want to go like a certain way, like I want to go somewhere, and there's just like a few other people that come on the walks, like we have like a morning walk club.

Anyway, this one time like, we was on the table trying to organize, but then everyone wanted to join the walk, and I was just like, oh my God, I don't know if I could deal with this many people on the walk. So then all of them came, and I was trying not to be stressed,

but I was just at the front just walking. But in the end, it was actually one of my favorite walks in Belgium. Was it? Yeah, I told you that. Yeah, but you said, I swear the next day I found out that you hated it. Or like, oh no, during it.

Not true. During it. So is that because you had your own solo walk at the beginning of the big walk? Not solo, like there was like... It's just exclusive, like she likes four, like... What is this, a session with just four people? Is this some kind of like ritual? Free games. I can only be around four people at once. That's enough.

I don't know because it takes like, if people are asking you questions, oh, where are we going going to walk? I'm like, I don't know. I'm just like, I want to go this way. Oh, you're the leader of the walk. That's what's going on. She didn't like that there was too many people there. Yeah. It was chaos though, this walk. It was chaos. In the end, it was lovely. I'm just really unsure how a walk can become chaos.

It was chaos. There were so many people and there's so many people. Everyone was just shouting. Yeah. Gosh. I was thinking it was plain spotting. It was plain spotting. Plain spotting people and there's so many people. Everyone was just shouting. Yeah. Gosh. I was thinking it was plain spotting. It was plain spotting. Oh, yeah, she was.

Plain spotting. Yeah. This is chaos. Well, I feel like we need to ask this question then, Meia, and Niamh, you can weigh in as well. Is there someone in the squad who really is good at bringing people together, especially when Meia's having a horrible walk or perhaps losing at a game? Like, who's the person that's really good at bringing people together on the squad?

Maybe I would say Alessia. Would you say Alessia? I'd say Alessia. She's just such a kind soul, like, everyone loves Les. Like, oh, she's just the best, isn't she? Why would you say she's got that energy about her? Because she's just like, so positive. She's just sunshine yellow, like, yeah.

She really is. Yeah, yeah, for positive. She's just sunshine yellow. Yeah. She really is. Yeah, yeah, for sure. She's like the nicest girl you ever meet. Alright, honestly she's the best. That is so lovely to hear. She's just got vibes. Yeah, she is.

And she's very like, oh you want to come? Like she's just, she attracts, like her energy attracts people. Yeah, definitely. So you'd like to go on a walk with her? Oh yeah, yeah definitely. Yeah, just need. Right, now we're in the England training ground, I think it'd be fun to play a game of Training Ground Truths. I worked really hard on that. The pair of you are going

to take turns to spill some honest truths about yourself and your teammates. Are you up for it? Mm-hmm. Fantastic. May, you're up first. Who's the best roommate you've ever had at camp and why? Oh, I'm not going to lie. We don't have roommates. Bougie. Yeah. Back in the day you did though, no? At youth camps, yeah.

Yeah. Emily Orman. Emily Orman, okay. What about you? Do you want to just insert Emily Orman here? I love Emily. I think she knows. My best friend Emily.

She knows. My best friend Emily. She knows. Neve, has anyone ever fallen asleep at a moment they really shouldn't like in a meeting? Who's the person that's like... Yeah, I'm pretty sure people have. I think it was in when we went to Australia. Obviously, in fact, they definitely have. When we went to Australia with a jet lag.

And it was a long meeting and people's heads were just going... And they were just like, I'm just long blinking and I don't know you. That was Zell. I said it was Zell. I like your name and your show, this is great. Who is most likely to go on a reality show and win? And what show would it be? Bronzy.

Lucy Bronze. And what show is it? Something active or something. Some, some sort of survival thing. She would definitely win that. Some Bear Grylls thing. Yeah. She's got those survival techniques. She's just stubborn I think, like she just, she just wants to win, yeah. I like it. And she's actually really clever. She is. So she's just figure it all out. Oh sick. We want her on our side if there's like an apocalypse. Yeah, definitely. Niamh, who's the most famous person you've met since being a lioness?

And did you act cool? Was it Jill Scott and the question you had to ask her? Younger me did not act cool. I mean, it's not since being a lioness, but I met Serena Williams the other day. Sick. Oh my God, same. What did she say? I can't believe it. I was just like, heya.

I didn't like meet-meet, go and have a chat because I was a little bit, yeah, other things were going on. Nice. She was celebrating. We were just being miserable in the changing room, so we all got to speak. Yeah. Oh, that's cute.

Very sweet. What about you, Meya? Have you had a big, like, you can't say Serena as well. Okay, that was cool. The only other person I'd say that I was like, oh my, was Sarah Alex. Oh. Ferguson, yeah. That was, yeah, amazing. A big football moment for you. Yeah, that was huge.

I love that. Just like the aura. Like, I was like, wow. Just, you're a legend. I don't want't see that's it, I don't know what I said. I'd love for someone to call me a legend. You're a legend. Oh, thanks. Thanks. That was so nice. Okay, final one.

What's something you've said or done in a game that you hope no one ever catches on the mic or on camera? Oh, well, I can't tell you this, and I can't tell you what she said, but Aggie Beaver-Jones once said something to me, and I turned around to her and said, you better hope the camera was not on you then. Seriously. Will you tell me after we stop recording?

Yeah, I will. Oh, yes. It was, yeah. I was actually genuinely concerned. I turned around and I was like, nah, you better hope the camera. Was it naughty? I'm not revealing anything

because it's not mine to tell. Okay. But I like that you half reveal. Yeah. You'll just have to wait and see if that ever comes out. It will never ever come out. No, good. Well, we hope not.

Well, thanks for being honest, girlies. It's always fun to learn new things about you guys. And we're going to play the game now. It's the Euros Alphabet Challenge, something the fans might be a bit familiar with now, but something new for you too. It's a game to get you in the competitive mindset. You'll have a minute, let me just dive my hand behind this cushion.

What's she going to reveal? It's a stopwatch. This makes me feel like a genuine football girlie now. Can you use it in church? Yeah. More like. Bam, bam, bam. Go, go, go.

This is quite terrifying for you. Go. It's quite old school, isn't it? Yeah, I, bam. Go, go, go. Is this quite terrifying for you? Go. It's quite old school, isn't it? Yeah, I'm vintage. Okay, so you'll have a minute between you to list things associated with this year's Euros. You're both going to shout out at the same time. Okay.

Is that okay? Well, she's just giving me a right answer. Yeah. Oh, got it. Okay, ready, steady, go. Austria. Basel. Kalkluck.

ACD. Denmark. England. Austria, Basel, Tjellklaut, Denmark, England, football field, green, grass, H, holiday, holiday, holiday? What part of the Euros is a holiday? Yeah, excuse me! Who is it? Sorry, no, I'm stopping you there. Hey, it is for the fans. I'm stopping it there. That's not what we're talking about here. How is it a holiday for the fans?

They're just as stressed as you are. 22 seconds and 75 milliseconds. Oh, for God's sake. Absolutely pathetic. I hope that we get to do this again. I think one of those is quite good. I'm just worried that your mindset feels like this is going to be a holiday. No, no. I'm talking on behalf of the fans.

Yeah, that's like a... Yeah, one night's a little tight for that. You're in trouble now. Do not show Serena that. Hey, this might come out after. Yeah, don't worry. Don't worry. It's not coming out until next week.

Oh my God. Right, guys, thank you so much for being part of that Lionesses podcast, Connected by EE. It's been a pleasure to have you. I'm wishing you the best of luck heading into the summer. And if you enjoyed hearing the inside scoop from these two, make sure you stick around for more Lionesses podcast, including you two. I hope to see you back again. See you next time. Woo!