The Rest Is Football: Daly Brightness - Chelsea’s Invincibles, Dealing With Social Media Trolls & Saying Goodbye To Close Friends

Episode Date: May 13, 2025

Why is going unbeaten in the league this season one of Millie’s greatest ever achievements? What techniques do Rach and Millie use to help manage their mental health and why have they limited their social media presence? How difficult is it to deal with team-mates and friends leaving your club at the end of a season? Rach and Millie also discuss the standout moments from each of their seasons and the key learnings they’ll also be taking into next year. If you need support with any topics discussed in this podcast please consider using the resources below: MIND: ⁠https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/⁠ YOUNG MINDS: ⁠https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/⁠  For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before we get into today's episode of Daily Brightness, we just want to say a huge thank you to Shaw for helping bring our podcast to life. Obviously, this is something that we've wanted to do for a while. Teaming up with Goldhanger was an absolute no-brainer for us, but I think it's more just probably to get our points out there. I think like before, Rach, it's about bringing Daily Brightness to life and I think when we first invented it, if you like, it was all about communicating with each other, having that safe space to kind of be a little bit vulnerable and just showing our raw, authentic selves. And I think for us, the podcast is that. And that's why I think we're extremely grateful for sure to give us that opportunity and kind of bringing it to life and allowing us to now have it on a wider spectrum

and connecting with the fans again. But also some of the things in the women's game that really need to be better and the problems and boundaries that we still face and I think as players current players as well we can really touch on that and you know hopefully bring a little bit of attention but ultimately it's just about sharing who we are as people and yeah like I said we're really really grateful that Shora have given us this opportunity and supported us since day one. Obviously it's been been amazing that Shaw have backed us from the start and all the way through this now, but exciting to have them be alongside us for this exciting summer of football. And they'll

be with us every step of the way. So we're grateful for them to be alongside us sharing this journey as well. So thanks again to Shaw and thank you all for tuning in. easy to understand so you can focus on the big stuff like your small business. Get insurance that's really big on care. Find an agent today at Desjardins.com slash business coverage. Hey, everyone. Welcome to the Restless Football Daily Brightness. I'm Millie Bright. And I'm Rachel Daly. Back again bestie, how are you? Feeling a bit revived now the season's finally come to a close. It's been a year.

How are you doing? Yeah, really good. I'm just, yeah, one more game to go and then I feel like I'm ready to fully just relax switch off it's been a very intense period I'm ready for some family time I'm ready for some time with you yeah I just need to sometimes as well just do nothing yeah just decompress yeah just fully let go of everything but yeah it's I don't really do nothing. When I have time to do nothing, I do something. So... DIY.

That's what you've been sending me all week. This week has been... I've literally, like... The DIY I've done this week is outrageous. Outrageous. We need some pictures. We need to show the viewers. This morning, I made a pallet sofa.

A sofa out of pallets for the outside. So cool, Bestie. I'll send you a picture. So Rachel's been sending me all week stuff she's been doing inside the house, gardening. sofa a sofa out of pallets for the outside so cool bestie i'll send you a picture so rachel's been sending me all week stuff she's been doing inside the house gardening like and it looks like 10 10 it's unbelievable i told her she should get an instagram page by the way i know literally everyone's like you need to start vlogging rachel course he was like you need to do a vlog do a vlog like show people what you do and i'm like yeah maybe yeah because i get the before and after

so i i love it but i don't get the before and after so i i love it but i don't get the jarring process where i'm swearing and throwing planks of wood everywhere i want the bits in between i think the viewers do as well so we'll definitely get some pictures for everyone to see but um the weather's been amazing unreal like i just want to be in the garden doing stuff that's why i think i've started proper gardening now well don't worry you've got like seven eight weeks so i can't wait for uh what's to come i probably tip my garden upside down you'll probably have bought a crappy little place and then you'll do it up and be like middle look what i've been doing for the last eight weeks probably that's next on the list

no all is good anything else happening you seen family yeah uh they were there at the weekend at the last game but we can go into that in a little bit it was it was a nice weekend for me yeah but before we get into it i just want to say if you are following the podcast then thank you for your support if you're not following the podcast get subscribing and no matter where you are wherever you're listening from in the world we appreciate it it. But also by following and subscribing, you also get our podcast out to lots of new places in the world and that's what we want. Elsa!

We're on the damn podcast. Obviously Elsa's subscribed. Jesus Christ, that actually scared me. You know what it was? Big ginger cat on the fence and they keep teasing the dogs all the time. I had that this morning. cast obviously elsa subscribed jesus christ that actually scared me you know what it was big ginger cat on the fence and they keep teasing the dogs all the time i had that this morning a big magpie landed in deptys water bowl and she was like elsa literally thinks she's a lion though and i'm like if she got close to it i don't actually know what she would do i think she'd be so scared

but they stay on the fence so it's your own fault. Typical cat thing to do. Seriously. But anyway, sorry for the interruption. Yes, please subscribe for those that already are. Thank you so much. We really appreciate it. And we hope you are enjoying listening

just as much as we're enjoying waffling along. Right, Bestie. So you became, this weekend, the first WSL side to finish a 22-game season unbeaten. I think that's one of my biggest achievements, you know. Going unbeaten was something... I did an interview with Liam from BBC before the season and that was something I wrote in his notes.

Obviously, the quadruple, we didn't get the quadruple, but we still have an opportunity to do the treble, which is unbelievable. But going unbeaten in a season is, for me, that is like phenomenal. And I don't see many teams doing it. And to do it with, yeah, I think everything that was faced and I don't know, I just think it's sick.

Like I'm dead, dead proud of it. And yeah, it's been incredibly hard. And so many people have said like even halfway through the season, oh, do you think like you could many people have said, like even halfway through the season, oh, do you think like you could do like the Invincible? And you don't really think about it until you've achieved it. And then it's like, holy shit,

like we've just gone a full season without losing a single game. So yeah, being Invincible, that was, yeah, a really, really big moment. Obviously winning the league is massive, but yeah, going unbeaten was pretty sick. Not only unbeaten, though, like, you won 19 out of 22 and drew three.

Like, that's such good going. Like, it's... I bet you're looking back now knowing you've been like, why did we draw them three? Oh, honestly, that's... And I said to the girls, I was like, if we damage, like, potentially breaking a record and going unbeaten on the last

day of the season I was like I'll be livid you wouldn't catch me at the after party yeah winning the league or not like that would have completely ruined my season if we'd have lost that just tops it off done it yeah but it was just like like you said only three draws. It's been, I think, one of my favourite seasons, to be honest, reflecting. Yeah, I'm not surprised. Obviously, I didn't get to watch the game because we were playing, but it seems like a tight game. Do you have that belief in the squad that you're just going to get it done even though it's late?

Yeah, I think, again, it was one of those games where I never really felt like we were going to concede. And Liverpool had a few counterattacks and a few chances. But we just always believed. I think we started the game really, really well. Again, I think something throughout the season, we're not ruthless enough. And that seems crazy because we've won 90 games, like you've said, and we've gone unbeaten.

But we're just not ruthless enough. Yeah, like games where you've won 1-0, you feel like you could go 4-0. Do you know what I mean? Exactly. So I think it's... And sometimes that's where the result doesn't always reflect the game or the performance,

but it was just fine margins, like just either not getting it on target or not clinical enough or maybe wrong decisions in final third. But I thought we had a really, really good game. And I think when you have that, you know, when you're in that moment, you feel the performance is good. It's just those tiny little details.

And we knew that if we got a chance, we would eventually take it. And Aggie's been, like, outstanding. So, yeah, I think she really deserved that moment. I'm dead happy for her I think it's a nice way for her to top off the season that she's had as well rounding it off by getting the last minute winner in the last game 100% it just feels that bit nicer doesn't it when you lift the trophy when you're on the back of a win rather than a draw yeah you didn't we we said like going into this game and that was probably the hardest week for us having known you've already

won the league we were were so adamant. Girls know we need to stay focused. We want to go and beat them. We want to win our last game at the bridge. We want to lift the trophy in front of the fans after a win. You don't want to do it after potentially a loss or a draw, like you said, for us. Even a draw, it doesn't feel good enough.

It was really, really nice. It is hard like when you've already won the league to to keep training at the highest intensity yeah i can imagine that the cup final so far away still at that point it was like trying to just keep everyone in that mindset of stay on track this is you know there's still records to be broken um so i think fair play to everyone for doing that because i think like i said it was a really really good day and yeah Aggie popped up last minute

shout out to Aggie Beaver-Jones shout out to Aggie our little star girl to be fair though we've just had a mad run of games and wins but I mean

I came off at I think 60 so I was sat on the bench right and I was just me and Missy just kept turning around to our kit woman and we're like

what's the Chelsea score what's the Chelsea score because we knew that obviously at this point we around to our kit woman and we're like what's the Chelsea score what's the Chelsea score because we knew that obviously at this point we were 2-0 up and we were like if Chelsea win we get to finish 6

because if you drew with Liverpool we'd have finished 7 but because you won we'd finish 6 and like so there must have been a delay in their scoring

or whatever hearing about it because our fans were just starting chanting as soon as you'd scored we're 6 in the league we're 6 in the league I we're six in the league.

I was like, no way. Yous have stormed the end of the season, by the way. Like, I talked me through your game. Obviously, as always, we're always playing, so we don't ever get to see each other's games, but you scored, right? Yeah, we won 3-1. Honestly, I don't know what's happened to us.

Like, five games unbeaten. Like, our last run of form in the last five games, we were top of the league in terms of form. And I was like, what on earth has happened to us? Like, literally, the last five games we were top of the league in terms of form and I was like what on earth has happened to us like literally two weeks ago

we were talking about relegation and everyone had written us off everyone was like yeah they've really underperformed this year which granted

we know we have but I mean like it takes a lot to win you know to win five games in a row obviously one of them against Arsenal

that would be it was Liverpool Tottenham Arsenal West Ham Brighton the form that West Ham have been in. Brighton had just jumped on the back of a 4-2 win against Arsenal.

So it was never going to be an easy game. No. But we scored quite early. Ebony scored quite early. Literally just ran from the halfway line, burnt everyone for pace. Rapid. And then I got the second just before half-time. Come on, bestie.

Come on. And then, yeah, you know what it's like coming in before half-time. Come on, bestie. Come on. And then, yeah, you know what it's like coming in at half-time, 2-0. Dangerous scoreline. But, yeah, Maz Pacheco then went on and scored late on. And that was such a nice moment for her because, obviously, just got announced that she wouldn't be re-signing at the club. So, it was a really nice moment for her to do that in front of all the fans. She's very well thought of at Villa.

So, I was really happy for her to do that in front of all the fans she's very well thought of at Villa so I was really happy for her to get a goal but yeah just to finish the season off with a win and go five games unbeaten was it was insane I just I don't I don't even know how to explain it I don't really know what's got to have been the best ending by a team I've seen yeah and it's like considering like you said two weeks ago we're talking about relegation and now, like, you've pulled out, like, five unbelievable performances against top teams and just... It's almost annoying that the season's ended for you. I know, I was like, carry on. We might be in the Champions League.

You carry on for a few moments. We'll be getting Champions League. Yeah. Sorry, we'll just skip pre-season. We'll be competing with Chelsea for WSL title. Don't worry about us. No, it was a really nice really nice way to end

what has been a very very difficult year little thing because we're rounding off the season and this is probably going to be our last episode on the season

until the new one three top moments of the season and then three learnings put you on the spot yeah

let's do three three top moments you go I go. All right. First top moment, I would say beating Liverpool because that was our first win for a long, long time. So that was like, okay. Changed momentum.

Yeah, that's like momentum shift. We're on the up. We've got to keep this momentum going and obviously did from that moment on. That'd be my first one my first one would be i'd say the comeback against oh that's champions league but i'm gonna do it anyway because it's part of the season i'm gonna say the comeback against city the home leg champs league because i think everyone thought we were down and out.

And I think that was one of our best performances and games to be able to just take that and come out three and a half time was ridiculous. And it was one of those games I was going, I was looking around going, what is going off? Do you know what it reminded me of? Remember that game against Norway for England? Yeah.

When it was like goal, goal, goal. And we were looking around going, what is going on? I know. That was a mad one. That one and even the Sweden one was a mad one. It was crazy. I just remember looking around. I was going to the players like, do I celebrate the goals?

Do I run back? What do I do? So I would say that was one of my favorite moments. Your second? Mine's all about winning, which ironic because we've just lost so much this year but Arsenal again obviously such a big win like at Villa Park as well so you're not at a very good record at all but at home we've like not really you know we've had the fans have been there every game and it's just we've just not been winning and that was such a big win I think like

that was like a bit of a-making moment for us as well, like five goals against Arsenal. So that was another big one. Yeah, that was ridiculous. Okay, my second one. Do you know what? I'm going to say the first game of the season because it's my second year as captain and last year was a little bit shitter because of my knee.

I felt like this was a clean slate for me. Wasn't that against us? Yes. And I felt like I was, not the result, more just the fact that I felt like I was finally back to myself, like playing wise as a player. And I knew that I was going into the season in like tip top condition and fresh and no niggles, no nothing.

Like I felt, and I felt like I could finally like lead the girls and perform and no niggles no nothing like i felt and i felt like i could finally like lead the girls and perform and contribute so yeah i'm gonna go that love that last one um you've not really mentioned me yet i'm a bit disappointed well you're not really a highlight of my season to be honest you're probably the least least highlight about when i sat on your head that was a good that was funny yeah well how do I associate you with anything that's joyful from my season you

just beat us sitting on your head that was that was a good moment yeah that was a funny moment I would say probably like the way we

finished the season strong but if I go an individual one it's probably been granted nowhere near as goals as many as I wanted to score but again being a top scorer it wasn't as many goals as I wanted to score but again

being a top scorer it wasn't as many goals as I would have liked to have scored but finishing with eight goals in the season yeah you don't really want that

but again to be top scorer of the club as a striker is a nice feeling yeah that's unbelievable still though and I've played out of position

quite a lot this season so yeah you've been playing like in the 10 like lower in midfield I think that's unbelievable I'll throw a personal goal

in there as well yeah two damn right you will girl alright my final one will be lifting the trophy

at the bridge which we've never done ah that's that's really nice yeah it was do you know what it was always nice

because you're in like at the bridge like so many more fans can experience it with us. And we've never done that. And it's really nice that the women now can be associated with lifting trophies at the bridge. I think that's...

And just seeing all the fans there, that was, yeah, amazing. Top moment. That's really, really sweet and special. That's something you probably won't ever forget. Yeah. But yeah, bittersweet end to the season, isn't it? Because you've got players coming in and out and players announcing their leave and things like that.

Obviously, you've got a few... I hate that. It's horrible. I hate it. I think, like, obviously football is a business and everyone understands that and we know that, but it's so unique in the fact that it only really happens in sport, doesn't it?

The players just come and go. And it's like, as a business, yeah, you can look at it in that sense. But like, more importantly, like they're our friends. You know what I mean? Like they're people you've spent years with. Yeah. Like the four girls that were announced that were leaving for us, obviously Dan Turner, Jordan Nobbs, Rachel Corsi, Maz Pacheco.

I've been with them for years. I've obviously known Jordan since I was like 12 but like Maz Dan Corsi they've all been there when I signed which is three years ago so it's like

they've been such a big part of my journey so to like it's not just like you're losing a teammate you're losing like friends so it's hard isn't it

to like just well they become part of your everyday going into the last game of the season knowing that they're not going to come back and yeah it's a really sad sad time the last game of the season, knowing that they're not going to come back.

Yeah. Yeah, it's a really sad time at the end of the season for stuff like that. I feel depressed. It makes me depressed. Because it's like they're people that you see every single day. I probably speak to those and communicate more with those than I do with my family. That's what I mean.

They're family away from family, aren't they? Yeah. So obviously we had Sophie and Zichira. Z's been someone that's like really guided me like on and off the pitch. She's full of wisdom, like unbelievable and dead happy for her. But yeah, these are like people that you have to think,

oh shit, how am I going to deal with that when they're not there? And who do I go to for that? Because they're not there. And then it's like, you have to start oh shit how am I going to deal with that when they're not there and who do I go to for that because they're not there and then it's like you have to start all over again and then trust someone again

and then let them in that's the hardest part isn't it yeah like we've had conversations about personal stuff and it's never just football and Sophie's the same

like absolute club legend like been there from the start she is I said to her I said Jesus Christ I am, me and Erin are the only originals

that are left at Chelsea. Like that whole era, once we're gone, like that's. Yeah, well, do you want to know what's happened? What's at Villa right now in this moment?

I'm the oldest player there now. Oh, I think it'd be Lucy and then it'll be me. Yeah, so that's, that was a tough one. No,

but it's like the same as you, like Corsi, obviously a club captain, absolutely so well respected at the club. I've learned so much from her in terms of her leadership and things like that. So a massive place to lose.

Maz, again, she's been with Villa from the beginning of when they came into the WSL. I've known Maz for years. Obviously was at West Ham with her for a little bit when I was on loan. Really good friend. Dan Turner just got 150th WSL appearance on the weekend.

So just so well respected, so highly thought of. And then Jordan is like my little right-hand man. Like I sit next to her in the changing rooms for training. I sit next to her in the games. I've known her since I was about 12. So it's just like people that you're just so close with. Your whole routine changes. Yeah.

So the day before the game was like a bit of a sad day, really, because it's just like, this is the last time I'll play with any of you. It's just a really sad time. I'd like to think we gave him a really nice send-off, though. The reception at the Bridge for him was incredible, and we got to stay out after the warm-up and give him a round of applause,

but it never feels enough. I never feel like I can give them enough to say thank you. You also kind of hope that it's not just going to... In football, as you say, players come and go. It's part of the business. You could be there for a season, ten seasons, six seasons, whatever, but you never know if you'll cross paths again. Yeah.

You never know. Like, and also people just, you go and get on with your life and yes, you'll always remain in touch, but life takes its course, you know,

and it's just, that's the sad part. Yeah, like it's, oh God, I dread to, yeah, I don't want to think about that anymore.

I can't do it. It was sad, really sad. I definitely, definitely felt that feeling for a for a good few days and probably continue to do that it's gonna be weird you know like yeah it's just your every day isn't it so that changes everything and it's i think for me the most important thing is like they're humans and really good people and they you know to not have them

around anymore it's it's not a nice feeling. No. But I wish them all the best in their next adventures. And as we always say, well, we do at our club, once a blue, always a blue. They'll always be welcome back at any given time. And I think that's one thing I like to see is, I like to see players being looked after,

regardless of moving on to new opportunities or new adventures i'd like to think that you know everyone's been taken care of and you know i think the send-off that they got was really nice and it makes it gives me a little bit of peace knowing that they're looked after yeah because like you said they're people beyond players um and yeah it's nice to see when they're taken care of so that gives me a lot of warmth knowing that yeah definitely all right then it's time for a very quick break and when we come back we will discuss all things summer see you soon welcome back everyone we are going to get straight into the summer plans and discuss all things holidays and a very exciting summer ahead rach what you got going on uh i've got my

first holiday next monday let me just stop you there viewers listen at that my first holiday no i'm not doing what i did last year because last year i went on too many holidays do you remember it was like back to back to i've been for like a day yeah i do remember i got a picture every day of a different location yeah i'm not doing that this year i need a different view i need to rein it in a bit the cheek of it my first holiday but i haven't gone on my first holiday on monday to portugal um I haven't booked a return flight yet oh you better be coming back so I'm going there on the 19th and just going to enjoy some some downtime some sun and have a bit of a break from exercising really you need that you deserve it

yeah what about you like what's the run-up to the Euros look like for you after obviously the Man United game? Obviously, we've got the Cup final. Super excited about that. Cannot wait. Get me back to Wembley. We're actually staying in training because, obviously, we've got international break

the week after. So it's that awkward period between playing in a final and then having a week to fill your time. So we're going to keep training and then go to international break obviously we've still got nations league and then it's um pretty much from then up until the euros i get i think it's roughly around 10 days maybe i get basically five days completely off and then obviously i have to keep training which you are aware of because

you can't just completely stop yeah when you've got a tournament and then it's pretty much like prep camps weekends off prep camps weekends off and then plans for them weekends off for your five days and um week i'm going to try and get away i'm definitely going to get away after the next international break get some sun and then honestly it's so hard because it's one of them things where you i don't want to do like a million things i want to just be at home relax because as much as you get that time off like it's not time off is it it's like no by the time you've got home exactly you're knackered from the week and then it's just you just want downtime then don't you yeah so i think it'll just be chilling, like taking the dogs nice walks, going for coffee,

seeing friends and family. But honestly, it'll probably just spend like packing and doing washing and getting set for... That's what I remember from when we did like the prep camps. Honestly. So yeah,

nothing major really, just getting ready for that. And I'll just be trying to like keep myself energized. I think if I do too much and I try and socialize left, right and center and fit everyone in, I'll just be trying to like keep myself energized I think if I do too much and I try and socialize left right and center and fit everyone in I'll just be exhausted no you need to put yourself first in those moments yeah I really do have to like manage my time but I'm really excited I can't wait I'm buzzing for the summer yeah so it's such an exciting summer I'm

so excited to watch you yeah it's like my first proper tournament as a fan how are you feeling about that I don't know like I think I think I'm a little bit a little watch you. It's like my first proper tournament as a fan. How are you feeling about that? I don't know. Like, I think I'm a little bit sad because it's like the first one I'm not a part of. But equally, like, I am excited to be a fan as well. And I actually support you all. And just hopefully see all the success from afar. How long are you going to give yourself off this summer?

So we get three weeks. The first three weeks from Saturday is off. off but you know me that won't happen i'll be i'll be ticking over somewhere paddle and then it's uh yeah paddle definitely doing paddle in portugal and then um yeah then we get the program straight from there really so it's like we do it in blocks of like there's like two weeks to like ease back in and then we get another week off and then it's like four like intense weeks which is always a nightmare because obviously i train with sarah and it's just like i feel like a donkey running next to her because she's just freak athlete she literally the girl don't sweat she don't get out of breath she's not panting i feel like when we're running we're like i can't catch up i'm like can we do sprints because i'll win at that

no so it'll be good to just have a bit of a break i mean i feel like i'm getting enough workouts in the garden to be honest yeah i'm not surprised diy daily honestly i'm actually really excited to do that to do that that all summer. That's a business name, that. DIY Daily. Watch out, people. Can't wait to show you the picture of my pallet seat. It's like a little love seat. Can you put it on Instagram and tag us? Yeah, I will do.

Basically, my logic behind that was I'm getting Dave again from next door, sorting me out, helping me out. Go on, Dave-o. In my living room, you know, the side of the living room that goes onto the back door with the two windows. We're going to knock them through and put bifolds in. Really so my tv is mounted on the wall but it's on a swivel thing so when they're open in the summer the tv can turn and go like face out so i've made them seats like i've built them into the sleepers so you're basically opening a bar and i'm going to

be there it's like a little cinema outdoor movie that's what it is yeah I'm going to the beer garden brilliant it's called the beer garden's called the Bark Inn do you get it Bark Inn yeah

Dexy Bark Inn Dexy I'm bringing all three of mine yeah so it literally will be the biggest Bark Inn you've ever heard sick

also wait there I've got something to show you a fan at we did a like a season ticket event yeah so all the fans that have season tickets come in to train I don't know if you do it and just meet a fan at we did a like a season ticket event yeah

so all the fans that have season tickets come in to training don't know if you do it and just meet and greet sort of thing and someone made me this that is

the template of the tattoo I'm going to get on my right bum cheek to match your left this is literally what it looks like for all those watching

this is literally what it looks like so that is what a tattoo looks like bubble writing all those watching, this is literally what it looks like. That is what her tattoo looks like. Bubble writing YOLO on a bum. I know. So that's quite funny. It really made me laugh.

That's still one of my favourite moments, sitting on the toilet. It's in our team colours. Yeah, I'm not having those colours. I think you should. I like the blue. It's a little bit too near red for me, that red and pinky. It's called claret.

That is sick. Yeah, claret. Pinky red. So that was quite a funny moment. Let's talk a little bit about Mental Health Awareness Week. So obviously it's running from the 12th of May to the 18th of May. That is a topic that is very close to our hearts. I know obviously you're working alongside young minds.

Do you want to touch on that a little bit and like the importance of this week yeah 100 i think as much as this week is mental health awareness i think it should be every week i don't think mental health is a moment i think it's an everyday thing and yeah young minds um was really lucky actually to be an ambassador for them and um see all their amazing work and i went into their headquarters in london one day and just like you know you just stay in the background a little bit met some amazing people like one of the most rewarding days i'd ever been to um and then I got to listening on a few calls and yeah I weren't sure how I was gonna like be able to to deal with it people calling in and I think because of

everything that I've seen my family go through which you know about from a mental health perspective I think it was like I was a little bit scared of hearing similar stories and then it like triggering me which I don't like people seeing that side of me. I hate being vulnerable. You know that. I'm a hard cookie, hard to crack, like to be tough, don't like to be perceived as, you know, being upset. But it's something that I've been working on quite a lot.

But, yeah, Young Mind minds are incredible um amazing people and the support that they give for not only young people suffering with mental health but parents carers um anyone that's rang up on behalf of a um a younger person that they're concerned about they offer support guidance and yeah it was just amazing to see so many people that were like offering their help and support and that actually genuinely cared about that the next generation and i think society right now is the hardest it's ever been it's a tough place to live at the minute isn't it a hard place to be i think social media for me is probably one of the worst places hate it so I hate it.

I absolutely hate it. For everyone listening now, I've had a few people ask me why my social media is that way, but I've turned all my comments off and DMs. Nobody can get in touch with me unless I've already had a conversation with them or I follow them. And it's purely and simply because it's not a very nice place. And I feel like people think that we're, again, we've talked about this a lot, but lot but we can just we're okay we can just deal with everything and we're robots and we don't see it like we see it like we see all the nasty stuff that gets mentioned and the hate that is put towards us and for me it was that was one of the best things I did not to not be able to see all that because

like you say it's triggering it's it's people can get personal they can get nasty and it's like over a game of football and you know you think like yeah we're in the public eye so it's a little bit different but like i see the way some like kids in the street talk to each other and it's just like it's just not it's just not a nice place and like social media is one of the worst things for it i think because don't get me wrong social media has its massive pros and i you know we we wouldn't be where we are in our sport probably without the world of the social media and media but you're constantly if we didn't need it for work though i wouldn't have it i've deleted x 12

whatever you want to call it come off that load of crap just full of nonsense like literally nonsense and i think people like with instagram and stuff like that it's like people just find themselves comparing their lives for the people i could portray that i literally live in an absolute mansion i do nothing around the house i've got cleaners garden you know what i mean i could portray that image and people would believe it and think oh she's so lucky and like you just naturally create that like but also it creates expectation yeah like why have i not got that or yeah why don't i look like that well probably oh she's so lucky and like you just naturally create that like but also it creates expectation yeah like why have i not got that or yeah why don't i look like that well probably because half of the

people have got like a million filters on it they've they've touched up every single picture like but that's also on the flip side people feel like they have to do that because of society yeah you why can't you just be yourself like and that's the thing you're you literally exposing yourself for judgment you're literally exposing yourself for judgment. You're literally saying, I'm posting this for judgment. And it's just, yeah, I think it allows people, but this is where I'll demand more from social media platforms. Make it so that they can't have a fake account.

Make it so that you have to show your identity, you have to upload your passport or your driving license. Make it so that you have to be 18. Provide your driving license. You can only have one account and one account only. And if you lose your account through being an idiot on social media,

then tough shit. You're off the platform. So I do demand more from the social media platforms because I think they're terrible. And I'm just like, and then you wonder why the percentage of young people

having mental health problems is sky high. And then that leads on to suicide and then it leads on to self-harming and, you know, a million other things that people have to tackle. You wonder why the percentages are so high when society is doing nothing about it. You're just encouraging it. I think for me, the hardest thing is it's just not difficult to be kind. Like, your words are so powerful.

Like one thing that you say to somebody can lead to the worst case scenario, which is suicide. And we've seen things like that happen so many times, especially in younger people. And it's just not nice. And I think obviously mental health is a tough one because it's not visible. No. So it's completely invisible.

Like if I'm'm struggling like you're struggling you and i both know we can walk out the house and no one would know and that's the type of people we are there'd be three people that i would say that would be able to read if i was i mean i've gone through a lot this especially this past six months but i'd say the last two years have been the hardest two years from a personal perspective, which only you know about and family know about, but no one else knew about it. And they were like, what?

That's happened? And I'm like, yeah. And no one knows. That's the thing. We're masters of it. We're masters of having a poker face because guess what? We've got to get up and go to football. We've got to get up and play in a vinyl.

We've got to get up and, you know, I've got up and play in a vinyl i've got to get up and you know i've got to have my football image and i've got to be the role model and i've got to be this and i've got to be that but even if it's i feel like people as well like use social media for good like i feel like that's what we try and do like we i try hand on heart try so hard to like have a platform that's raw and authentic and promoting of good things like young minds and all the charity stuff, but you still judge for it. 100%. You try and do good and there'll still be shitty little trolls

in the comments and I'm like, do you know what? And do you know what's annoying? The problem, they're not even like, these are not even real accounts, but they're given an opportunity to disrupt. And also I just think the dangerous side is you could be anybody you could say i'm i'm 21 year old polly from sheffield for example i could be a 57 year old man that's what's scary

about the social media world like you say you can literally anyone can just make a fake profile i think not only literally anyone only things like what we see and like if we don't see it, like my mum sees stuff. My mum gets really upset when she sees stuff that's been posted that's nasty about me. The family is so bad. People don't think about that. And I'm like, just like Joe Bloggs who is typing behind his keyboard,

like you're somebody's son or you're somebody's brother and like so are we and the fact that you are able to just vocalize such like shit things to towards somebody it's just i think people just need to be a bit kinder and softer and think about what they're saying also just what do you what do you get out of it and well exactly does that make you feel better that you're being a dickhead i've replied to a couple people you know because you get to a stage and I'm like why should I not why am I not allowed to defend myself

and why am I not allowed to question like what like someone someone put something the other day about winning the league and I was just like

what I said can I just ask a question what do you get out of that I said like cool if that's in the hands of your day like I made you smile today cool I'm happy for you

I want nothing more than people to be happy. But I do, sometimes I really have to bite my tongue because I'm like, why is it any different for me to respond and defend myself than it is for you to hop on here and disrespect someone? I don't care if it's me, someone else, like, no, just don't do it. But yeah, I think Mental Health Aware awareness week i i think it's amazing that it's a week but i think that's why i work with young minds because i try and do it throughout

the year i don't want it to be like a moment mental health is not a moment and equally i think with a lot of therapy sessions that i've had personally i've learned that mental health isn't just when you're struggling it's it's just as much the highs as it is the lows and that i really underrated and underestimated as well um that when you're even in a high that's still mental health and it's about keeping your your head space like quite level because i think with every high there's a come down a massive massive come down it's not like an easy fix like if you've a headache, you take a paracetamol. Do you know what I mean?

Like that's your health. But your mental health, that's a journey. That's like a real big process that you've got to be committed to and have the right support around you. And I think for me, like obviously coming from me, I'm no expert, but I just think my advice to people struggling would be to talk to somebody. Like you're not alone. There's probably way more people out there struggling just as as the same way you are but you don't see it so I think for me it's just try and find that support and lean on someone that you're close

to or a network like young minds or a mental health charity because I think it's super important to just not shy away from it yeah I think equally find out what works for you like we've obviously spoken before that journaling is something that helps us and I'm I you know I'm not good at telling people I'm struggling or I find it really really hard to like say those words or to to express how I'm actually feeling and I feel when I journal I don't have to feel like a burden on anyone I'm actually feeling. And I feel when I journal, I don't have to feel like a burden on anyone. I'm writing it down. Sometimes I keep the paper,

sometimes I rip it up and I put it in the bin. I've got it off my chest and I feel better for it. So I think it's finding what works for you as well and just knowing that you can go back to those things whenever you feel you need it really. I do DIY, like genuinely. Like if I'm feeling a little bit anxious, things whenever you feel you need it really. I do DIY, like genuinely. Yeah. If I'm feeling a little bit anxious, like I just get up and I'm like, Sarah will be like, Rachel, why do you have to do it right now?

And then I just look at her and she's like, right, got it, go do it. And I'm just like... Do you know when you're going to like have the moments? Because I've started to figure out like when they're about to happen. No, I think for me it just happened. Like some days I could just wake up and I'm like, something's going to happen no i think for me it just happened like some days i could just wake up and i'm like i don't something's gonna happen today or i feel anxious like so i think it's for me it's probably learning what that is but yeah i think i just go and keep

busy like i need to focus on something that's not like i need to keep my mind busy otherwise i'll just yeah mine's when i can't complete something yeah When I can't complete things, I know I'm having a... I had one today, I had one this morning, I had a wobble this morning. And do you know what? Sometimes I can't even tell you why I'm having a wobbler. Yeah, that's the worst thing. And everyone's like, you all right?

And I'm like, not really, but I can't tell you why I'm not all right. Like there's just something that's like triggered me. And even simple things, I went and changed the simple things went change the bed in and put the clothes away i've still not done it because i just couldn't i can't get through tasks when i'm i'm having one of them things and then i've been out for coffee took the dogs and now i feel fine and we're doing this which for me is my therapy anyway and then i'll go and complete

all my tasks and i'll be going to bed with a smile on my face. So there you go. I think that is a good segue into our gratitude. We've talked about things that are tough. So let's talk about things that we appreciate from this week. Do you want to go first? Do you know what? I'm going to say I'm grateful for life. I'm grateful for the life that I get to live every single day. That's really nice. All right my first one this week is my mum because her and my stepdad Jim they literally are the most amazing gardeners ever like they love their garden they take so much pride and joy in their garden. Go on Lulu. Yeah so she has sat on FaceTime with me for countless hours this week, talking me through how to lay the grass, put the topsoil down, wait till it knits together. And she's just been really

patient and been a part of my gardening journey. So I'm grateful for her this week for doing that. That's really, really nice. Second one, I'm going to say with it being mental health awareness week and I appreciate these people I'm gonna say my friends and family similar to you Rach I think without them I certainly wouldn't be where I am today but they're just always there no matter what they would do absolutely anything it could be a phone call it could be a text message thinking of you love you yeah I'm really really grateful for my people and you all know who you are you certainly know you're number one but yeah my people are extremely important to me and yeah i'm super grateful for them my second one i'd be grateful for okay we're gonna go on the topic of

mental health as well this week is sarah because the reasons i've just stated like when i'm struggling or when I'm anxious or when I, you know, just I know I'm getting into a bit of a scary place, her allowing me to just get up at, it could be in the middle of the night, to go and do a DIY project or, you know, just supporting the fact that

that might not be an amazing time for her because I can't do them on my own, just to allow me to get into that space and get out of that space. That's really nice. Shout out to our little sarah bestie bestie um my third one oh third one third one third one want me to go yeah you go bestie i'm struggling on this one this one i'm grateful for my sister they're all people my sister-in-law for bringing Orson down this weekend to the game because it was my first ever time as having him my mascot walking out with me on the

last game of the season and it was it wasn't the easiest thing for him to do bless him obviously he's only three so there's a lot of noise it was it's probably quite overwhelming for him but he did so good and yeah I'm just grateful for her to bring him all that way down and change his whole daily routine just to do that for me. So shout out to Annabelle. That's really, really cute. And I'm going to give my last one, I'm going to give it to my mom. She drove down to the Stamford Bridge game, which she is petrified of. Oh my God, did she?

Yeah, you know how big that is. She drove down with my nan. Oh, wow. Because basically, long story short, a few people let my dad down with the house. So then my dad works seven days a week. He never gets a rest. He never stops.

He's building the house all by himself. They let him down. He needed to get it done. So he sacrificed coming to the game, which he's never missed us lift any trophies never missed it so i knew that he were absolutely gutted and mum drove all the way down to my aunt and uncles at rickmansworth and then she got the train which she hates public transport she gets anxiety and my nan walked bless her as well and then they came to the game oh i love that so shout out

because mum would never miss anything. I think she'd, not because she'd be scared of missing out, but because she'd be scared that I would look up and not see anyone in the crowd and that's her biggest...

Yeah, I love that. That's her biggest fear is me looking up and being like, oh, I've got no one here. Yeah. So she would always come. So shout out to Mama B. Love that.

Well done, Nicola. Love you. Right, guys, that's all for the rest of this football at Day of Daily Brightness just a reminder to get your questions in or email to

dailybrightness at goalhanger.com or you can use the hashtag dailybrightness on social media thank you for all your support we can't wait to hear more from you goodbye from me

goodbye from me toodaloo