England Lionesses' lives, loves and jobs off-pitch - from engagements to babies
They are one of the tournament favourites in the 2023 Women's World Cup, and today England's Lionesses will face their ultimate test when then face off against Spain in the final.
Manager Sarina Wiegnman has said: "We go into every game trying to win - and that's what we'll try to do." With all eyes on the European champions this afternoon, we take a look at the off-pitch lives of the Lionesses - from side jobs to loved-up relationships and proud families watching at home.
Lucy Bronze
Lucy is really close with her family and has a pet dog that's become famous online (Instagram)
She is currently back playing for Manchester City and Barcelona with Keira Walsh (Instagram)Lucy Bronze began her career at Sunderland before transferring to Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City and France - and now she's back with Man City and playing for Barcelona. The 31-year-old used to work for pizza chain Domino's at the Headingly branch, and the store was heartwarmingly renamed 'Lucy's' in her honour after the Euros 2022 win.
Lucy, whose full name is Lucia Roberta Tough Bronze, was brought up bilingual in Berwick-upon-Tweed with her Portuguese dad, Joaquim, and English mum, Diane. She told The Guardian: "Dad used to speak to us in Portuguese, but we always replied in English. That's probably why I'm not very comfortable speaking Portuguese."
The talented footie star, who hails from Northumberland, has remained really close with her family and likes to spend time with her older brother's children off the pitch. She often posts photos with her nephew, Alfred, and niece, Alzira, on Instagram.
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She is also very close to her grandmother and has an incredibly close bond with her doting mum, who she coins her "number one fan since day one". Her dad told Eurosport that watching his daughter perform at such a high level is "still a little bit surreal".
Demi Stokes
Demi Stokes is engaged to Katie Harrington and they have a son together called HarlenDemi Stokes, 30, who plays for Manchester City, recently welcomed her first child with fiancée Katie Harrington. NHS worker Katie, 32, gave birth to son Harlen Harrington-Stokes in May after he was conceived via IVF.
It took the couple two years to conceive after they initially struggled with it not working, something Demi has spoken out about in the hope it will help other same-sex couples. Demi said: "In our head, it was a case of: 'We're just going to go down to the clinic and then it will work and we'll have a baby'... but it wasn't as simple as that, and we had to learn."
Demi has also spoken out about her difficult upbringing. Her mum was a survivor of domestic violence, and Demi and her four siblings moved from their native Birmingham to a women’s refuge in Newcastle. She was then brought up by her grandmother, who died in 2015. Demi said: "I feel like life can be a storm and I've come out the other end."
Jill Scott
Jill Scott and fiancée Shelly Unitt own a Manchester coffee shop together (@shellyunitt/Instagram)
The couple love their quiet life together and appreciate support from fans (James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)The second-most capped player in the Lionesses' history, Jill Scott was a member of the England squad for 16 years before retiring after the Euros victory. Jill, who is nicknamed 'Crouchy' by her teammates due to her height, owns a coffee shop in Manchester with her fiancée Shelly Unitt.
The couple opened up Boxx2Boxx, which is cleverly named after her midfielding style, back in 2020 and has welcomed some famous footballers from the North West. Just five days after lifting the Euros with the Lionesses, Scott was back in her coffee shop and pictured holding a dustpan and brush behind the counter.
Although one big change from before is that she was accompanied by her winner's medal, which she let young fans hold while posing for snaps. The retired England midfielder tweeted: "Back to reality and I love it! Shift done at Boxx2boxx coffee shop. Thanks to everyone that came to say hello! Your support is really appreciated."
Leah Williamson
Leah Williamson is studying accountancy on the side to prepare for her finances for retirementEngland captain Leah Williamson joined the Arsenal Ladies Centre of Excellence in 2006 and the club went professional the year she finished sixth form. Leah is completing a part-time course in accountancy through the Football Association in preparation for life after her playing days.
She is well aware that she will need to find another source of income once her playing career is over, but hopes the young plays joining the game now will make more money. "You should dedicate your life to football – I have to, I'm an athlete – but it shouldn't be everything, the be-all and end-all," she told City AM in 2021.
"So I do it to keep some sort of balance, always doing something outside of football. But also I'm under no illusions that I'm not going to be able to retire at the end of my career and be fine for the rest of my life. I will have to work again and maybe that's where I have come in [to the sport] just a little too early, in terms of hopefully one day these girls will earn enough that they are set for life. If a boy signs for an academy aged 16 he is generally set for life. It's a massive contrast in our game and I'm aware of that. It's ridiculous to think that once your career finishes you are going to be fine and set."
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Bethany England
Bethany used to work in a chip shop and is now studying family law part-time at university (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)England striker Bethany England was juggling her education, football career and work during her first season in the WSL. Beth was studying for her A-Levels, playing for the Doncaster Belles and had a job in a Barnsley fish and chip shop.
"I ended up working for three-and-a-half years in a chippy, doing night shifts on a Friday and Saturday," she explained. The forward earned just £150 a month as a footballer when she first started, so she also worked in a bakery, a factory, an Indian restaurant and at M&S.
She also took a 12-week pathway course to a higher education certificate in legal studies at a college - travelling to London from her home in Barnsley. When Beth isn't playing football, she is studying family law part-time after winning a scholarship to the private BPP University when she played for Doncaster Belles.
She explained: "I started studying social work, but it wasn't for me. I've always been interested in law – I used to watch CSI, Criminal Minds and Law & Order with my mum! But I'm really interested in the family side of things and I would eventually like to work in family law. I never thought football would be a full-time job, so I always knew education would have to come into it. After football you need to make sure you have something set up, ready for that transition."
Beth Mead
Arsenal's Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead attended the Ballon d'Or photocall at Theatre Du Chatelet In Paris. (Marc Piasecki/WireImage)
Beth Mead, attended Wimbledon, The Championships as guests of Vodafone the Official Connectivity Partner to Wimbledon. Photo: J Hordle / INhouse imagesEngland's 2022 Player of the Year, Beth Mead, stormed to Euros glory last summer but is missing the World Cup while she works her way back towards full fitness. Beth previously opened up about her sexuality after revealing she was in a relationship with fellow Arsenal teammate Vivianne Miedema.
The 28-year-old said she struggled with her sexuality for a long time, but is now confident to open up about the subject, even joking that the star power of her relationship with Miedema is on par with that of David and Victoria Beckham for 'the lesbian world'. She told Sky Sports: "Actually, I've never physically come out and said I'm gay, I'm with a girl because I've not had to. I'm just being me. I've put pictures with my partner on social media. To me, I've tried to make it the norm rather than make it a statement.
"Obviously for the men right now, they have to put it out in the media to then see what reaction they get and I get the culture in the men's game is still very different and it is much, much harder. But for me, I want to bridge that gap and help men as much as women. It's a tough process. It is emotionally and physically draining, and I get all aspects for people, but for me, you can't help who you fall in love with and if you are happy at the end of the day."
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