BETHANY England has started her 15th season in senior women’s football on the bench but believes she has plenty yet to offer for many more years.
The Tottenham Hotspur and England striker, from Kingstone in Barnsley, hopes she can still play well into her mid or even late 30s and add more trophies to her glittering CV.
The 30-year-old won four WSL titles, two FA Cups and two League Cups during a stint with Chelsea, while she has played in the Champions League and World Cup finals and has a European Championship winner’s medal.
She has overcome a battle with endometriosis – which causes women severe pain in the pelvis – plus hip surgery after playing in the World Cup final.
Bethany told the Chronicle: “I am only 30 years old. Most people are still peaking at that time.
“It’s getting to the point in women’s football now where, you get to 30, and people think you are old and washed-up.
“Teams are going with younger players but they lose out on experience and technical ability.
“I will continue playing as long as my body is telling me I can.
“I feel really good at the moment.
“I am not quite the same as I was in my early 20s but I am better at looking after myself with recovery and nutrition.
“I think I have five or six years left in these legs and there are a lot of things I still want to achieve.
“I would love to get some more silverware, whether with Spurs or another team.
“I strongly feel like there is a lot more to push for.
“I am very proud of everything we won with Chelsea but to go to a club that isn’t necessarily expected to compete for trophies and win something would be special in a different way.
“That’s why it was so disappointing to lose the FA Cup final with Spurs last season.
“I want to get back to that sort of occasion and I feel I have some big moments and big goals left in me.”
Bethany would also like to become the all-time WSL top-scorer. She is currently on 75 goals, which puts her second behind Netherlands and Manchester City superstar Vivianne Miedema.
“I am much closer now than before.
“I am only a few goals away from Viv. It would be an amazing achievement.
“But I take it game by game and I know that I need to get back to scoring more often.”
Bethany has made 26 appearances for England, including in a World Cup final last year, and scored 11 goals. But she has missed out on recent squads.
“I would love nothing more than to play for my country again.
“I feel I still have something to contribute but, for now, I have to focus on club football, making sure I am consistently performing for Spurs.
“If that leads to another England call-up then fantastic but I am realistic with where I am at right now.”
Bethany is yet to start for Spurs this season, coming off the bench in all three league games so far – with a goal and an assist.
“It’s obviously disappointing to be not really starting. That’s the manager’s choice.
“I am fully fit but football is football.
“I feel like I have come on and very much impacted games with goals and assists. I am working hard and doing everything I can to get back into the starting 11.”
