Leah Williamson Women’s Health Cover

If any individual can look back on the yr that was with a happy smile, it has to be England’s Lionesses. Their triumph at the Euros has been greatly cited as a key high position in just an or else, er…testing 12 months.

A time when pleasure was sparked across the nation – even in those not generally fond of the men’s activity – thanks to the team’s sporting success (it was in fact coming property this time) but also the symbolism.

So, who improved to front Women’s Well being‘s to start with concern of 2023 than their captain, the England skipper Leah Williamson.

It goes without stating that Leah – who was born and elevated in Milton Keynes in just a family of keen soccer lovers and who plays in defence for Arsenal in the Women’s Super League – is exceptionally gifted on the pitch. At just 25, she’s a formidable chief and figurehead for the women’s video game, also.

So a great deal so that she’s tipped (for each The Periods) to be named in the King’s New Yr Honours. Which is together with fellow Lioness and Arsenal teammate Beth Mead (who took house the Golden Boot at Euro 22 and was also awarded European Player of the Match) and the Lionesses head coach Sarina Wiegman.

As befits her position, Leah presents a powerful interview – a little something everyone who viewed her impassioned speech on the eve of the Euros closing will know.

In the quite unique placing of a silent café close to her household, chatting more than coffee (me), incredibly hot chocolate (Leah – she’s not a espresso lover) and assorted pastries, the Lionesses’ captain is just as impressive.

The sort of particular person who offers thoughtful responses without the need of overthinking. Anyone who obviously values staying – and this is an adjective she references usually – ‘real’.

So, from levelling the participating in area for female footballers to her working experience of crippling period pain, functionality stress and anxiety and even her private targets away from the pitch, no subject areas had been off limits in her interview.

You can browse the complete issue in the January concern of Women’s Health. But, in the meantime, here are 6 things I discovered from owning breakfast with the intelligent, sensitive and steadfast Lioness-in-Chief.

1 Successful the Euros was a fairytale – and the comedown has been authentic

Naomi BakerGetty Pictures

‘It scares the s**t out of me if I’m sincere that each working day for the rest of my life I will chase that emotion. I really don’t see how it could have been topped,’ says Leah.

‘The only issue I’d appreciate to do is go back and view it from the stands. As the remaining whistle went, my grandma just place her head on my mum’s shoulder and went, “She did it.”‘

No, you’ve got got anything in your eye.

2 Leah has blended thoughts about fame

‘Well I enjoy it simply because we can get to so lots of men and women. Like, girls’ mums and dads really do not have to research us out like mine had to,’ she says, of the positives about her new profile.

But? ‘I detest the fame and that aspect of it. I loathe that to get from my car or truck to you in the fastest time I have to have to set a cap on. But when you develop into a qualified women’s footballer, like, that is your job, it is a joint obligation.’



Rosaline Shahnavaz

‘If you are not organized to [be famous] you are doing a disservice to the activity and all all those gals that had to faux to be boys to be capable to play. I realize that I stand on the shoulders of those people folks.’

A group which involves Leah’s have mum, Mandy, and her footballing hero, Rachel Yankey.

‘I really don’t want [fame] to adjust me. For the past two many years, I have only basically put in time with people today I previously knew,’ she continues.

‘I’m not fearful of producing new mates, but I will not be held accountable the exact same way that I would with my men and women.’

3 Leah’s effectiveness anxiousness had her wishing absent her career

The downside of playing for your girlhood club and the region you appreciate? For a person as identified to do as excellent a position as Leah, the psychological force threatened to overwhelm her.

‘I felt like I essential to acquire for my club and my state, and if I felt that was less than menace, I’d be a wreck. I’d have thoughts like ‘well, when I retire, I will not have to deal with these nerves’, which is f*cked! Like, I’m wishing away my career since I just can’t deal with my individual functionality nervousness.’



Rosaline Shahnavaz

Aid came, eventually, by means of classes with Arsenal and England psychologist Kate Inexperienced. Her method experienced Leah feeling again on sort in a fortnight – and she’s however doing work with Environmentally friendly currently. Of her knowledge, Leah claims: ‘I owe my lifestyle to my pysch’.

4 Leah was terrified endometriosis would sabotage her Euros effectiveness

Previous 12 months, although out with a hamstring damage, Leah was identified with endometriosis – something that produced perception, given the unpleasant periods she’s very long skilled.

‘Before the Euros I had a concussion, which they say can truly effect your following period of time, and it was terrible – like, really poor. You know when you are on the lavatory ground and virtually like: “I simply cannot transfer.” When it’s much too late to acquire the tablets due to the fact I’m, like, in it now.’

She was specifically anxious about her endometriosis flaring up in advance of the England vs Norway semi final.

‘I was like, “it are unable to happen”. Like, I basically won’t be ready to perform. [Having an endometriosis flare up] is a massive concern when you get to a tournament not injured…I never improve too much all around [my cycle] now. Except if I’m on the floor. And then I’m like: “I won’t make it today”,’ Leah clarifies.

‘I’m a specialist athlete, I’ve generally been like, “let’s get on with it”,’ she claims of how she’s dealt with the hard intervals that characterise the issue.

‘But you get to a specified age when you actually say: “this is a truly massive f*cking difficulty”. I’m very guaranteed if guys experienced durations we would have figured out a way to halt them by now with out accomplishing any hurt.’

Preach, captain.

5 Leah’s annoyed by how the women’s match has been held back…

…but happy of the way her club has taken functional measures towards improved parity between the men’s and women’s teams.

Of the way the men’s match was traditionally prioritised around the women’s Leah says: ‘It wasn’t how Arsenal had been it was how football experienced been. The gentlemen are below and the women are here.’

‘And it is like, no shit, simply because [the FA] stopped us taking part in [ON FOOTBALL LEAGUE GROUNDS] so we had been 50 a long time at the rear of,’ she provides.

‘There’s no f*cking surprise that you have 60,000 people today at game titles and we have three…I assume that filters into the club. It’s been like, “the boys are in the health and fitness center so you cannot go in”,’ she reveals.

But now? ‘Two many years on we’re shifting to a new facility issues have all altered.’

6 Leah has designed self have confidence in – on and off the pitch

The Lionesses captain is a female with a lot of strings to her proverbial bow – she even has ongoing accountancy scientific tests on the back again-burner. Fittingly, she’s fairly non-prescriptive about her extensive-phrase aims.



Rosaline Shahnavaz

‘[Football] is not my every thing. To continue on to do this for a further 10 several years is fairly a daunting considered. If you asked me what I want to be in 5 many years, I’d just say happy’

‘I experienced my system from when I was a child: I was heading to get married at 24 I’d have a baby [at] 26. I genuinely held on to that stuff,’ she remembers.

But now? ‘I’ve taken all that off [the timeline]. Due to the fact if it comes about, it takes place. I have learnt to genuinely have faith in my feelings and myself now.’

Just as she must.