It has truly been the end of an era this week in football. Two pioneers of the women’s game in this country have hung up their boots, England’s all-time leading goalscorer Ellen White and midfielder Jill Scott.
Another trailblazer in this country also retired earlier this summer in former Lionesses goalkeeper Karen Bardsley. Following England’s Euro 2022 heroics, to see some of the legends who have helped propel women’s football to where it is today retire is sad, but their contributions to the sport will be immeasurable moving forward.
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Scott made her England debut all the way back in 2006 against the Netherlands and White made her bow four years later in a World Cup qualifier against Austria. Both have been integral players for the Lionesses over the last decade under several different managers, and they are going to be huge losses to the national team because of how much they contributed to help the Lionesses achieve European glory as well as what they have done for the game domestically.
Not only did they set out to achieve their dreams of playing football when the world was against them, they did so despite all the misogyny that came their way. They didn’t let it faze them and they continued striving towards greatness. Bardsley, White and Scott all achieved great things at club level, including Women’s Super League titles, FA Cups and League Cups. Both Scott and White have bade farewell to the Lionesses while sitting among the top 10 highest-capped players in history - Scott’s 161 was only bettered by Fara Williams’ 172.
These three icons were instrumental to a Lionesses group that was building towards the history that was made at Wembley Stadium last month and their efforts in laying the groundwork, and for two of them achieving what they set out to, will be an inspiration to thousands. Scott summed her career up perfectly in her retirement article for the Players’ Tribune, saying: "It’s been a ridiculous journey."
16 magical years.
#Lionesses legend @JillScottJS8 has announced her retirement from football. Congrats on a wonderful career, Jill! ❤️
As much as their ambition was to become the first group of players to achieve success on the international stage, it was also to be able to change the perception of girls playing a ‘man’s game’ and that the beautiful game is indeed for all to enjoy. Bardsley may not have been able to cap off her career with a medal from the Euros but, like the others, she had given so much across her career that she could rightly celebrate the Euros triumph as though she was still amongst it.
These three pioneers have overcome so many obstacles to not only have glittering careers, but to put women’s football on the map in this country. We have never experienced so much excitement for the new WSL season to start than we have in these past few weeks, and it will continue to grow as September 10 draws closer.
From seeing this, these players have likely retired with some happiness as much as it was painful to walk away, they are now about to witness the true, long-term victory that Euro 2022 will bring, and that is in raising the profile in this country and inspiring girls to go outside and kick a ball. We have seen many of the Class of 2022 call on the government to remove obstacles stopping these youngsters from being able to get involved with the sport.
Their sacrifice, success and determination has now created an environment where girls will be encouraged to play if they want to, and as a role model and a professional, there is perhaps no greater gift than being the person that drives someone to realise their dreams.
And as these icons have closed the door on their careers, Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman has got to replace the legendary stalwarts of Scott and White. The announcement of her latest squad for World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Luxembourg sees Lauren James, Ebony Salmon and Niamh Charles among those returning to the fold after just missing out on the final squad at the Euros.
They now have the platform and environment to flourish at international level thanks to the work of the newly-retired Lionesses. They, along with the stars of the future, will have so much to thank the likes of Bardsley, White and Scott for in helping to create this positive environment that we now have for the women’s game.
