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Football Daily - Leah Williamson: The Football Interview
Episode Overview In this episode of the Football Daily podcast titled "Leah Williamson - The Football Interview," host Kelly Somers interviews Leah Williamson, the captain of the England women's national football team and Arsenal. They discuss Williamson's early life, her journey in football, her experiences as a leader, and her aspirations for the future.
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Key Discussion Points
Early Memories and Introduction to Football
- First Experiences:
- Started playing football at age 5-6 during gymnastics waiting for parents.
- Initial lack of skill; mother recalls it being "painful" to watch.
- First Team:
- Played for Scots Youth FC; was the only girl on the team but felt well-protected by teammates.
Challenges and Turning Points
- Nearly Dropping Out of Football:
- At age 15, Williamson considered stepping away from football due to fatigue and the financial strain of travelling for matches.
- Her mother encouraged her to continue.
- Career Turning Point:
- Realized passion during the 2015 World Cup prep camps; felt she wanted to take control of her future in football.
Career Highlights and Achievements
- Memorable Matches:
- Reliving the 2022 UEFA Women's Euro final was a standout moment; felt a sense of invincibility before winning.
- Would not want to relive the Champions League final due to personal struggle during the match.
- Impact of the Euro 2022 Victory:
- Acknowledged the historic significance of the win and its effect on her life, transitioning from relative anonymity to national recognition.
Life Beyond Football
- Family Influence:
- Describes a supportive family dynamic, where both parents have been influential in her journey.
- Acknowledges her family's pride and participation in her football journey.
- Personal Interests:
- Enjoys music, particularly attending concerts and playing the piano as a means of escape from football pressures.
- Has a passion for fashion as a form of self-expression on days off.
Future Aspirations
- Goals Moving Forward:
- Expresses a desire to win a World Cup, recognizing it as the final major trophy missing from her cabinet.
- Notes the unpredictability of women’s football and the increased competition among teams.
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Key Takeaways
- Leah Williamson's journey showcases resilience, passion, and the evolution of women's football.
- Emphasizes the importance of family support in personal and professional development.
- Highlights the significance of the Euro 2022 victory as a turning point not only for her career but also for women's football in England.
- Williamson's personal interests outside of football contribute to her well-being and help her cope with the pressures of being a high-profile athlete.
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Conclusion The episode presents an intimate look into Leah Williamson's life, revealing her journey from a struggling young player to a celebrated leader in women's football. Her story serves as an inspiration and highlights the growing landscape of women's sports.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOInterview Begins: Leah Williamson's Early Football Memories
0:46 to 1:15
Leah Williamson shares her early memories of playing football and her initial experiences.
“some of the biggest names in football, asking them the questions they don't normally get asked as I try to find out more about the person behind the player or manager.”
First Team Experience and Challenges
1:15 to 2:09
Leah talks about her first team experience as the only girl and the challenges she faced.
“and also because of something you've just said to me off camera, how good were you?”
Deciding to Pursue Football
2:09 to 3:05
Leah discusses the moment she considered stopping football and her mother's encouragement.
“I couldn't kick the ball properly until I was like 10, I don't think.”
Turning Points and Career Aspirations
3:05 to 4:09
Leah reflects on key moments that solidified her football career ambitions.
“Yeah, we just had a conversation out there in the car park, and I just was like, I'm tired, you're tired, we're travelling a lot, it costs a lot of money, and I'm not sure.”
Memorable Matches and Emotional Impact
4:09 to 6:11
Leah shares insights on her most memorable matches and their emotional significance.
“did you consider that yeah yeah like bend it like Beckham I'm watching that as a kid and I'm like Yeah, I want to do that.”
The Women's Euro 2022 Triumph
6:11 to 7:40
Leah discusses the historic victory in Women's Euro 2022 and its impact on her life.
“From the minute we walked out of the tunnel I just, it's like playing a game where you just know you're going to win.”
Post-Tournament Life Changes
7:40 to 8:23
Leah reflects on how the tournament victory changed her life and public perception.
“It gives me goosebumps when we talk about it.”
Life Off the Pitch: Interests and Hobbies
8:23 to 11:10
Leah discusses her interests outside of football, including music and fashion.
“We just went from no-one knowing us to everybody knowing us overnight kind of thing.”
Future Goals and Aspirations
11:10 to 13:44
Leah shares her aspirations for the future, including the desire to win a World Cup.
“You don't get that much time off, so you have to be able to switch off as quickly as possible to live in a different world to then come back fresh.”
The Current State of Women's Football
14:01 to 14:13
Learn about the unpredictability and competitiveness in women's football today.
“And the stage of women's football now, like it's just so unpredictable.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Kelly Somers:This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.
0:06Leah Williamson:This is not the future we were promised. Like, how about that for a tagline for the show? From the BBC, this is The Interface, the show that explores how tech is rewiring your week and your world.
0:19Kelly Somers:This isn't about quarterly earnings or about tech reviews.
0:22Leah Williamson:It's about what technology is actually doing to your work and your politics, your everyday life. and all the bizarre ways people are using the internet. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.
0:40Kelly Somers:The Football Interview on the Football Daily Podcast.
0:45Leah Williamson:I'm Kelly Summers and this season I'll be interviewing some of the biggest names in football, asking them the questions they don't normally get asked as I try to find out more about the person behind the player or manager. The first half will be on football, the second on their life away from the game. This isn't just any interview, this is the Football Interview. And this week I'm speaking to Lioness's captain and Arsenal's Leah Williamson. Leah, nice to see you, thank you for your time. Let's start with football. I want to know, the first time you played football, your first memories, and also because of something you've just said to me off camera, how good were you?
1:24Kelly Somers:first time I ever played football I like my memory was at gymnastics I must have been like five six we were just waiting for our parents at the end to pick us up and the coach was a football fan so he just got out like a softball my first proper memories was playing playing for my local team but my mum said it was painful because you weren't very good yeah she's like you know you go and support your kids but at the same time she was like it wasn't thrilling to watch you know it's not like I was holding out that you were going to be like a footballer.
1:54Leah Williamson:Probably, I guess, when you were little, though, it probably wasn't really something that she would have envisaged for her daughter.
1:58Kelly Somers:Yeah, I couldn't, no, definitely not, especially because she played football and she couldn't have played football. She had to pretend to be a boy. So she's thinking, all right, we'll just see how far this goes. But yeah, I used to toe punt it. I couldn't kick the ball properly until I was like 10, I don't think.
2:13Leah Williamson:That gives every parent of young children hope. Yeah, there's no stress. There's no stress. You mentioned there your first team. Yeah. What was the name of your first team? What can you remember of it? Scots Youth.
2:22Kelly Somers:FC yeah I was the only girl but I was I was very well protected within my team still other teams it wasn't wasn't great
2:30Leah Williamson:they target you do you think because you were the girl
2:32Kelly Somers:yeah and you'd get parents it was more parents you know like don't let her do that to you she's a girl
2:37Leah Williamson:I wonder what they're saying now those parents probably like
2:39Kelly Somers:oh I remember her probably if I saw her they'd probably be like oh we used to play together I'm like no you used to give me a hard time
2:44Leah Williamson:was there a point where you thought okay I could make this this is actually something that could be a career and I imagine I go back to being a girl as well it probably isn't something that's thought about quite as much.
2:54Kelly Somers:I had a conversation with mum at about 15, and I said, I'm probably going to stop now. She was like, all right, you tell them then. And I was too scared to...
3:04Leah Williamson:Did you actually genuinely think...
3:05Kelly Somers:Yeah, we just had a conversation out there in the car park, and I just was like, I'm tired, you're tired, we're travelling a lot, it costs a lot of money, and I'm not sure. It's a bit of a gamble. It's not professional. My dad always said it would be a wage. Like, I'd always be able to earn a wage one day. I don't know where he had that idea from. But he was very much like, keep going, follow your dreams kind of thing. Whereas I was a bit more pragmatic, I'd say. I'm a bit of a worrier. And also, I wasn't, like, the loudest footballer, I wouldn't say. So if we, you know, a couple of my teammates would get chats from, like, the first team, and that wasn't really coming my way.
3:49Kelly Somers:So I was just being a bit realistic. like maybe it's not for me um but I stuck it out it's good job you did for it yeah I'm happy I'm happy I did but yeah I'd say once I got into the first team I was still a bit like all right let's see what happens and then I decided I didn't want to go to university and I think that's then why I like fully committed and then on my 18th birthday I signed a professional contract the year of option obviously for a lot of us was going to America and going to get a scholarship and did you consider that yeah yeah like bend it like Beckham I'm watching that as a kid and I'm like Yeah, I want to do that.
4:20Kelly Somers:So that was in consideration. And then the game here just picked up, picked up. And I thought, I don't want to leave this. This is too exciting to not be a part of, for me.
4:29Leah Williamson:Has there been a turning point, like a moment where, other than that conversation that you said with your mum, if it hadn't happened, maybe all of the success wouldn't have followed?
4:37Kelly Somers:The 2015 World Cup, like the prep camps, you'd normally bring in a bigger squad and you'd have these reserve players playing with you. You know, I've been playing for Arsenal and I'd done like a season, so I turned a few heads, let's just say. People knew who you were. Yeah, yeah, and I got a call from the manager, it's Mark Samson at the time, but I'd just got injured. But he called me to say, I was going to bring you into the prep camp, but, you know, don't worry about your injury. Hopefully, you know, there'll be, yeah, next time. And it didn't happen for me then. I came back and it happened again.
5:13Kelly Somers:And I'm not sure if I've just missed my opportunity. I think that moment in my head, then I realised how much I cared about it and I wanted to. Instead of just letting things happen to me,
5:25Leah Williamson:I was like, no, I'm going to try.
5:29Kelly Somers:And then the England call-up came, and I think that was when I was like, this is like a career thing now.
5:35Leah Williamson:I was trying to second-guess your answer for this, but I think it's impossible. If you could relive one match from your career, what would it be? because we speak to a lot of people for this and they've got some good matches, but your list of good matches is up there. It's up there now.
5:51Kelly Somers:I wouldn't relive the Champions League final. I wouldn't. I was in a lot of pain from start to finish. Emotionally, physically, it was very warm. I was on the verge of sunstroke. I was not in a good place. Just relive the celebrations. Yeah, the rest of it and the big picture, great. the game I would go back to is 22. From the minute we walked out of the tunnel I just, it's like playing a game where you just know you're going to win. And obviously I understand that there was a chance we weren't going to win but everything about it just was like no, we're going to win today. So it was really enjoyable from the minute it started.
6:29Kelly Somers:It's only when they scored that I thought This isn't the plan. That is not what I thought was going to happen. But like extra time, just everything about it it was Wembley, 90 ,000 people was insane, insane.
6:43Leah Williamson:And probably the impact after, did you realise, do you think, quite what you'd done? I think it's very rare that when you're living something
6:52Kelly Somers:that you realise what's happening. And I think everybody did such a good job to shut the world out from us during that tournament whilst also drip-feeding enough for us to... Were they? No. I don't know if it was just being in England. Did you shut yourself off from it? Yeah, just how I have my social media now. like I don't see things that I don't want to see. I've set it all up to protect me in that way. And I think when we then went to Wembley, the helicopter followed us from the hotel, you know, like in the coach, then you arrive at Wembley and there's just people everywhere. And then you come out to warm up and you think we're basically playing a home fixture.
7:28Kelly Somers:It felt like 90 ,000 England fans. It was just the most incredible, I don't assume anything you'll ever touch it just because it was the home tournament, the first ever, you know?
7:40Leah Williamson:It gives me goosebumps when we talk about it. I was there and I can remember the feeling and I think everyone in the stadium that day felt that.
7:47Kelly Somers:I think that's the beauty of it, is that everybody knew what they were a part of. You can go deeper into, like, the history of women's football, but you can also just go to the first trophy in 56 years, or whatever it was, that England had won.
8:01Leah Williamson:It was a moment in history. It was a moment in time. Exactly. And I think we've seen since it was life-changing for you guys, for so many people.
8:10Kelly Somers:It changed the landscape of football. And I'm so happy that we won it because I think the country was ready to do something with it. And I think we've seen that. How's it changed your life? It changed everything in terms of just... We just went from no-one knowing us to everybody knowing us overnight kind of thing. It's a common understanding amongst all of us girls and we talk about it like, we had to accept that we probably would never feel that way again you know like it was that big of a moment and I think that does change your life does it give you like a fuel to then go and do something else or is it like I'm content with that
8:47Leah Williamson:You mentioned there the fuel gave you the fuel to do it again didn't it? It did, it did, it did How does that compare?
8:56Kelly Somers:It's just completely different, 20, 25 euros I've never seen a group of people come together and just, like, not give in. Obviously, for me, I was really injured by the time I got to the end of the final.
9:09Leah Williamson:That's why I wasn't surprised you didn't want to relive that game.
9:12Kelly Somers:Yeah, it was more like a mental challenge of, you're OK, you're OK, you're OK, which is very different to, I literally feel untouchable in 22.
Read the full transcript
9:22Leah Williamson:Let's try and talk about you away from the pitch a little bit then. OK. What were you like, firstly, growing up? What was a young Neil Williamson like?
9:29Kelly Somers:Insufferable, I've been told, by my cousins.
9:32Leah Williamson:Your cousins?
9:32Kelly Somers:Yeah. We always joke because you lose confidence as you turn into an adult, I think. Obviously you're fearless as a kid, but I was a bit of a performer. Let's put it that way. You know, I owned the spaces I went into. So I think, yeah, I was very much the same as I am now in terms of being like, if I was told to do something, I did it that way. and I'd kind of like quite a measured child, I would say, which is, again, quite insufferable.
10:03Leah Williamson:You already mentioned family a few times. Because of your success, they're everywhere with you, aren't they? Talk to me about your family dynamic and what it was like growing up and also it feels like they've really been on the journey with you.
10:14Kelly Somers:Yeah, and they love it. Whatever your event is or whatever your thing is, everybody is there and everybody takes joy in it, everyone takes pride in it. So obviously mine has ended up being this really high-profile thing, but it would be the same if, you know, my mum splits her time, my dad splits his time between me and my brother. My brother plays for our hometown. I know I'm doing them proud and I love that, but they've bought into women's football and they're on that journey as well. My dad thinks I'm the best thing since sliced bread and I love him for that, but my mum has always been very real and very harsh as well, so I've always had both of those feedbacks.
10:54I don't know, I think I was given a good foundation
10:59Kelly Somers:to then come into this world, which is tough to be in.
11:04Leah Williamson:What's your ideal day off? How does Leah Williamson escape from football and everything that comes with it? I think I'm quite good at it.
11:12Kelly Somers:Are you? Yeah, I think I am. I think it's a skill. I think you have to learn to... You don't get that much time off, so you have to be able to switch off as quickly as possible to live in a different world to then come back fresh. but for me ideal I don't know no alarm go to go to a concert go to a theatre something something in the arts or even just a cinema go for a nice nice meal but I love music I love I love going out and I think that's the reason I love music is because I can't be thinking about football there you still play the piano I actually just for the first time since I learned to play the piano I've just got a keyboard at home oh okay so it's about to start up again getting serious yeah it's about to start up again so you're really into your fashion aren't you yeah yeah I am I like it it's a form of expression like because even now like you're I'm in a uniform my job is uniform I'm and I don't mind that you know like I turn up to work and I'm but when the day off for me I want to do something where I can then put something on that makes me feel good and tell me something about yourself that would surprise me I mean I don't think it's a secret I'm a loyal person like if you look at my career I would I would do anything I would drop anything for for my my people family friends partner it doesn't matter so it's it's like uh I think sometimes people think I'm a bit like stush if that makes sense I think I think I think maybe sometimes like I just don't I think I wear my heart in my sleep.
12:46Kelly Somers:You have my opinions, you have my feelings. I get taken the mick out of at the football, but Beth's always like, Leah, smile. Like, look like you're enjoying yourself. And I think, all right, sorry, I remember, but I just get very protective of my space. And then once the outside world's shut off, then I think I do change quite a lot compared to what goes out, if that makes sense.
13:06Leah Williamson:Yeah, yeah, no, I do understand. You've got a lot of pressure and a lot of eyes on you, though, as well. and I guess your role has kind of changed. You've become, to many people, not just a footballer. Do you know what I mean?
13:18Kelly Somers:Yeah. It's a feasible thing to be yourself and move in different worlds at different times and still be really good at your job, you know?
13:27Leah Williamson:You've achieved so much. What else do you want to achieve? If you could only achieve one more thing, what would it be?
13:32Kelly Somers:The last thing on the list is obviously a World Cup. In the career that I've had, it's the last trophy.
13:37Leah Williamson:It's no secret that all the other Lionesses that we've spoken to said exactly the same thing. The World Cup. Yeah, the World Cup. Lucy, I don't think I'd finish my sentence.
13:43Kelly Somers:She said World Cup. And Lucy said it. Which probably wouldn't surprise you knowing Lucy either. No, no, no. And I don't think there's any need to be, you know, I speak to my teammates and I'm like, Mariana, you have one. You know, like you want to do a swap or you want to, how does this work? Maybe I'll let you have the next one. Yeah, everybody wants it. And the stage of women's football now, like it's just so unpredictable. There's so many good teams. It becomes so much harder, which I think only makes you want it more.
14:12Leah Williamson:Leah, thank you so much for your time. Could have spoken for ages. No, thanks for having me.
14:20Leah Williamson:I'm Rich Hall, and this is Sports Strangest Crimes presents Confessions of a Super Bowl Streaker. When people ask me what I do, I say to them, well, by day or by night. The story of one man's mission to conquer the holy grail of streaking the Super Bowl. Mark Roberts is too lively for his body.
14:39Kelly Somers:He's just like the entertainer. Mark pushes the boundaries of what is socially acceptable. No chance, Texas.
14:47Leah Williamson:It's really strict, but then the more I thought about it, the more I thought, hang on. What are you about? Sports Stranger's Crimes presents Confessions of a Super Bowl Streaker. Listen on BBC Sounds.
15:03Leah Williamson:This is not the future we were promised. Like, how about that for a tagline for the show? From the BBC, this is The Interface, the show that explores how tech is rewiring your week and your world.
15:16Kelly Somers:This isn't about quarterly earnings or about tech reviews.
15:19Leah Williamson:It's about what technology is actually doing to your work and your politics, your everyday life. And all the bizarre ways people are using the internet. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.
From the publisher
In this week’s edition of the Football Interview, Kelly Somers speaks to England captain Leah Williamson. They discuss her early memories of getting into football, the impact her family have had on her, and how she nearly dropped out of the Arsenal academy at the age of 15. She relives captaining England to back-to-back European titles and reveals to Kelly the one thing that's missing that would complete her career.
0’40 - First memories of football and not being very good. 2’20 - How she nearly dropped out of the academy at Arsenal at 15. 3’50 - Has there been a turning point? 4’55 - What match from her career would she relive? 6’00 - Did she realise what she’d done [winning Euro 2022]? 7’42 - How has it changed her life? 8’09 - The fuel to do win it again in 2025. 8’40 - What was she like growing up and her family dynamic. 10’26 - How she escapes from football and love of fashion. 12’53 - What else does she want to achieve?
5 Live / BBC Sounds commentaries: Sat 1500 Liverpool v West Ham, Sat 1500 Newcastle v Everton on Sports Extra, Sat 1730 Leeds v Man City, Sun 1200 Rangers v Celtic, Sun 1400 Man Utd v Crystal Palace, Sun 1400 Fulham v Tottenham on Sports Extra, Sun 1400 Brighton & Hove v Nottingham Forest on Sports Extra 2, Sun 1630 Arsenal v Chelsea.
