Beth Mead on the Lionesses' Victory and Future Goals
Pro footballer Beth Mead reflects on the Lionesses' UEFA Women's Euro victory this summer, and her goals for the future
‘I got into football when I was six years old. I had a lot of energy as a kid and it was actually my mum who took me to my first session at my local village in Hinderwell. It was volunteer run and all boys,’ Beth recalls. ‘The coach warned my mum that it was quite rough but Mum reassured him not to worry, that I’d just get involved. When Mum came to pick me up after that first session the coach said I was tougher than most of the boys and was incredibly talented. He said he’d like to send me further afield to try and play for a proper girls team which obviously was very difficult at that time but that was the start of my journey.
‘Growing up I loved all sports, and would put my energy into any sport, but that was my first footballing session. My passion for the game just comes from the pure love of the game. I’ve loved it since I was six, and I love it now at 30, so nothing has changed there.’
In 2015, Beth won the WSL Golden Boot and the WSL Player of the Year award, becoming the youngest WSL Golden Boot winner at the age of 20. When asked to reflect on her career so far, in what’s been something of a whirlwind, Beth struggles with where to start. ‘I feel very, very proud of what I've achieved and honoured to have been able to represent my country at numerous major tournaments [and] winning two of them – winning back-to-back Euros firstly in 2022 in England and this year in Switzerland is pretty incredible,’ she says. ‘Domestically, I’ve had a great career. I’ve been playing for quite a long time, starting off at Sunderland Ladies and then moving to Arsenal. I’m now in my ninth season, and finishing last season winning the Champions League was the highlight of my domestic career having also previously won the League in 2019. I feel incredibly lucky to have achieved what I have so far; it obviously took a lot of hard work to be able to get there.’
‘I had a job to do at both tournaments. I wanted to do my best, contribute and win it with my teammates for the country and that is exactly what we did’
Having been part of the team that won the Euros in 2022 and 2025 with England, and winning the Champions League in May this year with Arsenal, Beth has had her hands on two of the biggest trophies you can win in football. ‘It is something most players can only dream about, so to have been able to achieve both is still kind of a "pinch me moment”,’ she says. ‘To be highly involved in both tournaments and competitions is pretty insane and I think I'll be reflecting on that for a long time to come.’
Both Beth and her teammate Ella Toone had lost a parent to cancer since winning the Euros in 2022, and leaned on each other for support during this year's tournament. They became European champions once more following a nail-biting penalty shootout in which Beth had to re-take her penalty. Beth says the Lionesses’s success this summer ‘still feels quite surreal’. ‘But this year’s tournament was very different for us, we really had to dig deep as a team and be strong physically and mentally, coming from behind in vital games,’ she adds. ‘This year’s Euro Tournament was incredible to be a part of, playing a tournament in another country, Switzerland, and winning the final against one of the world’s best teams, Spain, was special.’
Beth says it’s an incredible honour to play for her country. ‘I appreciate how special it is to be selected to represent your country but also recognise the hard work and dedication it takes to get there,’ she says. ‘With so many eyes watching you, you have to be able to perform at the highest level consistently and it is something that I'm super proud of, and I always will be super proud and honoured to play for my country.’
Whilst Beth played a very different role in the 2022 and 2025 tournaments, both were equally important. ‘In 2022 I won Player of the Tournament and the Golden Boot for most goals scored and was a big part of the team both on and off the pitch,’ she says. ‘At this year’s tournament, I played more of a substitution game-changer role which is very different. I think I still had a very big impact on the tournament, being involved in key moments. I just wanted to do the best for the team and for my teammates, my manager and my country. Ultimately, my mindset didn’t change; I had a job to do at both tournaments. I wanted to do my best, contribute and win it with my teammates for the country and that is exactly what we did.’
There’s no doubt that women's football is becoming more popular year-on-year and Beth has noticed a difference. ‘I think we are now getting the recognition in terms of press coverage and accessibility – televised live games are now regularly on TV so women’s football is more accessible for fans,’ she says. ‘I feel incredibly proud to be a small part of the evolution of the women’s game and to witness the growth – it is just a privilege to be a part of the journey and hopefully that continues to grow. I think fans can enjoy, respect and appreciate the women’s game for what it is. That Arsenal are now playing home games at the Emirates Stadium is a huge statement.’
Whilst she admits it might sound clichéd, Beth is taking one game, one session, one season at a time. ‘After a hugely successful tournament I came back to pre-season for Arsenal strong and focused on doing well with my domestic club and also being able to hopefully get selected for England and continuing the form that we are in as a team,’ she says. Now her focus is on improving and pushing on, ‘but trophies are always nice, and that will be the main aim for this season’.
Do you have any rituals before a match?
I actually don't have any pre-match rituals and I’m not especially superstitious. Personally, I think by working hard I create my own luck. Every player is different, but my preparation is very much in having a strong routine and that working hard will hopefully reap the benefits on a match day.
Who was your sporting idol?
My sporting idol was England and Arsenal player Kelly Smith. Growing up, Kelly was one of the very few recognised and influential women players and she achieved so much. She’s actually one of my coaches at Arsenal now, so I feel incredibly lucky to have this opportunity to be able to work with her regularly and to still be learning from her knowledge and experience even at the age of 30!
What's your favourite thing about Whitby?
Obviously my family are there and I love spending time with my family. I love that Whitby never changes, it is a lovely seaside town and you certainly can’t complain about the fish and chips – they are the best around!
