The England Euro 2022 winner was once banned from football
England Euro 2022 winner Ellen White was banned from playing football at the age of nine, with an old article of the story resurfacing on social media.
White helped the Lionesses write their name into England folklore forever after their 2-1 win against Germany on Sunday to end 56 years of hurt.
White is England’s all-time leading scorer
The Manchester City forward was one of the key names in Sarina Wiegman’s side, starting all six of the games and scoring twice.
Throughout her England career White has established herself as one of the side’s most important figures in their rise to the top and is the women’s all-time leading scorer for the country with 52 goals in 113 appearances.
However growing up, White wasn’t given an easy route into football and was banned from playing as a youngster.
While playing for the Arsenal girls academy, White also competed in a local league for boys in Buckinghamshire. However, she was banned, as revealed by an old front-page article in local paper, The Bucks Herald in 1998.
The article, which featured an image of White in her Arsenal kit, lead with the headline: “Soccer girl banned by league for boys,” followed by the sub-heading, “Ellen is only nine and can’t fathom out why she can’t play football.”
The local paper, @bucks_herald from 1998. I remember it well. Wonder if Ellen carried on playing? #football #womensfootball #England pic.twitter.com/e5xNW4rlpo
— Scott Ottaway (@ScottOttaway) August 1, 2022
It’s fair to say that since then White has made quite the impact in football. After eventually coming through the academy to play for the Arsenal senior side, the 33-year-old would join London rivals Chelsea in 2005.
White then joined Leeds Carnegie in 2008 before a return to the Gunners two years later. The forward also had spells at Notts County, Birmingham City and Manchester City, where she has played since 2019.
Related links:
- David Baddiel says it’s time to retire ‘Three Lions’ after England’s Euro 2022 win
- England stars gatecrash Sarina Wiegman press conference singing ‘it’s coming home’
- Chelsea manager Emma Hayes in tears after England win Euro 2022
