Coultard’s Biggest Victory

Tony Leighton meets the former England captain who won 119 caps and led Doncaster Belles for many years, moving from forward to cultured midfielder and finally to sweeper. Gill Coultard describes finding a lump eight years ago and dismissing it until mentioning it at a check-up; within five days a specialist confirmed breast cancer and surgery was set for the end of the month. She kept working at East Durham and Houghall College, and calls the fortnight awaiting results the scariest time. Eighteen weeks of chemotherapy followed, including trialling an ice-cap treatment, then radiotherapy in January. A friend diagnosed soon afterwards, aged 42 with two young sons, was not so lucky. Now all clear, she raised around 5,000 pounds at a college fundraiser and has suggested the FA dedicate an England friendly to breast cancer charities.