Drew Blue

Jen O’Neill’s interview with Chelsea’s longest-serving player, recorded at Cobham a week after the club’s first FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup win and shortly before football closed down. Spence, who had just signed a two-year contract extension, discusses her shyness, her 11 years and 200-plus appearances, and the family bond Emma Hayes has maintained. She reflects on watching tight games from the bench, including the 3-3 draw at Manchester City and the Conti Cup final against Arsenal, and on repeatedly proving herself against big-name arrivals such as Katie Chapman, Ji So-yun, Sophie Ingle and Maren Mjelde. She talks about her Arsenal-supporting father, her brother Lewwis, and carrying the Colombian flag at the 2015 FA Cup final in memory of her friend Santiago. A printed footnote references the Mark Sampson racism inquiry. Hayes is quoted calling her retention more important than a new signing.