Little Kicks Star Six: Marvellous Meado (Beth Mead interviewed by Drew Turner)

The Little Kicks section hands the interview over entirely: fourteen-year-old Drew Turner picked the player and wrote all six questions, and Beth Mead – who had presented her with a goalscoring award three years earlier – answered them. Growing up in Whitby, Mead says, meant few opportunities and a long way to any footballing environment, and playing for a boys’ team meant opposing players and their parents laughing and telling her girls did not belong in the league; she showed them who was boss. On being small she quotes her parents back – the bigger they are, the harder they fall – and points at Messi. Her advice is to enjoy every minute and work hard.