The She Kicks Locker Room: Captain’s Chat With Emily Simpkins

Eight years after she was part of Birmingham City’s run to a Champions League semi-final, and via spells at Doncaster Belles and Brighton, Emily Simpkins found herself captaining a Charlton side chasing promotion. She had led a team only once before, standing in at Doncaster against Chelsea, and describes a style built on standards and example rather than volume, with positive reinforcement over criticism. Charlton rotate the pre-match team talk among the players so the dressing room hears different voices. She learned most from Karen Carney and Laura Bassett at Birmingham, and found out about the captaincy by text from Karen Hills on the way to a friendly. The armband answer is the best one: three already used this season, one signed and given to travelling German supporters.