The She Kicks Locker Room: On The Treatment Table (Emma Maye)

Fifteen-year-old Rotherham United centre back Emma Maye describes breaking the bone on the inside of her left ankle with ligament damage on the lateral side, and eight weeks out. It happened at training on a Monday night after the manager had called a halt because of rain, only for her to insist they carry on for five more minutes; going to tackle a team-mate, her foot went with her. The pain was instant and she screamed before hitting the floor. The season had gone badly for a first-year side in which only four of sixteen signings had played competitively before, though she had been made captain and had played every minute. Three weeks in plaster became five, then an aircast boot. She continued attending matches and leading the team out.