The She Kicks Locker Room: The Before & After with Charlie Wellings

Interviewed between England’s group games at an Under-20 World Cup, Birmingham’s forward describes a match day built on music and analysis. There is a drive to Birmingham with hype-up music on – no sad songs – then whoever’s phone has enough charge becomes the changing-room DJ, because Birmingham have never designated one. With England there is a shared Spotify playlist anyone can add to, and Spanish songs to dance to before going out. She does not get nervous playing, only watching from the bench. Every game is analysed afterwards on video, so picking herself up after a poor performance means watching it back, seeing what could have been better, and accepting that the rest is gone.