View From The Field: Ward’s Words (Helen Ward column)

Helen Ward opens by pretending life has been quiet: she had a baby in September, returned to training with Watford, and went to Russia with Wales. Her son Charlie was born on 7 September and her thoughts turned to football as she left the hospital, which she defends as necessary – everyone needs something that is theirs, and football is hers. She had named Russia away, six weeks after her due date, as her target when most people thought her mad, and made the squad and took almost a full part in training. Wales came home with the point they wanted, though she thinks a braver referee might have given them three. Now she must build gradually and avoid spikes in training load.