beth's FOOTBALL EDUCATION

What do you remember from your very early days being coached? What were the most valuable lessons you learned?

Back when I was young, you probably wouldn’t think it now but I was actually quite nervous and shy. It meant that I really struggled to settle get into a team environment at first. I think my coaches were very good at trying to help me do things to give me confidence and let me have fun at the same time. That was so important when I was first starting my football journey. My dad was actually one of my coaches when I was little and I was a bit cheeky with him, so he used to make me do a lot of laps around the field, just because I was quite annoying!

And then, obviously, as I got older and more confident, I developed a lot more tactical understanding. I think my coaches noticed that I could read the game quite well so they pushed me more in terms of tactics. Now I love that part of the game and have them to thank for challenging me when I was younger. I’m doing my UEFA coaching badges now so it feels like I’ve come full circle. When I was able to recognise elements of set up that needed changing or how to shift momentum in our favour, I loved that feeling.

When I first started playing for the Sunderland women’s team, I was only 16, so I still had a lot of growing to do when it came to understanding the game better. I wasn’t a big fish in a small pond anymore. I needed to learn how to create partnerships on the pitch, as well as zoom out and understand football as a whole.

Who were your early influences? What players did you look up to when you started and why?

I love Kelly Smith. She was one of my idols, which obviously is quite apt now she's one of our coaches! I loved watching her. I went and watched her play for England and looked up to Arsenal before I got the chance to play at the club. Kelly actually retired the year I came here so I always make the joke that she avoided me, but I got her eventually. She was one of the few women’s players that I could see on TV a lot and I just loved how she played. I loved how she scored goals. I loved how she had the audacity to do things that other people didn't. That was cool. When I was younger, I actually went to an FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Sunderland and then ended up playing for both clubs. Meant to be!

Can you pinpoint a stage in your career, or an age group, where you made the biggest leap?

It was probably also my riskiest step! But when I got promoted from WSL 2 with Sunderland, Arsenal actually came in for me. It was such a hard decision because I could go to play for an amazing club like Arsenal or I could get the chance to play in the top league for Sunderland and see if I could develop and play regularly. I took that risk and stayed with Sunderland and that first season in the WSL, I ended up being the league’s top scorer. And then Arsenal came back into contact a year later, so it all worked out really, really well.

Obviously, it was a risk. If I hadn't played well, would Arsenal have come back? But it just felt like the right way. I was still a young kid and wanted game time and for Sunderland to do as well as we did straight after being promoted, it was perfect. We obviously exceeded expectations as a club but I think I did the same individually, too.

What managers have you worked with, and how do they differ?

I think my coaches when I was younger were very personable. They knew that if they helped out the person, that was the best way to get the best from me as a player too. I've had different coaches who, when I've been playing well, expect more of me. They’ll pull me aside to say that they want a bit more fight from me. I'm a player that plays really well when I've got a good, controlled aggression. So, it has also been about finding that balance of performing well and enjoying my football. I'd like to think that a lot of my coaches have understood me pretty well, but I am quite an open book as well.

For Renée, what’s made her transition from assistant to head coach so seamless is the relationships she built beforehand. She knew us all individually in her previous role so she’s now able to build on that strong foundation. It’s been nice to see Renée develop in the different roles she’s had here at the club.

What do you wish you had known earlier in your career?

It was my mum and dad who were pretty good at advising me at the time, so between the three of us, we did pretty good! I think through through the years, sometimes you lose the reason of playing football and why you started playing in the first place. But I always said to myself: just enjoy doing what you do. We know it doesn't last forever, so you’ve got to enjoy it.

What training qualifications do you have now or would like to have in future? What coaching experience do you have?

I did my level 1 and 2 qualifications when I was back home when I was younger, before I moved to Arsenal, and then I did my UEFA B Licence a year ago. I just thought, if we have the opportunity to learn more about the game and see a different side of things, why not use it! You don't just have to use it for coaching. It’s helpful in many walks of life and not just in the football world because it allows you to develop different skills as a person. I thought it was just important to be able to do that. Who knows if I would ever want to become a coach fully but it's certainly not a bad thing to have in my back pocket.

It's been wonderful working with the academy girls and helping with their coaching. It’s a privilege when you see that some of them hang onto your every word. They know you're a senior player playing for Arsenal and it’s important that they can believe that pathway for themselves. We don’t get much time with them but I always try to make the most of it when we do.

What will your footballing philosophy be if you go into management?

I’d like to combine lots of things I’ve been taught by previous coaches and what I’ve enjoyed as a player. Honesty between players and coaches is such an important value for me and how we can develop leadership across the team. I’d like to instill a good aura around the training ground but also make sure it’s a competitive environment. Ultimately, I’d like everyone to have fun and enjoy playing football. That’s not going to be the perfect approach for everyone but hopefully it’s a nice philosophy that most players would enjoy playing for.

Do you enjoy the analysis side of the game? (And why/why not?)

It has to be part of the game, especially now. I don't think it's a big passion of mine, but I do like to engage with certain aspects of it. I don’t know whether I’ll grow into enjoying that part a bit more when I come away from football, but it's not currently at the top of my list.

Who in the current squad would make the best manager in future and why?

I think we've got a number of girls that would be excellent, but it’s a question of whether they would want to or not! The likes of Leah Williamson and Steph Catley have got that good understanding and leadership within the game - they could easily go into that coaching role. I’m not sure if that’s on the cards for them but they would do great if they wanted to.

What can football learn from other sports?

There are endless amounts of philosophies that different cultures bring into different sports. I think there's a lot that football can learn from other sports, particularly around the balance between high challenge and ultimate respect.