The Football Interview is a new series in which the biggest names in sport and entertainment join host Kelly Somers for bold and in-depth conversations about the nation’s favourite sport. We’ll explore mindset and motivation, and talk about defining moments, career highs and personal reflections. The Football Interview brings you the person behind the player. Interviews will drop on weekends across BBC iPlayer, YouTube, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website. This week’s interview will be broadcast on BBC One from 23:50 BST on Saturday, 28 February.
Leah Williamson has won almost everything there is to win in women’s football. Twice a European champion as England captain, she has also lifted every trophy available during a 20-year career with Arsenal – including the Champions League and the inaugural Women’s Champions Cup. Now she wants the World Cup.
In a wide-ranging interview, Williamson tells Kelly Somers she once considered quitting as a teenager until a chat with her mum convinced her to continue. She also discusses her love of fashion and how music helps her switch off from the pressures of elite sport.
Kelly Somers: Leah, nice to see you – thank you for your time. Let’s start with football. I want to know the first time you played football, your first memories and also—because of something you’ve just said to me off camera—how good were you?
Leah Williamson: My earliest memory was at gymnastics aged five or six when a coach brought out a soft ball while we waited for parents. My first proper memory is playing for my local team, but my mum says it was painful to watch. I used to toe-punt the ball and couldn’t kick properly until I was about 10.
Kelly: That gives every parent hope!
Leah: Definitely. My first team was Scots Youth FC. I was the only girl and felt protected by my teammates, but against other teams it could be tough. Parents would say things like, “Don’t let her do that to you, she’s a girl.” If I saw them now they’d probably pretend it was all friendly competition.
Kelly: Was there a moment you thought it could be a career?
Leah: When I was about 15 I told my mum I might stop. I was tired of travel, expense and the uncertainty—women’s football didn’t feel professional then. My dad believed I’d earn a wage one day and encouraged me to keep going. I was pragmatic and anxious, and I wasn’t a loud player getting immediate recognition. But I stuck with it. I decided not to go to university, fully committed, and signed my professional contract on my 18th birthday. Going to America on a scholarship like in Bend It Like Beckham was an option, but the growth of the game here made me want to stay.
Kelly: Any turning points beyond that chat with your mum?
Leah: The 2015 World Cup preparations felt pivotal. I’d been turning heads at Arsenal and was called toward the England camp, but injuries and timing meant I missed out. That made me realise how much I cared and pushed me to be proactive. The eventual England call-up made it feel like a career.
Kelly: If you could relive one match, what would it be?
Leah: I wouldn’t relive the Champions League final—the match was painful physically and emotionally. I’d relive the 2022 Euros final. Walking out of the tunnel at Wembley, I felt we were going to win. From the warm-up to extra time, the atmosphere of 90,000 fans was incredible. It felt like a home fixture and like everyone knew the importance of that moment—the first major trophy for England in decades. It changed the landscape of football and our lives overnight.
Kelly: Did you realise the impact at the time?
Leah: It’s rare to fully appreciate a moment as you live it. We were shielded from the outside world during the tournament while still receiving enough to know what was happening. The scale of it was huge and it felt life-changing. It gave fuel to go again rather than leaving us content with that success.
Kelly: How did the 2025 Euros compare?
Leah: Very different. In 2022 I felt almost untouchable; in 2025 it was a mental grind and I was injured by the end. That challenge—keeping going when you don’t feel at your best—is very different to the euphoric confidence of 2022.
Kelly: Away from the pitch, what was young Leah like?
Leah: Apparently insufferable—my cousins joke about it. I was fearless and a bit of a performer, owning the spaces I went into. I was measured, a trait that can come across as standoffish, but it gave me a solid foundation for a tough environment.
Kelly: Your family have been on the journey with you.
Leah: Absolutely. They take joy and pride in everything I do. My mum splits her time, my dad splits his time between me and my brother. My brother plays for our hometown team. My dad’s very supportive and my mum is real and direct—both have kept me grounded.
Kelly: What’s an ideal day off?
Leah: No alarm, a concert, theatre or cinema, and a nice meal. I love music because it takes me out of football. I’ve just got a keyboard at home and I’m starting to play the piano again.
Kelly: You’re into fashion too.
Leah: Yes—it’s a form of expression. My job has a uniform, so on days off I like to wear things that make me feel good.
Kelly: Tell me something that would surprise me.
Leah: I’m fiercely loyal. I’d drop anything for my family, friends or partner. People sometimes think I’m a bit ‘stush’—I can wear my heart on my sleeve but I’m protective of my space. Once I shut the outside world out, I change a lot from the public face.
Kelly: Your role has expanded beyond football.
Leah: It has, but I believe you can be yourself and move between different worlds while still performing at your job.
Kelly: You’ve achieved so much. What else do you want to achieve?
Leah: The World Cup. It’s the last trophy on my list. Every Lioness wants it. Women’s football is so competitive now with many strong teams, which makes winning it even more desirable.
Kelly: Thank you so much for your time.
Leah: Thanks for having me.
