DREAM TEAM
BETH ENGLAND – The Doncaster Belles midfielder chooses her favourite XI, made up from players she has played with in her football career.
GOALKEEPERI
Nicola Hobbs – Doncaster Belles I’m going to be a bit biased here and put Nicola in. Obviously I play with her at the moment, and she’s a great keeper. There are games where she hardly has to do anything for us, but then when she is called upon she’s always ready. She’s got great distribution, great reactions, fast hands, and she’s just really good all round.
RIGHT-BACKI
Lyndsey Cunningham – Doncaster Belles Her overlapping runs are great and she really can move the ball well. She’s strong in the tackle and whenever you play in front of her on the right side of midfield she is always talking to you, so her communication is outstanding.
CENTRE-BACKSI
Amy Turner – Notts County She’s an absolute tank. She’s so solid at the back and will put her body on the line in any tackle. Amy is just a machine for me and you always feel safe playing in front of a player like her. I’ve played with her sister as well, Lucy Turner, and she is another good footballer. Leandra Little – Doncaster Belles She is absolutely rapid and I’ve never met anyone else who can beat Leandra in a sprint, which is a brilliant quality to have in a centre-back – most of them turn like buses. Obviously she’s good in the air too given how tall she is, and she’s another who is not afraid to put her body on the line.
LEFT-BACKI
Alex Greenwood – Notts County I played with her for England in the Under19s and Under-23s and she reads the game very well. Her fitness is unbelievable as well, as she gets up and down that wing making overlapping runs all game long. Has great vision and is very good at set-pieces.
CENTRALI MIDFIELDERSI
Vicky Exley – Retired I played with Vicky when I first joined the Belles and she played for England back then. I’ve never met a more solid midfielder; the opposition were scared to go near her. She was someone I learned a lot from when I started here. She was a bit of role model for me. Lucy Staniforth – Liverpool Lucy is very talented and I’ve played with her for the England Under-23s. I’d have her in there as she’d compliment Vicky well. She doesn’t shy out of tackles in the middle of the park, and she’s very aware of the players around her. Kasia Lipka – Doncaster Belles She will run and run non-stop. Defending, Kasia is always there and in counter-attacks she’s brilliant at looking to get the ball forwards quickly, so she’s a very handy player to have in midfield. She’s been really important for us this year.
FORWARDI
Nikita Parris – Manchester City I’d definitely have her in my front three as she brings loads of pace and she’s great at scoring goals. She moves her opposition around a lot and can create chances for the girls in midfield and in terms of goalscoring she’s a great asset to have.
FORWARDI
Courtney Sweetman-Kirk – Doncaster Belles She’s scoring loads at the moment, and that’s not because she’s in-form but because she has a genuine eye for goal. She can hit the back of the net from any angle at all.
FORWARDI
Beth Mead – Sunderland Having played with her for England I’d say pace-wise she is absolutely unbelievable. She’s a fantastic all round athlete and as a striker I know for a fact she is someone no-one likes to play against.