Pollard among the legends at Wembley for Lionesses’ clash with Germany

FORMER LEEDS United Ladies captain Issy Pollard will be among the Lionesses Legends honoured at England’s mouthwatering international against Germany on Saturday.

Phil Neville’s side take on their old rivals in front of a sell-out crowd at Wembley this weekend and 43-year-old Pollard, from Hebden Bridge, will be among England’s former international stars who will take part in a half-time legends parade.

Pollard, who started playing football at Old Town Junior School, went on to play for

Bradford City Ladies and Bronte Ladies, where she played alongside Clare Taylor and received a call-up to the England squad at the age of 16.

Successful spells at Millwall Lionesses and Doncaster Belles, preceded her move to Leeds United, where she led the team to the AXA FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division title and promotion to the National Division.

Pollard was called up to the England squad several times during her career and her experience of playing alongside the likes of Clare Taylor at an early age inspired her to international honours. Pollard said: “Clare was an England international and I learnt so much from her.

“I attended lots of England meets and training camps while I was at Bronte and I travelled to Spain, Slovenia, Iceland and Italy where I gained my full caps.”

More England duties followed at Millwall between 1992 and 1994.

“Kelly Smith was starting to get the limelight around this time,” said Pollard. “I remember her in club games being fantastic and then catching up with her at England meets. The England

gatherings were brilliant, hanging out with the best players in the country and improving my game.

“I had the opportunity to play semi-professionally in Sweden at Lyksele IF.”

Pollard, pictured right, added: “When I returned to England I joined Doncaster Belles and playing regular football with international players was fantastic and I got a recall to the England squad.

“Playing with the best players at Donny Belles was an honour.

“I also managed to get out to the United States in 1997, doing some coaching and this was a brilliant experience.”

The move to Leeds proved to be another successful one for Pollard, who said: “Playing for Leeds was amazing.

“It was an up-and-coming club and we helped it grow and got some players on board to make it through the leagues.

“It was a brilliant few years as captain and we grew and grew as more players joined.”

Pollard now enjoys her time working with RocketDogz dog walking and hopes to return to coaching, to inspire the next generation of Lionesses.