SCOTT OF THE ANTALKTIC
Midfield general Jill: I’m a chatterbox... and I’m ready to shut up Norway
JILL SCOTT does not just play a good game. She can talk, and talk, one too.
But the England star, who has been tagged as the squad’s No.1 chatterbox, isn’t apologising for bending a few ears – she’s having the time of her life.
The 35-year-old midfielder has her priorities right too – she’d rather chat to a team-mate than stare at her phone.
It’s just that some of her colleagues aren’t quite on the same page yet.
The BBC put up a montage of questions before the midweek victory over Austria, asking the Lionesses who they would rather NOT sit next to on the team bus.
And one name kept being repeated.
Scott said: “I got into trouble for this at the Tokyo Olympics – afterwards they said I needed to be better when I’m travelling.
Veteran
“Leah Williamson and Keira Walsh were asked who not to sit next to on the plane, and they said me, because I was always chewing their ears off.
“Sometimes, I think my name is just the easiest one to say.
“The thing is, I don’t like being on my phone a lot. You know the way it is. When people have spare time they got their phones.
“I’m always trying to hassle them into conversations.
“But I want to savour every moment of this. I am chatting their ears off and enjoying every moment of it.
“Do you know what? They’re not trees. They can always move seats on the bus! That’s my motto.”
Gone are the days when Scott balanced a roadmap on her lap, having blagged £50 off her mum for petrol, to drive from her home in Sunderland to Liverpool for training with Everton.
She has been professional for the past decade now. Before that she was among the first group of players to land a central contract with England.
Scott’s money has been hard earned, and every team has received unquestioningly good value. She has made more than
150 appearances for her country, and at the veteran stage of her playing career she is determined to squeeze out every bit of enjoyment. She said: “There were times when it was difficult.
“I remember asking my mum for cash to fill up my Peugeot 106 which had four gears, and then heading down the M62 with
this AA roadmap to Everton – that’s showing my age, but it’s what you did then.
“The friends from that era are because of the journey we were all on. It was a case of, ‘Has anyone got a bed for the night?’ so you could stay over and train next day.
“It was difficult and if I was asked to do it now, I’m not sure I could. But that was the reality.
Now though, the preparation has been fantastic. There’s no excuse for us not to perform.
“What the Football Association has done for us is incredible. We’ve just turned up at the Lensbury Hotel.
“We’ve got a relaxation room, which has a dart board, and we’ve even got a basketball game – like those ones that you see in
the amusement arcades. I’ll definitely be playing that.
“It takes me back to my days at Sunderland – I used to wrap five pence in a bit of paper to get a free go on the game.
“We’ve been at St George’s Park too, where the facilities are excellent. The girls are really grateful for it.
“Now, it’s over to us.”