Working at Domino’s to becoming an accountant – the real-world jobs England’s Lionesses have had outside of football
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS England will look to build on their Euro 2022 triumph at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Sarina Wiegman’s side won their first-ever major title last year when they defeated Germany 2-1 in the Euro 2022 final at Wembley Stadium.
And they won over the entire nation by ending England’s 56-year trophy drought.
The Lionesses have since become household names, with many securing blockbuster transfers and lucrative sponsorship deals.
But before they went pro, several members of the squad had completely different jobs.
From working in restaurants to toy shops, we take a look at some of the jobs England’s Lionesses did before they became national heroes.
Mary Earps
Wiegman’s No.1 made history earlier this year when she was named The Best Women’s Goalkeeper by Fifa.
She also claimed the Women’s Super League‘s Golden Glove accolade following her impressive campaign with Manchester United, who finished second in the table behind Chelsea.
But before she became England’s top shot-stopper, Earps juggled a number of part-time jobs so that she could make enough petrol money to drive to training every week.
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Earps – who was born in Nottingham – signed for Doncaster Belles at the age of 17, but in order to drive to and from training she worked part-time in a cinema and a toy shop.
She was also working for her dad’s company as well as juggling two coaching jobs on the side.
Speaking on Jill Scott’s Coffee Club podcast, she said: “I worked six jobs that summer. I had two different coaching jobs – one was with Notts County in the Community and the other with a small coaching company.
“I worked in a kids toy shop, stationary shop, cinema, telly sales for my dad. That was through the summer.
“When I went back to school I kept my job at the cinema and in the toy shop.”
Earps is also keen when it comes to property.
She added: “I really do like property. I really like the idea of having an empire.
“So for me it’s not really about flipping a property or knocking a place down and rebuilding it because you don’t need to do that to actually have a significant return on investment.
“You just have to know where you want to invest and try to be smart with what you’re doing. That’s kind of what I’m trying to do on the side.”
Lucy Bronze
The 31-year-old defender, who is one of the most decorated players in the women’s game, joined Barcelona on a free transfer from Manchester City last summer following England’s Euro 2022 success.
She has since added another Champions League title, along with a Liga F title, to her long list of accolades.
But before she burst onto the scene, Bronze worked for popular fast food chain Domino’s Pizza.
When playing for Everton and then Liverpool between 2010 and 2014, Bronze studied sports science at Leeds Beckett University.
While completing her degree, she worked at a Domino’s branch in Headingley and a bar in Leeds.
At the same time, the defender almost quit football completely to “get a proper job”.
In 2017, Bronze told The Telegraph: “I thought, ‘OK, I might have to stop and think about getting a proper job’.
“I had huge debt and repeated knee injuries and was hobbling around on crutches for a year. I missed almost 2½ years of games.
“All my friends were overtaking me, and I was working in a bar at a five-a-side centre in Leeds and then in a Domino’s Pizza. I mastered all the skills of the pizza business.”
Prior to the Euro 2022 final, the same Domino’s branch at which Bronze worked was renamed ‘Lucy’s’ in honour of the Lioness and her achievements.
Leah Williamson
Although she may not be with the squad this summer, Williamson played an integral role in helping the Lionesses reach the World Cup.
The England captain was devastatingly ruled out of the tournament in April after suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament during a WSL match against Man Utd.
Williamson made her senior England debut in June 2018, four years after breaking into the Arsenal first team at the age of just 17.
While she has already proven herself as a valuable presence on the pitch, off it she is already preparing for life after football.
The defender has completed a part-time course in accountancy through the FA in preparation for life after her playing days.
In 2021, she told City AM: “You should dedicate your life to football – I have to, I’m an athlete – but it shouldn’t be everything, the be-all and end-all.
“So I do it to keep some sort of balance, always doing something outside of football. But also I’m under no illusions that I’m not going to be able to retire at the end of my career and be fine for the rest of my life.
“I will have to work again and maybe that’s where I have come in [to the sport] just a little too early, in terms of hopefully one day these girls will earn enough that they are set for life.
“If a boy signs for an academy aged 16 he is generally set for life. It’s a massive contrast in our game and I’m aware of that. It’s ridiculous to think that once your career finishes you are going to be fine and set.”
Williamson also became an author earlier this year when she published a book titled ‘You Have the Power’ earlier this year.
Bethany England
The striker left Chelsea to join Tottenham in January after a seven-year stint with the Blues.
She had fallen out of favour with Emma Hayes so decided to move elsewhere in a bid to get more time and boost her chance of making Wiegman’s World Cup squad.
And having scored 13 goals in 14 games for Spurs this year, she has certainly earned her place on the plane.
But during her first season in the WSL back in 2011 – when she was just 17 – England had to juggle her education, her football career and extra jobs.
She worked in a Barnsley fish and chip shop while studying for her A-Levels as she was earning just £150-a-month when she started as a footballer.
She also worked in a bakery, a factory, an Indian restaurant and at M&S.
Jill Scott
Although she is now retired, we had to give a special mention to the legendary Lioness.
Scott owns a coffee shop in Manchester with her fiancee Shelly Unitt.
The couple opened Boxx2Boxx – which is named after the midfielder’s style of play – in 2020 and they have since welcomed some of England’s best players.
Scott worked at the coffee shop alongside her footballing duties before retiring last summer.
The popular star – who won last year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! – now completes the odd shift in between her media duties.
She is now working towards earning her coaching badges with Man City.