I scored England’s first-ever Women’s World Cup goal and have an MBE – now I work in a warehouse and drive a truck
GILLIAN COULTARD scored England’s first-ever Women’s World Cup goal and now works in a warehouse.
The 60-year-old was a pioneer for the women’s game, being capped 119 times for the Lionesses.
She played for England between 1981 and 2000 and was the first female player to hit the century mark in appearances.
Her big moment came in 1995 when Coultard netted a penalty against Canada in Sweden to write herself into the history books as the first-ever women’s goalscorer for the Lionesses at a World Cup.
England went on to win that game 3-2 with the midfielder scoring a second late on to seal victory and give her legendary status.
Coultard now works as a warehouse operative for the pharmaceutical company Teva in West Yorkshire.
Her incredible journey began by playing football with her older brother and watching FA Cup finals, dreaming that one day she could be at Wembley.
Coutlard explained: “I always tagged along with my oldest brother and football was what I wanted to do from a young age. I was always kicking a football.
“When I went to secondary school, I was told I had to play the girls’ games, which were hockey and netball.
“Luckily, my PE teacher took me to see Doncaster Belles, a local women’s football team who just happened to be one of the best teams in England.
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“I joined the team when I was 13 and I had my first England trial the same year.”
Coultard went on to spend the majority of her career with Doncaster Belles while breaking down barriers for the Three Lions.
The women’s team at the 1995 World Cup wore men’s kits as there was no such thing as women’s sized shirts with them like “parachutes”.
Coutlard was given paid time off by her employers at the time, using up her holiday to play for England.
However, some team-mates were not so fortunate and gave up jobs for their World Cup chance.
The FA paid for the players’ travel and accommodation but there were connecting flights, boat journeys and an overnight sleeper train with matches every other day.
Despite her legendary status, Coultard keeps a low profile in the warehouse and her colleagues only recently found out that she is a football icon.
She said: “They didn’t realise what I’d done. It’s all out in the open now.
“It’s nice to reminisce, and it’s nice to see how things have progressed.”
Coultard, who was awarded a MBE during lockdown, drives a truck and picks products for Teva.
She remains just as motivated in her job as she was on the pitch, saying: “I always strive to do my best. That’s what motivates me, my eight-hour shift is my 90-minute match.
“If I hit my targets, I’ve won. Otherwise I’ve lost.
“I’m used to playing as a part of a successful team, the desire to win never goes away.”