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Wednesday, December 20, 2023, 5:00 p. m. |Tottenham Hotspur
Bethany England has revealed when she suffered a hip injury that kept her out of the first 3 months of the FA Women’s Super League, the struggles she faced and the importance of her relationship with head coach Robert Vilahamn.
Our women’s team captain, who underwent hip surgery in early September, made her long-awaited return to action earlier this month in the loss to Manchester United before playing a part in the win over Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Last weekend, she achieved the first victory over the Gunners in our history.
In an exclusive and in-depth report with SPURSPLAY, where cameras documented her adventure after rehabilitation, Bethany revealed the moment she felt the injury in training, the weeks of recovery after her surgery and highlighted the importance of other people in his life.
“There was a moment right before the end of last season, I don’t exactly forget the education consultation and I almost feel like I jumped when I was going to slow down to stop,” Bethany said. In my head, I felt like it wasn’t that bad because I could get over the pain, so it was more productive to get a CT scan and read about it because it was causing me problems. I didn’t expect it to be such bad news.
“Obviously, when I found out I needed surgery it was devastating for me – I shed a lot of tears, I felt helpless, and there was really nothing I could do. I had to sit on my couch for two weeks, which was tricky. Because I’m an active user on the go. I’m not the type of user who can just sit back and do nothing.
“There was a day when I cried for the first time on the education floor with the physiotherapist, I would never show it to the team, but I think the first day I showed it was a bit difficult.
“But, equally, what was really sweet that everyone had my best interests and they were messaging me to check in. Steph (Williams) – my partner – would have to lay everything out in the living room, so I didn’t have to keep getting going back and forth to the kitchen. She had so much to do, probably hated me because I was a very miserable person, that is no reflection on her but just the frustrations of wanting to play. The toughest thing for me was relying on other people when I’m usually such an independent person.”
Bethany England on Robert Vilahamn
Vilahamn joined the club this summer from Swedish club BK Häcken and made an instant impression at N17, with the club sixth in the FA Women’s Super League and just three numbers in fourth, Manchester United, also securing that memorable win over Arsenal last weekend. and Bethany talked about her relationship with the Swedish manager.
“I find him really easy to talk with,” she said. “If I have any concerns that I need to run past him, then I more than comfortable and confident enough to have those conversations. I think he feels that same as I know the players slightly better as I have worked with them longer and he asks for my advice on things.
“We have a good catch-up on game days to see how the team is feeling and what he expects from the game. We constantly had conversations to what they needed from me and what role I will be playing – there’s a lot of things to discuss but I have got a great relationship with him.”
As part of the new regime, in the summer, Vilahamn announced that England would take the captaincy for the 2023/24 season – the first time in her career – and spoke about the pride of giving that opportunity this season – albeit the challenges of leading the team from the side, and reflected on wearing the armband for the first-time against United earlier this month.
“I think, for me, being named captain and then getting injured has been quite complicated and challenging because it’s my first time as captain. Not only did I have to learn how to train off the field, but I also had to deal with my own private battles like my injury, so, for me, I would try to be there for the team. It was wonderful to be there, but it also sucked to be on the sidelines when you were just looking for after helping. I think I’m still informed at work, I still have a lot more to contribute.
“I just remember being in that tunnel, it was a bit surreal walking out as the captain of Tottenham Hotspur and a really proud moment for me. I would definitely say when the kick-off went, I said to myself, ‘this is it, you’re back. It’s go time!’”