Chloe Kelly says she has no regrets over the goal celebration that won the Euros.
Manchester City’s winger grabbed the all-important strike that sank the Germans at Wembley last year and marked the moment by whipping off her top and swinging it around her head. Eventually, she was caught by her delirious teammates and put the jersey back on.
It set tongues wagging at the time but it’s certainly paid off for Kelly who landed a contract with fashion house Calvin Klein ahead of next month’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. She has joined the likes of USA star Alex Morgan in publicising underwear before the tournament - and also the likes of Three Lions icon David Beckham who has also fronted up.
Kelly said: “In the moment, I didn’t realise - but I think it was very powerful. I just celebrated the goal at Wembley as I would when I was a kid playing in the cages.
“It just reminded me of those moments and I was being myself in that moment. For me, I didn’t realise how much it would do for women but it’s very special that it did.
“I’ve seen a lot of players and tags on Instagram of players doing the celebration - a Newcastle women’s player did it. I think it is great to see the impact we have had. That celebration for me was just a spontaneous moment and to see it influence so many people is great.
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“To be able to be that person for young females today - it’s very special to me because I once looked up to the likes of Kelly Smith and Jill Scott.”
England’s players head out Down Under next week to a training base on the Gold Coast before moving to Brisbane where they will face Haiti in the opening match on July 22. If they reach the final one month later, the players will have been in camp for over six weeks.
Asked what she will miss most, Kelly replied: “My two dogs - you can FaceTime home, can’t you? I’ve got a Cavapoochon and a Cavapoo - one doesn’t even know his name to be honest. Otis is three and Rolo - we got him straight after the tournament last year - was a present to myself.
"I convinced my boyfriend to have another - he said: ‘No,’ after the first one. Will I get a third if we win the World Cup? No - not if I’m being honest - Rolo has been hard work.”
