England’s Beth Mead has been the standout performer for the Lionesses in the Women’s Euros thus far, with four goals to her name after a stunning hat-trick in England’s 8-0 win over Norway. It hasn’t always been plain sailing for the Arsenal forward though, after missing the SheBelieves Cup in 2020 due to injury – and being dropped from the squad altogether for the Olympics in Tokyo last year.
Mead has previously spoken about how these experiences have made her stronger, saying: “Obviously it was disappointing last summer, but would I be the player I am today if that didn’t happen? Maybe not.” The 27-year-old added that she thought she had “matured” as a player over the previous 12 months, and her performances thus far would seem to back that up.
Her performance against the Norwegians led former Arsenal striker Ian Wright to describe Mead as a “goalscoring monster” as part of the BBC’s analysis on the game.
Read more: England make history as Beth Mead hat-trick fires Lionesses into Women's Euro 2022 quarter-finals
Early career
Mead started playing football with California Girls FC, which she was quick to point out was in Middlesbrough rather than LA, before joining Middlesbrough FC’s Centre of Excellence at age 10. Her big move came when she joined Sunderland at age 16 and went straight into the first team, scoring 23 goals in as many games in her first season.
This kind of goalscoring form earned her a move to Arsenal in 2017, but she had to accommodate a change in position to the wing rather than centre forward, due to the presence of Vivianne Miedema. Mead grew into the role, having said previously: "I'd played number nine all my career until I came to Arsenal.
"I was a bit annoyed that I wasn’t playing number nine, because I thought that was my best position. But now I really enjoy playing on the wing - I can get involved, run at people, bring other people into play."
Mead also worked at a local pub in Staithes pulling pints to help fund her early football career, and was adamant that she would finish her studies in Sports Development at Teesside University even after she turned professional. The 27-year-old now runs a scholarship programme with the university for young female footballers in which she provides one-to-one mentoring to those who are successful.
England appearances
Mead has appeared for England at every level since she made her debut in the England Under-15s side, and got her call-up to the senior team in 2018 when she came on as substitute in a 0-0 draw with Wales. Despite setbacks such as missing out on the SheBelieves Cup win in 2020 and not getting selected to go to Tokyo for the Olympics, Mead has not looked back this year and has an incredible record of 18 goals in 16 games since Sarina Wiegman took charge of the side.
On the different styles of Phil Neville and her new gaffer, Mead has previously said: “Under Phil it was very much about hard work but now everyone just feels free. Sarina’s told us to slow down and enjoy our football a little more and that’s helped massively.”
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