Leah Williamson has captained England through Euro 2022
(Picture: The FA via Getty Images)Leah Williamson’s former PE teacher has told of her school’s “immeasurable pride” at the England captain’s achievements.
Arsenal star Williamson has led the Lionesses to three group-stage victories — including a record-breaking 8-0 thumping of Norway last week — and the defender is set to again skipper the national side in their quarter-final match against Spain on Wednesday night.
A sell-out 29,000 crowd is expected to cheer on the host nation at Brighton’s Amex Stadium, with millions more watching the crunch match on TV.
Williamson, 25, who first captained England last year, was brought up in Milton Keynes and attended Ousedale School where she excelled at sport.
Jo Green, head of PE at the Buckinghamshire school, said: “We are exceptionally proud of Leah.
“It is no surprise that she has gone on to achieve what she has so early in her career. Leah was always a very kind, thoughtful and hard-working person in everything she did and we knew that Leah was destined to be successful. We are sure she will continue on to even greater successes.”
Williamson was already in Arsenal’s academy — which she joined aged nine — when she played football at Ousedale.
Her mother took her to a trial at local side Scot Youth in Bletchley at the age of six and, after a year, she joined Rushden & Diamonds’ centre of excellence.
She followed her Rushden coach to Arsenal where she excelled through the academy and has now made 124 appearances for the senior side.
Before the Euros, Williams told of her gratitude for the role they played supporting her through her football career — but she hoped seeing her walk out as captain of England in a home Euros would go some of the way to paying them back.
She said: “I’ve told them I can never repay the investment they’ve made in me: the money, the time and everything, other than giving them experiences, whether it’s them coming into the indoor games to watch me or coming to Old Trafford (where England played their opening game) with 70,000 fans so they can enjoy the day.”
Off the pitch, Williamson is a follower of fashion and was invited by Gucci to a show in Puglia, Italy, in May. She wore the label at the Brit Awards, which she attended with friend and BBC football presenter Alex Scott.
She has also appeared in Vogue and Elle magazines and was among the ambassadors for Swarovski’s 2019 #FollowTheLight campaign, a celebration of inspirational women.
