Fara Williams: England’s once-homeless football pioneer

Fara Williams, 38, retired last year without a world title but, as one of England's greatest players, inspired their Euro championship the next year [Catherine Ivill/Getty Images]

After England’s victory in the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro final, many of their jubilant players ran to the side of the pitch to celebrate with Fara Williams, who had retired the year before as one of the country’s greatest footballers.

Chloe Kelly, who minutes earlier had scored the game’s dramatic winning goal against Germany at Wembley Stadium, leaped into Williams’s arms and hugged her.