After being signed to Sunderland FC at just 16, winning the Women’s Super League Golden Boot at 20 (the youngest to date), and taking home the UEFA European Women’s Championship title with the Lionesses just six years later, Beth Mead is no stranger to success.
Yet while she dominated her field from such a young age, it hasn’t always been an easy ride. Growing up in Hinderwell, there was no girls’ football team at Mead’s Primary School – so she played with the boys and, rather inevitably, became captain. Later on, while playing at California Boys FC, players and parents would laugh as soon as she walked on the pitch. Mead didn’t mind because she knew she’d run circles around them once the whistle was blown. Indeed she has, and continues to, prove her unbeatable talent and dedication to the Beautiful Game.
The world-class football player repeatedly resisted signing with her current club, Arsenal, from 2015 until 2017 because she was committed to completing her degree in Sports Development at Teesside University. This encouraged her to team up with her alma mater to launch the Beth Mead Scholarship in February 2022 in support of dual career students who want to reach a professional, national, or international level in women’s football.
Dedicated to ensuring young people are able remain active while completing their education, it seems only fitting that Mead was announced as a McDonald’s Fun Football ambassador last year - an initiative launched by the fast food giants to provide free football sessions.
We caught up with Mead to discuss her latest ambassadorship and find out a few of her Favourite Things.
What are you up to at the moment?
I’ve had a chance to take a bit of a step back and see the impact we’re having on kids across the country. It makes me feel incredibly proud of the legacy we are building, but it also highlights the responsibility we all have to keep the momentum and help inspire kids on and off the pitch.
That’s why I’m so passionate about what McDonald’s is doing - giving every child the chance to learn and play no matter what their circumstance. The access to millions of free books and millions of hours of free Fun Football is just incredible.
What book are you currently reading?
I don’t get too much time to sit down and get stuck into a book at the moment. When I was younger, I used to read a lot in school, in fact my primary teacher told me I was reading our assigned books too quickly. When I do get the time I prefer to read autobiographies – I love hearing about other people’s journeys in life.
Do you have a favourite book that you remember from your childhood?
As a child, The Very Hungry Caterpillar was my favourite book. We used to joke in my family that I was a hungry caterpillar! I also used to love reading books like Paddington and fairy tales as well. I was a big reader growing up and now I feel like I’m living my own fairy tale doing something I love.
What are your self-care essentials?
With my injury, I’m mainly focusing on the small self-care wins right now and this injury is a long one. My partner Viv also has the same injury, so we are motivating each other to fully enjoy each recovery milestone. I’m also obsessed with animals so spending time with my dog Rona is an essential for me.
When you’re between seasons, how do you switch-off?
I love to go on holiday. I just recently returned from a trip to Miami as part of my rehab, it was so nice to have a change of location and do some physio in the sun. When I’m playing football, me and the England girls create a lot of TikToks, believe it or not. We do a few of the dance ones and Millie Bright usually makes an appearance alongside me.
What’s your must-have travel item? Sunnies, a bucket hat or both?
I’m usually straight onto a sunbed on holiday so anything to extend that really – definitely headphones for music. I do love a bucket hat but sunnies are an absolute must.
What are your top items for recovery after intense training session?
I really enjoyed using compression bags for my legs - you can even do it while sitting on the sofa. I love a comedy movie, so we usually have one on the TV to pass the time.
Tea or coffee? And what kind?
I’m a coffee girl – my go-to order is a flat white. If I’m drinking tea though, it has to be Yorkshire.
