England football legend and I'm A Celebrity winner Jill Scott has returned to her childhood football club to meet the next generation of aspiring Lionesses.
The former midfielder who helped the Lionesses win the Women's Euro 2022 returned to Boldon CA Girls to meet the team's current young players. The grassroots football club has produced three England Lionesses – Jill Scott, Demi Stokes and captain Steph Houghton.
And with the first game of the season round the corner, the club's new players are dreaming of gold. Thankfully, Jill was on hand to spur on the players and inspire them to success.
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The 35-year-old, from Sunderland, won 161 caps for the Lionesses and scored 27 goals. She also won the Women's Super League title and four women's FA Cups.
After playing football with boys from the age of six, at nine years old Jill was told she could no longer play for a boys team and joined Boldon Girls. It was the beginning of an amazing career for Jill who went on to play for Sunderland, Everton, Manchester City and Aston Villa, as well as competing at four World Cups and three European Championships.
After an incredible footballing career Jill announced her retirement in August 2022, just weeks after lifting the Euros trophy. Taking to social media to announce her retirement she said: "I'm leaving with a gold medal swinging from my neck."
She also shared an article from The Players' Tribune in which she reflected on her career. She begins the article by reflecting on her early career when she featured in the local paper for winning "Man of the Match" in a boys' tournament.
Tonight, BBC viewers will be able to see Jill's return to grassroots football in BBC One's We Are England programme. The episode titled England's Next Lionesses will be broadcast in the North East and Cumbria region at 8pm.
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