Book description
All Kelly Smith ever wanted to be was a footballer. Blessed with
brilliant talent which she honed with hours of practice, it was soon
clear to all who saw her that Kelly was the best women's footballer
that this country had ever produced. Yet for this shy girl from
Watford, it would be a long and difficult journey to the pinnacle of
the world game, and one which would involve the hardest of challenges.
After starting drinking to mask her loneliness thousands of miles
from home at college in the United States, a series of
career-threatening injuries led to severe depression and a battle with
alcoholism. But with the fighting spirit that was so essential on her
path to be Britain's first women's professional player, Kelly bounced
back to inspire Arsenal to countless trophies and become England's
record goalscorer.
Footballer: My Story is the inspirational tale of a woman
with a drive to succeed despite all the obstacles thrown in her way.
It is the unique inside story of a star in a sport enjoyed by millions
yet often not granted the recognition it deserves. And as she nears
the end of a glittering playing career, it is the story of how Kelly
Smith became what she always wanted to be. A professional footballer,
in a professional league.
Kelly Smith was born on 29 October 1978. She played for Garston
Boys Football Club before being prevented from playing in mixed teams,
then for Watford Ladies, Pinner Park, Wembley Ladies and Arsenal
Ladies. After being spotted by American scouts, she was offered a
scholarship at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, where standout
performances saw her number six shirt retired after her graduation.
In 1999, Kelly became England's first ever women's professional
footballer, and played for Philadelphia Charge in the WUSA before
returning home to win every honour in the domestic game with Arsenal,
including their sensational quadruple in 2007 when they became
champions of Europe. Between 2005 and 2009, Kelly scored 100 goals in
112 games for the team she had always supported. After playing for
Boston Breakers in the WPSL, she returned to Arsenal in March 2012.
Kelly made her England debut just three days after her seventeenth
birthday, and has gone on to score a record forty-five goals in more
than a hundred appearances for her country. She helped England reach
the final of the European Championships in 2009 and the quarterfinals
of the World Cup in both 2007 and 2011, and was twice voted third in
the FIFA World Player of the Year. She was awarded an MBE in 2008.
