Tottenham and England star worked in fish and chip shop before tasting Euros success

Bethany England may not have featured on the pitch as the Lionessesclinched their second European Championship title in Switzerland, but her contribution to the historic 2022 squad was undeniable.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker was part of the team that aimed to - and became - the first English side, across men and women's football, to lift the Euros trophy on home soil. Yet, not long ago, the 31-year-old was juggling her football career with various jobs, including a stint at a fish and chip shop.

Over the years, the women's teams in the UK have seen many players who've had to maintain part-time or full-time employment elsewhere while representing their clubs and country. Englandhas played for her country at multiple levels, from the under-19s to the under-23s, before her senior debut in 2019 during a 3-3 draw with Belgium.

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Before she became a household name and started collecting international caps, England was managing her A-Levels, working part-time at her local chippy, and playing for Doncaster Belles in the FA Women's Super League.

Reflecting on her path to success on the official England website, the Spurs star said: "I ended up working for three-and-a-half years in a chippy, doing night shifts on a Friday and Saturday.

"It would start at around 10pm and finish at 5am to 6am. I would then have a couple of hours sleep and go straight to my football game, and then do the night shift whilst I was at college.

"You'd be surprised how many people want fish and chips after a night out! It's not for me. But it paid me through college, it paid for my driving lessons and everything. So, it got me where I needed to be."

This wasn't England's sole part-time job whilst pursuing her football career, as she juggled various roles at other takeaways, and even had a spell working for a supermarket chain. She added: "I've done all sorts. I've worked in a bakery, a factory, I've worked at M&S and I've worked in an Indian."

After spending four years with Doncaster, the Yorkshire-born forward transferred to Chelsea, where she played in 99 matches, scored 45 goals and collected numerous prestigious trophies. Her silverware haul includes four WSL titles, the WSL Spring Series, two FA Cups, two League Cups and the Community Shield.

Throughout her time with the Blues, England was also instrumental in the Lionesses' historic Euro 2022 triumph, beating Germany 2-1 to claim their maiden international silverware in front of a massive Wembley audience. She also featured in the squad that finished as runners-up to Spain at the Women's World Cup, and boasts 11 goals in 26 caps for her nation.

The striker has now become a key player for Spurs, scoring 25 goals in 45 appearances and has worn the captain's armband on several occasions. England can now dedicate herself entirely to her footballing career, acknowledging the stark contrast between her current situation and her early playing days.

England said: "My life is massively different now. I get a good night's sleep now I'm not having to do night shifts! But yeah, I'm in a very fortunate position where I get to do the job that I love every day.

"I have good people around me and I'm able to balance work life and personal life."

When asked if her initial struggles have contributed to her development as a player, she added: "100 per cent. I think the youth coming through these days won't realise how much people had to work to get to where they are.

"I know there was a time where I think I was basically paying to go to football, not football paying me. I remember even when I was at Doncaster Belles, I'd get paid like £150 a month or something which wouldn't even cover my fuel driving back and forth the four or five times a week.

"So yeah, I think it is a reality check but it also humbles you knowing that the way the game is growing and the way the investments are going in women's football now, it needed to be done then in order to achieve what we've got now."