Bethany England on her journey back: “I felt helpless, there were a lot of tears..."

Bethany England revealed the moment she suffered the hip injury that kept her out for the first three months of the FA Women’s Super League, the difficulties she faced on her journey and the importance of her relationship with Head Coach Robert Vilahamn.

Captain of our women's team - who underwent hip surgery in early September - made her long-awaited return to action earlier this month in the loss to Manchester United before playing a part in the victory over Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last weekend - securing the first victory over the Gunners in our history.

In an exclusive, in-depth feature with SPURSPLAY, where the cameras documented her journey post-rehabilitation, Bethany revealed the moment she felt the injury in training, the weeks recovering from her surgery and highlighting the importance of the people in her life.

“There was a moment just before the end of last season, I remember the training session specifically and I almost like I jolted when I went to slow down to stop.” said Bethany. “In my head, I felt it wasn’t that serious as I was able to play through the pain, so we decide it was best to get a scan and have a look at it as it was causing me issues. I didn’t expect it to be such bad news.

“Obviously, when I found out that I needed the surgery that upset me - there was a lot of tears, I felt helpless and couldn’t really do anything. I had to just sit on my sofa for two weeks, which was difficult because I’m an active person and always on the go - I’m not the person that can just sit there and not do anything.

“There was one day where I cried for the first time at the training ground with the physio, I would never show it around the team, but I think that was the first day where I showed that it was bit of a struggle.

“But, equally, what was really sweet that everyone had my best interests and they were messaging me to check in. Steph (Williams) - my partner - would have to lay everything out in the living room, so I didn’t have to keep getting going back and forth to the kitchen. She had so much to do, probably hated me because I was a very miserable person, that is no reflection on her but just the frustrations of wanting to play. The toughest thing for me was relying on other people when I’m usually such an independent person."

Vilahamn joined the club in the summer from Swedish side BK Häcken and has made an instant impression in N17, with the club sitting sixth in the FA Women’s Super League and just three points off fourth-place Manchester United - also securing that memorable victory over Arsenal last weekend - and Bethany spoke about her relationship with the Swedish manager.

“I find him really easy to talk with," she said. "If I have any concerns that I need to run past him, then I more than comfortable and confident enough to have those conversations. I think he feels that same as I know the players slightly better as I have worked with them longer and he asks for my advice on things.

“We have a good catch-up on game days to see how the team is feeling and what he expects from the game. We constantly had conversations to what they needed from me and what role I will be playing – there’s a lot of things to discuss but I have got a great relationship with him.”

As part of the new regime, in the summer, Vilahamn announced that England would take the captaincy for the 2023/24 season - the first time in her career - and spoke about the pride of giving that opportunity this season – albeit the challenges of leading the team from the side, and reflected on wearing the armband for the first-time against United earlier this month.

“I think, for me, being appointed captain and then going straight into an injury was quite difficult and challenging because it’s my first time as captain. Not only have I had to learn to lead off the pitch, but also deal with my own personal battles in my injury so, for me, I would always try to be there for the team. It felt great to be there, but also sucked being the one on the sideline when you just wanted to help. I think I’m still learning on the job, I still have a lot more to bring.

“I just remember being in that tunnel, it was a bit surreal walking out as the captain of Tottenham Hotspur and a really proud moment for me. I would definitely say when the kick-off went, I said to myself,  ‘this is it, you’re back. It’s go time!’"