Imagining a world without Ellen White’s football – the Lionesses all-time top goal scorer, winner of two WSL titles, one Premier League cup, three FA Cups, four WSL league cups and of course, one Euros – isn’t a nice thought.
But that’s exactly what she’s asking of her readers in her new book, ‘Unfinished’, which came out on Friday.
It’s an autobiography in essence, with White journeying back through her story as a young girl playing football and the difficulties she faced along the way. But unlike our future Lionesses star, it’s never certain whether this young White will make it to the bright lights of Wembley Stadium, with the story abruptly ending when she is 16.
According to a recent YouGov survey, 121 girls ages 13-19 in the UK give up on their sporting story every day, due in part to the impact of online hate that 44% of girls are subjected to, and it’s these alarming numbers specifically that drove White to put pen to paper.
‘I was really lucky to have the career that I did, to grow up and really have that support,’ she says. ‘When I was growing up, I didn’t really have social media. It wasn’t really there or available.’
Ellen White retired from football after winning the European Championship with England in 2022
White is the winner of two WSL titles, one Premier League cup, three FA Cups, four WSL league cups and of course, one Euros
White retired as England’s top female goal scorer and third overall with 52 international goals
‘So firstly, to go back and write something was amazing. But then also to create something that stops quite abruptly at the age where young girls are stopping playing sport and giving up on their dreams, I felt was a really powerful message.’
Social media abuse is a problem which affects all areas of the women’s game, with Chelsea duo Fran Kirby and Lauren James two high-profile names who have recently made the headlines as victims of online hate.
Kirby opened up about the impact the abuse has had on her body image, while Emma Hayes described some of the comments that James received after a controversial challenge she made on Arsenal player Lia Walti as ‘disgusting’.
For White, though, who is now 34, she wants to guide people, specifically the younger generation, into using social media safely and away from the harming content that may discourage them from getting involved in sport.
‘The most important thing was to show people how to seek help and advice and learn how to manoeuvre social media and use it for great things as well, so you won’t feel like you have to stop doing something that you love. Because sport is incredible.
‘It really built me as a person, it built my character, I learned how to make friends. I was outside, having fun, a sense of freedom, I felt safe, and everyone should be able to have that experience.’
White came through the Arsenal academy before making a name for herself at Chelsea as a prolific goal scorer. She then moved to Leeds Carnegie, before having stints back at Arsenal, Notts County, Birmingham City and Manchester City.
The women’s football star has been speaking about girls developing a career in the sport
She announced her retirement shortly after winning the Euros as England’s top female goal scorer and third overall with 52 international goals – behind only Harry Kane’s 58 and Wayne Rooney’s 53 – saying that ‘all her dreams had come true’ on July 31, 2022, when England triumphed over Germany at Wembley.
In April last year, White and her husband, Callum Convery, gave birth to a daughter, Maeve.
Since then she has been juggling being a full-time mother alongside her BBC punditry roles and taking part in campaigns such as this one alongside EE, who are working to deliver a safer digital climate.
And White herself is no stranger to abusive comments online.
‘I felt really empowered by the whole campaign, especially for where we are in the world right now and how prevalent it is. As a woman and as a mother to a young baby girl.’
‘As women’s football has gotten bigger and more high profile, for me I’ve had to learn and teach myself how to block and remove a lot of content [online] so I am able to feel freer to be able to do my job.
White journeys back through her story as a young girl playing football and the difficulties she faced along the way in her new book ‘unfinished’
‘But it affects everyone. My family can see it. It’s shocking and sad. No one should have to go through that type of thing online – with someone sitting behind a keyboard being able to say whatever they want, it’s not acceptable.
‘I’m now at an age and I feel very empowered to be able to hopefully make a change and hopefully make noise about what is happening. But then also hopefully lead people in the right direction of how they can get help and how they can feel supported.’
White is speaking to Mail Sport in front of two football shirts: one is her Team GB shirt and the other is an England shirt with the number ‘113’ on the back, celebrating her numerous international caps.
And as we wind down the conversation and start chatting about which one of her former teams – Chelsea, Manchester City or Arsenal – will win the league this season, it’s a reminder of how far she’s come and what a monumental shame it would have been if she had decided to hang up her boots when she was just a teenager.
