BETHANY England is hoping to move closer in 2026 to the magical 100-goal milestone in the WSL, which no player has yet reached, but admits her time with the England Lionesses may have now passed.
The 31-year-old from Kingstone in Barnsley, who is the captain of Tottenham Hotspur, has four top flight goals this season and 86 in total – three behind record-holder Vivianne Miedema.
Bethany told the Chronicle: “I know I am a couple of goals away from Viv, who I have been chasing for a while. Every time I get a bit closer she seems to score more so credit to her. It would be pretty amazing if I could hit that 100 milestone.
“It’s a target I want to achieve and hopefully I can get there eventually, whether it’s this season or next.”
Bethany scored 11 goals for England in 26 appearances, including being part of the Euros winning squad in 2022 and playing in the World Cup final the next year. But she has not been called up by Sarina Wiegman since 2023.
“I am at peace with Sarina’s decisions. There are so many young players in the England set-up now. It’s not the same experienced squad I was in. She has another year to build before the next tournament so she is trying to give people opportunities. I would welcome another call-up with open arms but I am realistic enough to know that day may never come.”
Bethany’s contract with Spurs is due to expire in the summer. She knows she will have to be at her best to keep playing regularly in a rapidly improving division. She said: “I’ve been in the league since I was 16 and I feel like the game is changing a lot now.
“We’re getting a lot of young players in the league and teams are looking for differing things.
“I’m 31 and been around the block. I just need to stay in top shape, push every day to improve, score more goals and enjoy being a leader.
“I feel like I’m about 24 or 25. My body is fit and healthy at the moment.
“I will play as long as I possibly can. Hopefully my experience will keep me in a good place.”
Bethany was disappointed to see Barnsley FC shut down their women’s team at the start of the season. She said: “My best friend Charley Evans was captain. I was very sad to see, after they had done so well and gained promotion, that it folded due to prioritising the men’s team.
“I appreciate a lot of funding comes from the men’s side and it’s up to the investors where they put their money and, if that’s not in women’s sport, you have to understand their choice.
“But it breaks my heart that, whenever clubs are struggling financially, the first team to get shut down always seems to be the women’s side.
“You just don’t want that to happen to the players.
“I would love to see the next generation of professional footballers coming from Barnsley. I am very proud to be from there.
“If there is a way to get that back in the future I would love to see it and, to an extent, would love to help where I can. It’s a shame when there is so much talent but they aren’t given a platform to show that in their own town.”
Bethany’s Spurs team narrowly stayed up last season but are currently fourth. She said: “I think we’ve already matched the number of points we got last season.
“We just want to keep pushing and, if we end up at the end of the season when we are in contention for the Champions League, it would be thoroughly deserved for everyone and all the work they have put in.”
