Ellen White opens up on ‘shocking and sad’ social media abuse as she fights to help young women forge a career in football… with the Lionesses’ all-time top scorer admitting she was ‘really lucky’ to have a supportive network around her

Imagining a world without the football of Ellen White – the Lionesses’ all-time top scorer, winner of two WSL titles, one Premier League cup, three FA Cups, four WSL league cups and of course one Euro – is not a pleasant thought.

But that’s exactly what she asks of her readers in her new book “Unfinished,” out Friday.

It is essentially an autobiography, with White journeying back through her story as a young girl playing soccer and the difficulties she encountered 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 ending abruptly when she’s 16.

According to a recent YouGov survey, 121 girls aged 13 to 19 in Britain give up their sports stories every day, partly due to the impact of online hate to which 44% of girls are exposed. prompted White to put pen to paper.

“I’ve been really fortunate to have the career that I’ve had, to grow up and really have that support,” she says. “Growing up, I didn’t really have social media. It wasn’t really there and it wasn’t available.’

White is the winner of two WSL titles, one Premier League cup, three FA Cups, four WSL league cups and of course one Euro

White retired as England’s top female scorer and third overall with 52 international goals

“So first of all, it was great to go back and write something. But also to create something that ends quite abruptly at the age when young girls stop playing sports and give up their dreams, I thought it was a very powerful message.’

Social media abuse is an issue affecting all aspects of women’s football, with Chelsea duo Fran Kirby and Lauren James two high-profile names recently making 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 James received after a controversial challenge against Arsenal player Lia Walti as ‘disgusting’.

But White, who is now 34, wants to guide people, especially the younger generation, on how to use social media safely, away from the harmful content that can deter them from participating in sports.

‘The most important thing was to show people how to seek help and advice and how to use social media and also use it for great things so that you don’t feel like you have to stop doing something you love holds. Because sports are incredible.

‘It really shaped me as a person, it shaped my character, I learned how to make friends. I was outside, having fun, feeling free, feeling safe and everyone should be able to experience that.’

White came through the Arsenal academy before making a name for herself at Chelsea as a prolific goalscorer. She then moved to Leeds Carnegie, before returning to Arsenal, Notts County, Birmingham City and Manchester City.

The women’s football star has spoken about girls developing careers in sports

She announced her retirement shortly after winning the European Championship as England’s top female scorer and third overall with 52 international goals – behind only Harry Kane’s 58 and Wayne Rooney’s 53 – and said ‘all her dreams had come true’ July 31, 2022, when she defeated England over Germany at Wembley.

In April last year, White and her husband, Callum Convery, gave birth to a daughter, Maeve.

Since then, she has combined full-time motherhood with her role as an expert at the BBC and takes part in campaigns such as this one with EE, which are committed to a safer digital environment.

And White himself is no stranger to offensive comments online.

‘I felt really empowered by the whole campaign, especially because of where we are in the world now and how widespread it is. As a woman and as a mother of a young girl.’

‘As women’s football has become bigger and better known, I have had to learn and teach myself how to block and delete a lot of content (online) so that I can feel freer to do my job.

White travels back through her story as a young girl playing soccer and the difficulties she encountered 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 experience things like this online. If someone sits behind a keyboard and can say whatever he or she wants, that is not acceptable.

“I’m at an age now where I feel very empowered to hopefully be able to make a change and hopefully make some noise about what’s happening. But then hopefully also point people in the right direction on how to get help and how to feel supported.”

White speaks to Mail Sport for two football shirts: one is her Team GB shirt and the other is an England shirt with the number ‘113’ on the back, in honor of her numerous international caps.

And as we wrap up the conversation and start talking about which 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 huge shame it would have been if she had decided to hang up her boots when she was just a teenager.