HER stunning goals helped the Lionesses bring it home this summer – and made her one of the most recognisable sportswomen on the planet.
And this week, Beth Mead’s rapid rise to fame since the Women’s Euros was rounded off when she won the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year.
The 27-year-old was accompanied at the ceremony by partner and teammate Vivianne Miedema, 26 – with both pictured in crutches following recent injuries.
It followed a glamorous appearance at the prestigious Ballon d’Or Feminin in October, where both were dressed to the nines in stunning black dresses and walked the carpet together.
Eventually, Beth came second place – just 26 points separating her from the top spot, while Vivienne came 11th over all.
At just 16 years old in 2011, Beth was signed by Sunderland and played there for five years before Arsenal came calling.
It was here that she met her former girlfriend, Danielle van de Donk, who lived with her during lockdown before they split.
She has since found love with Dutch footballer Vivianne, who also plays for Arsenal and is one of the most prolific goal scorers in the Women’s Super League
Opening up on her love life, Beth said: “When I was growing up, where I came from, there weren’t many people I knew that were openly gay or bisexual.
“My parents, at the time, maybe struggled in the beginning and it was something that was hard for me to say.”
Luxury holidays
Now, however, Beth is happy to keep her legions of fans updated with her life off the pitch and regularly posts pics with her girlfriend.
Their Instagrams show they love a holiday, with Beth sharing snaps from recent trips to Zakynthos and Greece.
Beth also posted pictures from a boozy holiday to Ibiza with her pals back in May, including one shot of them posing with club owner Wayne Lineker.
Closer to home, they celebrated Beth’s 27th birthday with a trip to the Radio Rooftop in London earlier this year.
Another member of her family that Beth loves to show off is her adorable pooch Rona.
The footballer even dresses the dog up for Christmas in a Santa outfit.
Boozing off duty
Despite her incredible success, Beth’s journey to the top hasn’t been easy.
Growing up in the small village of Hinderwell in North Yorkshire, she had to play on boys’ teams at school because they didn’t have a female team.
Initially, her parents were worried that playing with boys might be too rough for their daughter, but she quickly proved they had nothing to worry about.
Beth recalled: ‘When she [mum] came back an hour later, he [the coach] basically said I was rougher than most of the boys!”
She then went on to play for Middlesbrough Academy, with her loving mum taking on a second job to cover the cost of petrol to get Beth to and from training and games.
Ever thankful to her parents, the striker has described them as “big people who have influenced [my] footballing career”.
She shared her parents’ strong work ethic and took on double shifts as a waitress and behind the bar so she could earn enough to buy her first pair of football boots.
Beth said: “I used to work Friday, Saturday. Sunday was double time behind the bar. I was a waitress part-time just to afford the boots. I enjoyed working there and I got my boots in the end.”
Tragic diagnosis
In 2021 Beth’s mum June was diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer.
“I know I’m not going to share all those moments with my mum for the rest of my life anymore, so to share that moment with her last summer was just incredible,” Mead told the BBC after her SPOTY nomination was announced.
“For me, football’s always been my first true love.
“My mum sacrificed so much, she worked two jobs and I wouldn’t be where I am without them. Nearly a year down the line we found out it was incurable. She’s still fighting.”
Her father Richard also thinks the tragedy spurred his daughter on. He said: “The diagnosis with her mum, was a trigger for her to show the world what Beth Mead is really about. I think in the Euros she managed to do that.”
