JILL SCOTT: Bullied For Being The Only Girl On The Football Pitch & Why It Made Me Determined Not To Quit

Summary

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Great Company with Jamie Laing

Episode: Jill Scott: Bullied For Being The Only Girl On The Football Pitch & Why It Made Me Determined Not To Quit
Date: November 5, 2025
Guest: Jill Scott
Host: Jamie Laing

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Episode Overview

This episode features England football legend Jill Scott, known for her toughness and wit on and off the pitch. Jamie and Jill delve into her experiences with bullying as a young girl in football, her competitive drive, overcoming imposter syndrome, and how resilience propelled her to 161 caps for England. The conversation, rich with humor and honesty, touches on teamwork, leadership, mental health, and the importance of being true to oneself.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Early Experiences: Bullying, Resilience, and Loving Football

• Jill’s Early Struggles

  • As the only girl on boys’ teams, Jill faced abuse from both other children and parents.
    • "Comments from the side would be going hard on her." — Jamie Laing [00:06]
    • “You had a pretty tricky time with not only other kids, but also other parents… shouting things like ‘break her legs’.” — Jamie Laing [22:16]
  • Jill recalls, “I remember being like, don't cry, don't cry, don't cry.” [00:10, 22:31]
  • She kept her struggles to herself, internalizing pain instead of sharing with family.

• Resilience Born from Adversity

  • Despite tears and setbacks, Jill never stopped going to training: “There was nothing that was going to stop us from playing. And I think that was when resilience was kind of building inside of us.” [22:46]
  • On never giving up: “I always went back to training on a Tuesday. It took us a long time to get there… but I never told anybody about it…I became a little bit immune to comments.” [22:46]

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Pride, Career Milestones & Retirement

• Reaching 161 England Caps and the Emotional Journey

  • Jill expresses pride in her achievements, especially now that she’s retired and can reflect:
    • “When I was a young girl who just fell in love with the game… I never thought I'd play one game for England, never mind 161.” [08:24]
  • Jamie asks if she’s truly proud:
    • “With that one, I am…I can probably finally sit here now and say, and I am proud that I did that.” [09:03]

• Transitioning Out of Playing

  • Retirement was made easier after winning at Wembley:
    • “It was the perfect ending for me, the fact that we got that gold medal at Wembley…just nice to give that door a little push and be like, right, it's time for the next chapter.” [10:01]
  • On aging out of the squad: “I felt like the game was just starting to get away from me a little bit…my head wanted to do something that my body probably couldn't anymore.” [10:44]

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Handling Pressure, Failure, and Imposter Syndrome

• Nerves and Coping Mechanisms

  • Jill finds public speeches (not football) most nerve-racking:
    • “I was actually at an awards evening...found that really nerve wracking.” [06:15]
  • Her technique for handling nerves in football:
    • “I'd think of three things that I was confident I could bring to the team…then I wouldn't get overwhelmed.” [06:59]
    • Jamie to listeners: “If they're in a situation, you think of three things that you know you can bring to the table.” [07:43]

• Owning Mistakes and Failure

  • Jill recalls being sent off twice, once in a cup final and once for a headbutt, both of which stung:
    • “It's a long walk down the tunnel and back to the changing rooms…That was a moment where I was like, I've let the team down here.” [15:53]
    • “That was my other sending off…That's not too bad, is it?” [17:08]

• Imposter Syndrome in Elite Settings

  • Despite her accolades, Jill admits: “I still get that now.” [44:44]
  • Jamie relates: “Yeah, I definitely do…even though I kind of know what I'm talking about, I'd still go…because I feel like sometimes I'm just guessing, which I think a lot of us are doing.” [44:46–45:08]
  • Sitting alongside legends: “There was just a moment where I was like, wow, I'm sat with these absolute legends of the game…I think you question, you go, God, should I even be here?” [45:10]

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Mental Health, Vulnerability, and Team Support

• Discussing Feelings: Then vs. Now

  • Jill reflects on the culture of not sharing emotions:
    • “We were always told to be brave, be strong, wear your face the right way… Whereas I think children now…they get told to tell people how they're feeling.” [24:42]
    • Jamie: “There's a hard balance…building that resilience is important…but also there's a balance to be able to talk about your feelings and be open.” [25:12]
  • Now, she recognizes the strength in honesty:
    • “They're the strong people. I'm probably quite weak for keeping everything inside… I definitely got better at probably creating a little bit of a circle of friends…I could speak honestly.” [26:05]

• Exercise & Wellbeing

  • On exercise’s role:
    • “When I train it stops me from overthinking as well…I'll probably get it all out as I go for a run.” [28:09]

• Post-Retirement Identity and the Challenge of Change

  • “I think when I finished playing, I never really had a plan…But then opportunities started coming along.” [30:13]
  • Jamie: “No wonder there becomes that problem with people feeling anxious or down or low mood.” [29:42]

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Women’s Football: History, Perception, and Legacy

• The Ban, Stereotypes, and Growth

  • On the FA’s ban on women’s football:
    • “The ban was because the FA deemed football unsuitable for women to play.” — Jamie [32:42]
    • Jill: “But who said football wasn't for girls?…It is mad.” [32:53]

• Impact, Role Models and Opportunity

  • “The fact that now there's so many opportunities out there for us…you can pick from so many things, whereas going back 30 years you probably…could only pick maybe 10 of things.” [35:33]
  • “Sport has given me tools for life…resilience, determination…being a good person.” [35:33]
  • Jamie on sport’s lessons: “Sport taught me that failure is ok…you can go back next week and go again…” [36:20]

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Teamwork and Leadership

• What Makes a Leader
  • “I think what makes a good leader is when they do it their way and they don't try and do it like somebody else…Leaders that are true to themselves.” [49:45]
  • “Serena [Wiegman]...what I loved about her…is just that directness. She’ll tell you exactly what she thinks of you…no grey areas.” [50:57]
  • Jill prefers assistant coaching over management: “I'd like to be on the grass coaching…then also being able to sit, have lunch, and probably have a bit of a laugh. I think that’d be a better role.” [51:23]

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Sexuality, Identity, and Family

• Being Open and Authentic

  • “I've never hid away from the fact that me and Shelley are together, but I never really wanted to sit down and do a big interview about it because I’m a big believer…as long as you’re happy, it’s fine.” [53:42]
  • On the men’s game: “A lot of players think about the stands and the stadiums and maybe the environment that it would cause for them. That makes us really sad…” [54:00]

• Family Support

  • “I think I have to give my mum credit for that…she never questioned it. She was like, if that's what you want to do, that's what you want to do…” [56:17]
  • On family’s way of showing love: “I don't think we'll probably say ‘I love you’…but I know if I ever need them…actions speak louder than words.” [57:32]

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Poetic Creativity and Fun

• Love for Poetry & Creativity
  • Jill often thinks in poems and writes them, especially when idle—such as in the ‘I’m a Celeb’ jungle villa:
    • “Sometimes I'll be walking…I'll just be speaking in poems in my head.” [58:29]
    • She wrote for hours about her life while in seclusion pre-jungle entry. [58:50–59:56]
  • Jamie writes Jill a playful football limerick:
    • “There once was a lioness named Jill whose midfield play showed mighty skill…” [58:03]

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Quickfire “Get to Know Jill” Round (Selected Highlights) [62:00–68:27]

• Phrase That Cheers Her Up: “Should we go for a coffee?” [62:11]
• Best Compliment: “Thank you for being a good teammate and thank you for being there for me.” [62:26]
• Guilty Pleasure: “Chocolate. I love chocolate. Dairy milk Cadbury’s.” [65:08]
• Something She Can’t Let Go Of: “The Lionesses. Since I retired, I’ve been to the World Cup with them...I can't let go of the Lionesses.” [64:43]
• Favorite Goal: Scoring in the 2009 Euros semi-final: “The ball literally smacked us on the nose and went bottom corner. So it wasn't the best goal in terms of technique, but in terms of what it meant.” [68:04]

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Notable Quotes

• On Bullying and Resilience:

  • “I was nine years old and I remember being like, don't cry, don't cry, don't cry...there was nothing that was going to stop us from playing.” — Jill Scott [22:31]

• On Womanhood in Football:

  • “Who said football wasn't for girls? …I always do that and I'm like, we're in a good place now. Young girls have got the opportunity to play…” — Jill Scott [32:53]

• On Self-Worth and Contribution:

  • “You can all bring something else to whatever you're doing. And I think that's really important.” — Jill Scott [44:43]

• On Leadership:

  • “Leaders that are true to themselves, because if not, you can see that they're trying to do something different and you don't feel as if it's genuine.” — Jill Scott [49:45]

• On Failure:

  • “If you lose, you can go back next week and go again. That idea of failure was really important to me…” — Jamie Laing [36:25]

• On Authenticity:

  • “I'm a big believer…as long as you're happy, it's fine.” — Jill Scott [53:42]

• On Support from Family:

  • “Actions speak louder than words.” — Jill Scott [57:32]

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Memorable Moments

• Jill’s infamous Euros outburst:

  • “I did say, ‘off, you prick’. And you know what? I don’t even swear in day-to-day life…But in that moment, I must have just been so passionate, so emotional…” [14:08]

• Jamie and Jill’s playful banter about giving up their phones on team buses, what makes a good poem, and who they’d snog, marry, avoid among famous pundits. [05:05–05:59]

• Emotional recollection of tears as a child and how things have changed for girls in football. [22:31]

• Jamie’s observation:

  • “That mentality of never giving up is really important that we should really have in life because things always do get tough.” [Summary at 68:32]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:06 — Early football bullying and resilience
• 06:15 — Handling nerves, “three things” coping mechanism
• 08:24 — 161 England caps and pride
• 15:53 — Regret and failure: being sent off
• 22:22 — Parental and peer abuse while playing football as a girl
• 24:42 — Emotional repression vs. vulnerability
• 29:42 — Retirement and identity
• 32:42 — FA’s ban on women’s football
• 35:33 — Life lessons from sport
• 44:44 — Imposter syndrome
• 49:45 — What makes a good leader
• 53:42 — Visibility and openness about sexuality
• 62:00 — Quickfire round
• 68:04 — Favorite ever goal
• 70:52 — Teaser for next episode (with Ashley Roberts)

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Final Thoughts

Jill Scott’s story is one of resilience, determination, and authenticity. From overcoming bullying to becoming an England icon, her philosophy centers on self-improvement, teamwork, and supporting others—on and off the pitch. This candid conversation is as valuable for those interested in sport as it is for anyone seeking inspiration in the face of adversity.

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Listen if you want:

• To be inspired by real stories of resilience
• Inside perspectives on women’s football
• Honest discussion around mental health and courage
• Laughter, good banter, and practical wisdom from one of football’s best-loved characters

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Transcript

[Jill Scott]

Coming up in this episode of Great.

[Jamie Laing]

Company, you had a pretty tricky time with not only other kids, but also other parents.

[Jill Scott]

Comments from the side would be going hard on her.

[Jamie Laing]

Break her legs.

[Jill Scott]

Felt like a weakness. If you said you were getting bullied, I remember being like, don't cry, don't cry, don't cry.

[Jamie Laing]

Why did you keep playing football?

[Jill Scott]

I'm Jill Scott and I'm in Great Company.

[Jamie Laing]

It's Scott who tries to like. You've had 161 caps for England.

[Jill Scott]

I played against some of the best players in the world. Alexia, who plays for Spain. Bon Mati.

[Jamie Laing]

You got caught on camera shouting something at a German player.

[Jill Scott]

I did say, that's not too bad, is it?

[Jamie Laing]

Has there ever been a time when you felt like you did let yourself down?

[Jill Scott]

We were playing this game in the cup final and I actually got sent off and we lost that game.

[Jamie Laing]

You headbutt some.

[Jill Scott]

It's a long walk down the tunnel and back to the changing rooms. It felt like the longest walk of my life. I think that was a moment where I was like, I've let this team down here.

[Jamie Laing]

So have you ever had times where you have felt a little low or anxious?

[Jill Scott]

Wow. Yeah, it's been. Been a bit of a journey, I think. I always thought I was a strong person by not showing my feelings. I was like, what am I even doing on this football pitch?

[Jamie Laing]

What?

[Jill Scott]

I still get that now.

[Jamie Laing]

Why do you have imposter syndrome? Dude?

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[Jamie Laing]

I wish I would stop.

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[Jamie Laing]

Hello everyone. My name is Jamie Laing and this is Great Company. Hey guys, welcome back to Great Company. Now, if you are a new listener, welcome to the show. I'm your host, Jamie and if you're an OG listener, welcome back to the show. You know we're in for we have Jill Scott on today, which I cannot tell you how excited I am for this. I've been a fan of hers for a long time. I've been following her journey and all the sort of accolades and success she's had on screen. She seems to be this really fun, entertaining, lovely person. I can tell you this off screen and in real person, she's exactly the same person. And today we're going to learn so much from her about resilience, about teamwork, about graft, about failure. So get ready for it. Don't forget to stick around at the end of the episode where I'm going to speak a little bit more about what I learned but before then, and I know I say this every single time, so please don't get bored of me. But if you can do me one favor before we start the show, and that is if you can click subscribe. It does us so many wonders. I cannot explain. I tell you this every single time, but it really does. It keeps us making the show that you like and it keeps us allowing to get the guests that we want to get. If you can do that one thing for us. I promise you, we'll keep making the show that you love. Okay. Enjoy this episode of Great Company with the amazing Jill Scott.

[Jill Scott]

I'm Jill Scott and I'm in great company.

[Jamie Laing]

With the overlap. It's Roy Keane, it's Gary Neville. Yeah, it's yourself.

[Jill Scott]

And Jamie Carragher and Ian Wright.

[Jamie Laing]

Okay, so if I had to say snog.

[Jill Scott]

Oh, God. I'm not snogging any of them and I'm not marrying any of them.

[Jamie Laing]

But you have to, you have to, you have to snog.

[Jill Scott]

Okay. Who would you snuggle that lot out of all the podcasts? I do. I'll. I'll snog Kaz Carney.

[Jamie Laing]

If I had to snog Mario Void out of Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher, I would snog Roy Keane.

[Jill Scott]

Okay. I don't know why you're looking at us like, is he a good kisser?

[Jamie Laing]

I know I'd marry Gary Neville because I think he's. He's quite wealthy, I reckon.

[Jill Scott]

Well, just for the money.

[Jamie Laing]

Well, it's not for the love of it, is it? And I would probably avoid Jamie Carraghan.

[Jill Scott]

Oh, they are all happily married, by the way, so they might not have room for you.

[Jamie Laing]

So when's the most nervous you've ever been?

[Jill Scott]

What? In life. Ever in life, do you think? Oh, that's a good question. I was actually at an awards evening the other night and I had to make a speech and I thought I was going to be okay, but I found that really nerve wracking. You know when you stand up and you look out and it's just all light and you can't make out someone's face. Yeah. So, yeah, I get quite nervous if I've got to do like a speech or something like that. But it's crazy because I do like motivational talks and I'm fine doing that. But I found this really nerve wracking the other day. You thought I was going to say, like, yeah, playing at Wembley or something like that. Like that. But yeah, I think when it's.

[Jamie Laing]

Why is it? Why? Because that feels out of your. But it shouldn't be out of your comfort zone because you can. You're a motivational speaker.

[Jill Scott]

So, yeah, I think because I was actually receiving an award, I don't like all the attention being on me sometimes. So I think it was a little bit of that. But when it comes to football, I'm sure it's just the same as you with your work, like, because it's something you practice every single day. I was kind of all right when I played football because I had belief that I would always have this thing where I'd think of three things that I was confident that I could bring to the team when I played football. So I always knew I could nail someone in a tackle. I knew I could run because I did a lot of practicing, running and being fit. So I used to just bring these things to the game, and then I kind of wouldn't get overwhelmed with the situation. So that was probably a corporate mechanism. Really.

[Jamie Laing]

That's a really good tactic. So when you're. For anyone listening, if they're in a situation, you think of three things that you know you can bring to the table. Yeah, like these three things. Yes, because then it focuses you so you don't get overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with the. The sort of whole thing that's going on.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, exactly. Because there was girls in the team that obviously could do different things to me, like score goals, do skills and stuff like that. And if I thought, oh, God, I'm gonna have to do that today, I'd be thinking, I'm not gonna be able to achieve it. So, yeah, I'd kind of nail them three things and then grow into the game, really. So. Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

So you've had 161cap?

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

For England.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. It's a lot.

[Jamie Laing]

That is mad.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. I can't believe it, actually, sometimes when I sit and talk about it, because when I was a young girl who just fell in love with the game of football, I never thought I'd play one game for England, never mind 161. So, yeah, I am. I am very, very proud of that start. When I. When I reflect.

[Jamie Laing]

Are you actually proud? Because sometimes we just kind of say, I do this occasionally, which is where I think it's the. It's the Britishness in this. But also being a Northern Brit as well, it's even more so you don't do it right, which is where sometimes you proud. And I go, yeah, of course I'm proud of myself. But actually, I don't really know if I'm proud of myself. I just kind of said, are you truly proud of yourself?

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, with that one, I am, I think, because. And maybe it's because you're still going in your profession. Whereas that part of my kind of life is over now, football. So I feel like I've closed the door on it. And maybe when I played, I was like, wow, I'm playing for England. But I was so focused on just giving it everything that I had to put in good performances to try and contribute to a team win. But I think now that that chapter's been closed for three years, I think I've been able to reflect kind of seeing little clips back of, like, tournaments, the Euros win and stuff like that. And I think I can probably finally sit here now and say, and I am proud that I did that. And don't get us wrong, I mean, I'm proud of the whole team. I'm proud of women's football, especially reflecting back on the journey, journey to get in the UVO's win, but probably just proud of being part of such a big thing like that.

[Jamie Laing]

When you have to close the door on something.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

How hard is that?

[Jill Scott]

It wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. From the sense that it was the perfect ending for me, the fact that we got that gold medal at Wembley, I think it felt like the right time to close the door. I felt like if I was closing it after that, it would have been like a. A rusty clause where my body couldn't go anymore. My knee was starting to swell and I was carrying a lot of injury. So it was just nice to probably just give that door a little push and be like, right, it's time for the next chapter. And I knew deep down that tournament I didn't play a lot. I was on the bench and in training. I felt like the game was just starting to get away from me a little bit.

[Jamie Laing]

You feel that as a professional you can start to go, wow. She.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, I think when you've got players like El Attune, Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp, who were younger and they're coming through and they're dancing around you at times like you're not there. And I'm like, my head really wanted to do something that my body probably couldn't anymore, but I just felt extremely lucky that I'd made that squad. And the fact that I played about 35 minutes in the final, I kind of like that I was involved to a certain extent.

[Jamie Laing]

When you went onto the pitch for that final against Germany, did you. Did you know in your head you're like, right, I'm just gonna. You had three things. I'm gonna run, that's okay. But I'm gonna just be a bit aggressive. I'm gonna get someone and know that they've played against me. They're gonna feel a bit like roughed up.

[Jill Scott]

I was dying to get on because Kiera Walsh, Georgia Stanway, they'd literally Ran every single minute in midfield. So they'd done about six, seven games. And my legs felt fresh because obviously I hadn't played a lot and I could see they were starting to cramp a little bit. And rightfully so. They'd covered so much ground, probably 11k game they covered. So I was like, get us on. Like, I want to help, I want to help. So I was excited to come on to the pitch and I was like, I'm just gonna run as much as I can, get in people's faces, make it difficult. And I think that was my game really. When I look back, I played against some of the best players in the world. Alexia, who plays for Spain and Barcelona, Bomb Matti. And these were players that were absol. Brilliant. But my mindset was, you know what? Today I'm just going to try and make you average, just get in your face, rough you up. And that was kind of my game plan really. So, yeah, to get on the pitch in that final, I, I just wanted to run for the girls that had ran for so long.

[Jamie Laing]

When you win something that big.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

It'S like an out of body experience, right?

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, it, it was just, it was ridiculous. I remember me, Lucy Bronze, Demi Storks. I think we sat on that pitch for about an hour and a half after just looking at the. And just thinking, wow. And I remember thinking, we're never going to get this moment again. And then the girls going to do it again three years later.

[BetterHelp Advertiser]

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[Jamie Laing]

God, this is the best team ever. No one's going to do this again.

[Jill Scott]

I think I remember seeing them girls take this in because this is once in a lifetime. And they're probably thinking, we're going to go and win it again in three years time. So maybe I was just talking to myself then, but. But yeah, best feeling in the world.

[Jamie Laing]

Do you think that looking back at it is that proudest moment of your life?

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, yeah. And I think whatever happens, I said to my, I actually said this in my speech the other day when I, I won this award and my partner Shelly was there and I said it was the best day of my life and it definitely will be. And I actually said to her on stage, I am sorry, Shelley, like if we want to get married or have children, hopefully I was like, it'll probably still be the best day of my life. Is that a bad thing you say?

[Jamie Laing]

No, not at all. I know you've mentioned this before, but you've. You got caught on camera.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. Although that sentence could go anywhere. So I'm glad I'm glad it's going where it's going.

[Jamie Laing]

Oh, I don't know what you were thinking. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're caught on camera doing what?

[Jill Scott]

How did you get that video.

[Jamie Laing]

Caught on camera shouting something at a German player.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

Can you repeat it?

[Jill Scott]

Is this podcast?

[Jamie Laing]

Oh, yeah, you can say anything you want in this podcast.

[Jill Scott]

Okay, so I did say off, you prick. And you know what? I don't even swear in day to day life. Like, honestly, I used to live my house used to be like, right on a park. And if the kids were swearing in the street, I'd be like, watch your language. There's like smaller kids around and you shouldn't be swearing. So I hate swearing. But in that moment, I felt like the camera did not do me justice that day. So basically she had my leg trapped and I couldn't get away. So I was just getting so angry and then I stood up and I don't even think them words are in my vocabulary. I actually don't know where they came from. But I must have just been so passionate, so emotional and then. Yeah. And I remember getting home a couple of weeks later, I was probably partying for that amount of time and I think I told one of the kids on the park, I was like, what's your language? And they were like, you can talk. Like, I won't be seeing that ever again. But yeah, I think it was just a outburst of passion.

[Jamie Laing]

Has there ever been a time when you felt like you did let yourself down?

[Jill Scott]

Probably when you've just asked us that question suddenly? Like, there was a couple of times in my career when I got sent off and that was probably more the case of letting myself down, but also the team. So I remember we had a cup final at Wembley. It was actually when Covid was. So there was nobody there, but we were playing this game, Man City, Chelsea in the cup final and I actually got sent off and we lost that game. And it's a long walk down the tunnel and back to the changing rooms when there's a crowd there. I tell you now, it's so long when there's no crowd there. It felt like the longest walk of my life.

[Jamie Laing]

And you're just hearing your studies go down.

[Jill Scott]

Oh, honestly. And then you sat in the changing rooms and usually you can't hear anything because of the crowd, but I could hear every kick of the ball, every goal that went in. And yeah, I think that was a moment where I was like, I've let the team down here because if we'd kept 11 on the pitch. Pitch. I believe we would have won that game. So probably when you ask that question, that's the first thing that comes into my head.

[Jamie Laing]

Wow. It reminds me and I don't know why I know you're one of your heroes. David Beckham.

[Jill Scott]

Yes. I love David Beckham.

[Jamie Laing]

Oh man. He was. Yeah. To him and Johnny Wilkinson because obviously I'm a rugby player, as you know.

[Jill Scott]

Number 10. Did you do the kick?

[Jamie Laing]

I did the kicks. Number 10, fly half. It was a fullback. Just, you know, just. I was multi talented, just on the field. Put me anywhere. But that moment I still remember. When he got the red card.

[Jill Scott]

Yes.

[Jamie Laing]

In the World Cup.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

And you know he spoke about in his documentary. He went through a whole hell of it. But just forget about what fans think and what everyone thinks outside of the media. Letting your team down in that moment when you make a mistake and you know it's just a moment of frustration or anger or. And you lash out or do something stupid.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

And you just realize that, why have I done that?

[Jill Scott]

I must say this shouldn't have been a red card. Just, just to clarify, it was a really bad refereeing decision.

[Jamie Laing]

What did you do?

[Jill Scott]

One them was actually. Yeah, I did do that once actually. That was my other sending off but I didn't put my head back and forward. I just kind of put it forward. I don't know if that's any better. But yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

Wait, hold, hold on, hold on.

[Jill Scott]

So let's go. I wasn't going to bring this one up. That's why I went to the other one.

[Jamie Laing]

Okay, so let's park the other one for a second.

[Jill Scott]

Okay. Yeah, it's a bit poor on that one.

[Jamie Laing]

So you headbutted someone.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, but again, like Zidane style. No, again, the girl was kind of like punching us in the stomach at the time and then she put her head towards me and I must say it is a natural human reaction. If I put my head to you now, you would meet my. I'm not saying you'd head Butters, but you would meet my head. So in some kind of contact. I'm not getting out of this. But yeah, basically I got sent off. That was against Arsenal, but that's my only two sending offs. That's not too bad, is it?

[Jamie Laing]

Do you think you've always been competitive? Because I say that because when you, you were a cross country runner when you're younger and you won the London Mini Marathon when you were 14 years old.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

You obviously played a lot of football. Where does that competitive nature come from?

[Jill Scott]

I'm not too sure. I grew up with an older brother who was. I was gonna say about three years older than us. He still is three years older than.

[Jamie Laing]

Us because it does change as we get older.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, exactly.

[Jamie Laing]

Everybod now younger than me.

[Jill Scott]

Everyone thinks we're twins. And I'm like, he's three years older than me. But I think I always wanted to be better than him. And he was fast, he could play football and whatever he could do, I wanted to do better. Even if we were playing, like, FIFA on the computer or anything like that, I was a really, really bad loser. But I think when I speak about being competitive, I always wanted to win, but. But I think it was more. I just wanted to do the best that I could do. I never wanted to, like, let myself down. And that's something that's probably stuck with us. Like, I put a lot of work in to whatever I'm doing because I just want to do the best that I can do. And I remember football manager saying to us one year, he said, whatever you do, just look yourself in the mirror at the end of the day and think, could I have done any more today? And that stuck with us. It was Nick Cushion, who was Manchester City women's manager, and. And that stuck with us. So I like to think. Think, like, I don't actually stand in front of the mirror every night and go, jill, could you have been better today? It's something that I always think, did I prepare right? Did I do the best that I could? And, yeah, so I think it's a competitive kind of nature with myself in a way as well.

[Jamie Laing]

The healthiest one.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, I think so. Yeah, I think so.

[Jamie Laing]

I. Because I. I remember speaking to a therapist, and the therapist said to me. And I said, I think the problem with, like, life at the moment is, like. And I was probably around 29, 30. I was like, I'm comparing myself to so many people.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

And, like, people who I work with or people who I know and people are doing better or worse. I'm constantly looking what people are doing. And she said, why are you doing that? I said, well, because that's. That I compare and I see what I'm doing. She says, no, you just got to compare yourself to yourself.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

If you're doing better than you were doing yesterday or better than you were doing last year, that's the most important thing. That means you're doing better. So keep doing that.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. And I think we can get caught up because of social media now. Like constantly thinking our lives aren't good enough and comparing to everybody else. Like somebody does a post and you think, oh, they had a better week than me or they'll put something on. You think, oh, well, I haven't got that. But I think I've always been quite good at like, I love to see other people doing well. I'm like, oh, that's brilliant. And I think in football I used to always say, you don't compete with each other. Like if we all do well, we can get to whatever you perceive to be the top together. And yeah, it might happen at different times for different people, but I just always wanted to be a better version of myself and I think in society today we probably could be better at supporting others and that. I hear loads of people when they say, oh, so and so did really well and our so and so looks great and I'm the person that'll go and find that person and tell them, like, I'll meet people and I'll go, you know what somebody said to me last week, like how beautiful you look and you're doing so well and because I think we're not very good at actually telling the person sometimes. So I think when people meet us for the first time, they think I'm a bit weird because I'm like, you know, so and so from down the road they said, you look beautiful. Last week on telly.

[Jamie Laing]

That's amazing though. My buddy told me the same thing. He said what I do now, if I'm talking about someone. Yeah, with someone. I always message and say, we've just been talking about you. Oh, we think you're amazing at this. That. I was like, that's such a nice thing because we love being told nice things and we don't really, we forget to say to people, oh my God. A friend was saying, you're looking beautiful. The way you played was amazing or the fact that you inspired me here. That's a really. And that knock on effect is so nice.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. I do think it's an important thing and I don't know why we don't do it as much now. I'm not too sure. But I do try to.

[Jamie Laing]

I've heard you speak about when you were younger, you had a pretty tricky time with not only other kids but also other parents.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

Because shouting things like break her legs when you were playing football and even one time you were crying so much you couldn't even see because there were so many tears in your eyes.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. I think I bumped into a old football Manager recently it was one of the boys dads and he was so lovely with us. And it was back in the day where you used to have to beg, steal and borrow to try and get a lift to train. And I was only 9, 10 years old, but my mom didn't drive four children. It was difficult sometimes to be taking them everywhere. Whereas now I feel like parents are at absolutely everything, aren't they? Like if they've got three kids, they'll go to three different events, sometimes in one night. So sometimes I'd be there without my mom. And he would always look after us. He would, he was lovely. But. But I think because I was quite decent at football, if I ever took it past people's precious sons or nutmegged them or did something good, they would just get so mad and the comments from the side would be going hard on her. And you've got to think I was nine years old and I remember being like, don't cry, don't cry, don't cry. But then I'd be getting tackled quite hard and yeah, the tears would come. So he recalled the other day having to take us off in a game and he was like, you'll be okay. And I was crying my eyes out and I missed the rest of the game. But I, I always say that I always went back to training on a Tuesday. There was nothing that was going to stop us from playing. And I think that was when resilience was kind of building inside of us and I kind of became a little bit immune to comments. But it took us a long time to get there. There was so many moments at senior school when I don't know if you've ever, when you've ever had it, when you're with your friends and you're walking and you just see certain groups of people and you know they're going to say something to you and you're so embarrassed and it just be like, she's a man, she's man. Because you played football. And it sounds something so small, but it was something that I carried with myself like throughout school. So yeah, that bit was tricky. But I never told anybody about it. I, I never told my mom or anything like that because it also went back to a time which I'm so glad this has changed for so many different reasons. But we were always told to like, be brave, be strong, like wear your face the right way and stuff like that. Whereas I think children now, now I was talking to my niece the other day and I think they walk into a classroom and they get told to tell people how they're feeling. Are you a little bit anxious today? Are you happy? Are you sad? And I think that's so important. But I know when I was younger, I don't know if it was the same for you, but I think it was always a weakness. Like, it felt like a weakness. If you said you were getting bullied or whatever else, you just keep it in.

[Jamie Laing]

Yeah, I wouldn't say. You wouldn't say a word.

[Jill Scott]

No, definitely. So I'm glad times have changed. But. But, yeah, I think I was definitely building a resilience from a very young age.

[Jamie Laing]

There's a hard balance, though, Joe.

[Jill Scott]

Right.

[Jamie Laing]

Because you want. Like I would. Building that resilience is important.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

And you want to be strong and you want to be tough and you want to be able to take the. That that life throws at us. Yeah, because it does. Life is like this the whole time. It's up and down, so you have to have that. But also there's a balance to be able to, like, talk about your feelings and be open and be emotional, which I don't think we had.

[Jill Scott]

No, definitely.

[Jamie Laing]

So it's a hard balance to. To get there. We don't want everyone to be so. Not resilient.

[Jill Scott]

Over emotional.

[Jamie Laing]

Yeah, over emotional. We also want that resilience to be there. So it's a hard balance to sort of strike.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. I. I think I always thought I was a strong person by not showing my feelings, but then as I got older, I really admired the people that I played with in a team that could go, you know what? I'm struggling today. Like, I'm not feeling great. This has been happening at home, and. And then I realized, you know what?

[BetterHelp Advertiser]

What?

[Jill Scott]

They're the strong people. I'm probably quite weak for keeping everything inside. And as my career went on, I definitely got better at probably creating a little bit of a circle of friends, very close friends, where I felt like I could speak honestly. And even now, Shelley will say to us, she'll go, whenever I ask you if you're right, you just go, yeah, I'm fine. And I think, yeah, because I am. But I suppose even if I did have something going on, I'd probably think I'll try and deal with it myself first. First. And then if I can't, then I'll probably bring it to the table. So I think I have changed a little bit, but I think it comes from probably, A, being young and probably getting bullied for playing football, and two, probably. Well, Ian, A and B, not a And two A and B. And B. Yeah. And B. Probably being from kind of a generation where it wasn't the thing to do, I suppose.

[Jamie Laing]

It's funny, my. My partner as well says to me, she says, you're never honest about your feelings like I am honest. And she says, well, you kind of are honest. So she says, if you're feeling anxious, you'll tell me you're feeling anxious, but sometimes you won't even say that. And she says, I think it's because sometimes you don't even understand what you're feeling because you've buried it so much for so long that you just don't. And like, you sort of like myself.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

What's the point of me burdening you? And she says, well, because I want you to burden me because it doesn't affect me. It just lets me understand what you're going through. Otherwise I'm in the dark the whole time and it's hard, right?

[Jill Scott]

No, that's so true. That is true. But I. Yeah. And I think sometimes I remember like with anxiety and stuff like that, probably not really knowing how it felt. Like probably after I played football, I think when I played football, cuz I don't know if it's the same as you, but when you exercise, I always feel in a better mood. And it was when I stopped playing football and I wasn't training very much and I felt like, like I started to feel all these emotions and I was like, why is my mood low today? And then I realized, Jill, you're going to have to do some kind of training. I kind of took it for granted that I was exercising every single day.

[Jamie Laing]

Wow.

[Jill Scott]

So I think when I train it stops me from overthinking as well because I'll probably get it all out as I go for a run or something like that.

[Jamie Laing]

So. Have you ever had times where you have felt a little low or anxious?

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, I think so. Definitely. Probably anxious. Maybe. Maybe. Post career I've gone into some situations that have been like really good and really exciting and I'm trying to think of an example, probably doing say A League of Their Own. And suddenly I got the opportunity to be a team captain on there and I probably didn't realize the magnitude of the show, like I'd watched it. But then I think that first day when I actually sat down and there was a live audience and I had Jimmy Carr next to us, there was Ramesh, Jamie Redknapp, Micah Richards. And I remember being like, like this is, like this is pretty big. And suddenly You've got to like, try and be funny or try and like, chip in. And you're with these absolute like experts of comedy. So I think there's moments there where I'm like, right, this is sink or swim time. But then I also think then moments are what kind of make you grow as well. Because once I'd went through that, I was like, oh, you know what? With each episode I felt more comfortable. So that would probably be an example. I would.

[Jamie Laing]

To retiring though as well. That's a big like, shift in your life. And I always think this with sports, you know, with professional sports people, right? It's. You spend your whole life doing something and dedicating your life to it. And you, you know, from. You were playing football from what age?

[Jill Scott]

Like five, from five years old.

[Jamie Laing]

So 30 years of playing football. That's what you do. And then you, you get to, you know, you 35 or whatever it is, and you suddenly stop playing. That's like when life normally begins. I feel like life for me is just starting to begin. But you've always lived a life before a life and that then you've done amazing because you, you can go and do TV shows and you, you're. You, you, you're a pundit and you can stay in the mix of it. But a lot of sportsmen don't get to do that. They then just have to stop and they have to find a new career doing something. And no wonder there then becomes that problem with people feeling anxious or down or low mood or whatever it is.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, I do feel sore. Lucky. I think when I finished playing, I never really had a plan. I had my coaching badges and I love coaching. But it's something that kind of life took us in a different direction. I supp. The jungle came up straight away. It's like, do you want to go on? I'm a celebrity. Get me out of here. And I was like, well, I'm not doing anything, so I might as well. So that. I think that was a, a great experience. It was a, it was a difficult one at times, but it was a good experience for me. And then, yeah, just suddenly opportunities started coming along and still to this day, I'm, I'm sure it's the same for you when you get a call to say you've been offered work. I'm, I'm just very grateful because there's a lot of people that do retire and maybe them calls don't come or they're trying for that next job. So, yeah, it's been, been A bit of a journey, going back to school.

[Jamie Laing]

And you're in that moment when, you know, the kids are being mean and the parents are being mean. Why did you keep playing football?

[Jill Scott]

I just loved it. I honestly, I just loved it. And I even think back to when I was five and think, what made us want that ball? I know my auntie liked playing football. Obviously, she's like. Like 20, 25 years older than me, and she liked playing football at school. But obviously it was a time when women and girls just didn't play football. Obviously the FA had banned girls from playing football.

[Jamie Laing]

I didn't know that.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. So they were banned from a period of time for. For playing. So I think she.

[Jamie Laing]

For what reason?

[Jill Scott]

I'm not even sure of the exact reason. It was just a. A thing that come about. And there was a whole generation before that where they were going away, they were playing in World Cups, some people in the 70s, I think it was in Mexico, watching the women's game. And then obviously this band came into place, so it kind of set the game back so many years. And basically, so my auntie was part of that generation, so she used to actually take us to the beach in the park and we used to play football and. And she was pretty decent. So I. I don't know if my love for it kind of come from then, because she would babysit us and probably wouldn't think twice about, oh, we'll have a little kick about, out with the ball. But I just loved it. I loved playing football. And it probably took us a couple of months at school because I was only five years old, so you're in, like, reception, where I was like, wait a minute, I'm. I'm the only girl playing football here, so. And then it hit us that I was probably a little bit different.

[Jamie Laing]

Apparently the ban was because the FA deemed football unsuitable for women to play.

[Jill Scott]

There you go. That's the reason. But I do always. I know it is.

[Jamie Laing]

Isn't that mad?

[Jill Scott]

It is mad because even now, when people go, go, oh, it's so good, the opportunities that young girls have got. I actually try and remove all the emotion and think about it so logically and I think. But who said football wasn't for girls? Do you know what I mean? Like, it. Yeah, it is mad. I think there's no other word for it, but I am somebody who likes to look at the positives. I always do do that. And I'm like, we're in a good place now. Young girls have got the opportunity to play when we finished the U Rose. There was only actually, actually 44 of girls given the opportunity to play football in PE, which really, like, astounded me. I was like, I just thought everybody now had equal opportunity in any sport. So I think that's now up to 80, 85, because that was always going to be the lioness's legacy to get them numbers up.

[Jamie Laing]

I don't want to bang that drum, though. But, like, what it feels at 44, right. Have the opportunity to do it. But I can't imagine how many young girls still feel today that if they play football, the boys aren't going to fancy them or they're going to think they're, you know, too boyish or whatever, so won't. Even if they have the skill or the ambition or the competitiveness to go, they won't do it.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

Which upsets me.

[Jill Scott]

Right. And there is a big dropout rate from the age of, I think, 13 or 16, I think it is. And I think that's exactly that. Obviously, like, how you look, and maybe you start to get introduced to relationships and stuff like that. So I think there is definitely a stigma around that. But it's not as if, if you play football, you have to suddenly be a tomboy or anything like that. Like, there's loads of the girls who play for England that are really into the fashion and it can just be a thing that you're good at, a thing that you're passionate about. You can be whoever you want to be.

[Jamie Laing]

But isn't that even. I know, but isn't it even funny that we sort of sit here together and say, you can be anything if you're. Look, we. They would never say that about the men's sport. There are other people in the sport, in the men's game who like this. And it's like, what? Yeah, certainly even a conversation, it has to almost. You have to sort of try and persuade people to go into it because there's so many. It's. It's strange, right? It's sort of irritating.

[Jill Scott]

No, it is, it's. It's true. But the thing that makes us so happy sat here is. Yeah, I feel so extremely proud that I played for England for 16 years. Was, like, so proud. But the fact that I got the opportunity to play sport, I think for young girls now to get the opportunity to play football, be part of a team, get outside, learn to win and lose. And I really feel like sport has given me tools for life. Like.

[Jamie Laing]

Like what?

[Jill Scott]

Give it to me, lords. Like. Well, resilience, determination, probably even things that I don't think about, like how you structure your life and stuff like that. Like, I feel like I've got good emotional intellig, so I'll always check in on people. I have a sense if I feel like somebody's down or something like that, wanting to help people. And I think it's not about your child going on to play for England or play at the top level. It's about them being a good person. And I really feel like sport can teach them that. And if you have a daughter, the fact that now there's so many opportunities out there for us, you can pick from so many things, whereas going back 30 years should probably. Probably would have felt like she could only pick maybe 10 of things. So I think the word opportunity is. Is so important. Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

I think sport taught me that, like, failure is okay.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

And, like, if you lose, you can go back next week and go again. And that. That idea of failure was really important to me because I think, I think. I think not knowing that, not knowing that, like, if you. If you're kind of going through life, life, and you're kind of winning at everything, which a lot of kids do, right. They. It's like, you mean, maybe they're good at exams or they're good at this or good at that, but sport, it's constant up and down because you can't always win. And that really taught me a lot.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. And you probably. You'll do it a lot with your work. Like, me and Kaz Carney have got, long story short podcast. I'll give it a little plug.

[Jamie Laing]

No, no, I was giving a plug.

[Jill Scott]

But basically, like, we just sit there and tell stories about our career. But when it's finished, like, the next week, I'll go, oh, how did it do this week in terms of numbers and whatever else? And then I'll sit down, I'll go, right, how can we make it better? And I'm constantly trying to make things better now. I think if I didn't have that sport background, I'd probably be like, oh, we've done a podcast and we'll do it next week. I'm always. And I'm sure you're probably the same, you want everything to be the best that it can be, and that's a good life.

[Jamie Laing]

But it comes at the good and bad. Because when you're obsessed, like you are with your podcast, you constantly check it, constantly want to know, constantly want it to be better the whole time. And actually sometimes it's never good enough. Yeah, and so that's a problem I always find.

[Jill Scott]

But then when you stop doing something, like I said with retirement from football, that's probably when you'll reflect and go, oh, you know what? That did well when I did this at this time of my life. And it's probably just because you're in the. The mix of things and everything's going so quick. So yeah, sometimes it's nice to. You should pause and reflect more. That's the sense I'm getting from you.

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[Jamie Laing]

So you grew up in Sunderland.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

And you then started playing for Everton.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

And so you had to drive to Everton which is like a three hour drive.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

And you'd either have to. Sofa. You'd have to like sleep on people's sofas or just do whatever just to play. The passion and the desire and the commitment to play.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

Is wild that commute.

[Jill Scott]

I think my nephew gets mad now cause he's 17, nearly 18 and he's at college like doing a bit of coaching and stuff like that. And I always say I'm like, you know, when I finished college at 3 o' clock I'd get in my little Peugeot 106. I'd just learned to drive as well. I think I had a road map. It wasn't the days of like. And I knew I had these three motorways. A19 onto the A1, onto the M62 and then I'd arrive in Liverpool. So you can imagine when you just pass your test it's. It's quite a daunting time is, isn't it? And I just had to get a football. I'd finish college at three, I'd jump in my car, I'd drive to Liverpool. Three hours. Would have the. It used to take about four hours with traffic. Would have the last train and slot which was 8 till 10pm and then I jump back in my car, I'd get home. I remember it was like one o' clock in the morning back to Sunderland and this is after training as well. And then I'd get about six hours sleep. Sleep and then I'd have to go to college the next day. And I was doing that journey probably three times a week I would say. But that was on top of like college and. And stuff like that. So my kind of academics started to kind of fall off a little bit because my focus did become probably given too much to football. But you're also exhausted. Yeah. But I think when I look back now I go, God, how did you do do that? But you know when your reality is just your reality. I wanted to play for Everton so bad. It was such a big move for me. I was playing with international footballers. Farrah Williams, Rachel Brown. I was playing with these amazing players and I wanted to go and I was just literally felt so lucky to be part of that team. So I did this journey but it Was a journey that kick started my journey of playing for England and everything else and you know what I mean, Made the best friends in that time. We're still friends now and I think because of the journey we had where some nights I was so tired to drive back, I was like, do you mind if I sleep on your sofa? And yeah, obviously to the girls, not just random people in the street. But yeah, I think your reality is your reality. And I loved it. Loved it.

[Jamie Laing]

When was the moment that you realized you wanted to be a footballer as a career?

[Jill Scott]

I don't feel like there was a moment. I feel like I just kept doing this thing and I was so determined to keep getting better at it and then kind of instead of maybe following a path, you made a path. That's probably the best way to think about it. So I felt like I'd get better than an opportunity had come along like signing for Everton and then I keep trying to play at a certain level. Then I got my England call up, then Manchester City started their team and they asked me to go. So I've always kind of, kind of believed in just trying to be the best version of yourself and see what happens. And then this amazing journey happened for me, which I do think you need a bit of luck as well. At the same time like. And God, when I look back, there was so many better footballers than me when I was younger, when I first played for England.

[Jamie Laing]

But you won so many awards. You won player of the year and everything.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, but I was like, there was so many players where I was like, what am I even doing on this football pitch?

[Jamie Laing]

What?

[Jill Scott]

But again it went back to, to.

[Jamie Laing]

Is that just self doubt?

[Jill Scott]

No, no, honestly, like in terms of technically there was players that were so much better than me, but I also had to be like, you know what? You can't run as long as me, so I'm gonna just try and run as hard.

[Jamie Laing]

Because you could just, could you outrun.

[Jill Scott]

Everywhere anyway, I was, until Lucy Bronze joined the England team. I, I, I was fit but I worked at it. I did work at it, but I thought I'm just going to win the ball back and then give it to the players like Kelly St. Smith, Rachel Yankee, Karen Carney. So you just have to. The thing is, like we said before, you can judge other people and compare yourself to other people, but you can all bring something else to whatever you're doing. And I think that's really important.

[Jamie Laing]

Did you ever get imposter syndrome?

[Jill Scott]

I still get that now.

[Jamie Laing]

Do you really? Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

Do you get that.

[Jamie Laing]

Yeah, yeah, I definitely do. But I get it in. Yeah, I get it in certain, Certain situations. I get it when I talk about business a lot.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

Even though I kind of know what I'm talking about, I'd still go, God, my toes go off. And I go, oh, I don't really, because I feel like sometimes I'm just guessing, which I think a lot of us are doing.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

But why do you have imposter syndrome?

[Jill Scott]

Because I think I have it all the time. I think, like, when I'm, I walk in a room and I'm. I'm working with certain, Certain people, and I don't know, I just feel like, wow, I've. Because, say, the guys that I do the podcast with. So take, for example, Roy Keane. He was like, yeah, he was like my idol growing up. So there was, like, Beckham, Roy Keane, obviously Gary Neville, like, watching that Man United team. And then I remember when we first did the podcast, we did a bit of a quiz, and I remember being like, there was just a moment where I was like, wow, I'm sat with these, like, absolute legends of the game. I don't tell them that too often, but I think. And once we did a few episodes, and obviously then you just kind of become friends. And I would like to think that we are friends now. But, yeah, I think it's like working with your idols, isn't it? And I think you question, you go, God, should I even be here? And then you have to kind of, like, talk yourself through it. But no. Do you know what the, the great guys, the rad are like? I feel like since doing the podcast, they've all, like, really welcomed us, and obviously they'll tell a lot of stories from their generation of football. So sometimes, like, obviously, I wasn't there. I was probably watching as a fan.

[Jamie Laing]

Isn't that amazing, though, that you're in that moment? You're suddenly with them, you're like, and, and you almost. Your inner child.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

Is going, what?

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. And you know what? They'll tell stories, and sometimes they'll just, like, bypass certain things, and I'll be like, wait a minute, did you just say that really happened? So sometimes, like, I feel like I'm getting to hear these stories firsthand, and then I can ask a question or kind of bounce off a bit, but. Yeah, but you'll never lose that.

[Jamie Laing]

I think the most I, I, I think what happens in life is I, I get this analogy of, like, you know, as kids, we used to climb to the top of the tree Right. And we wouldn't. If we fell out, whatever. We'd get back up. We'd go around because we were kind of naive and innocent. And that childlike attitude was just amazing. That's what got us through life. And as we get older, we lose that. Yeah, but what you're saying is you still have that childlike energy.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

Because you're. You're not only a professional, but you're also a fan.

[Jill Scott]

Fan. Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

And that sort of inner fan comes out, which it does with me and everything I do as well. That's the reason why I love podcasting, meeting you and other people. That inner fan comes out, I get excited by it and I think we lose that as we get older.

[Jill Scott]

Oh, I get so excited, especially with the overlap. When we have a guest on. As soon as we're finished, I'm like, who's the guest next week? Because had some brilliant guests on there. We've had David Beckham on.

[Jamie Laing]

What was it like when you met him?

[Jill Scott]

Oh, yeah, it was brilliant. I was quite quiet that episode. I think. I think I was just smelling. Smelling them. I'll just. I'll just do both of them.

[Jamie Laing]

No, he smells amazing.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, he smells amazing. But how does he get that, though?

[Jamie Laing]

Because he must spread. You know when people waft and they, they. I don't know how people do that. I spray on it. It doesn't like stick on me. I don't get it.

[Jill Scott]

I think you have to find the one that's right for you and also the one that costs half a million pounds.

[Jamie Laing]

You mentioned that when you were playing at Everton, that was kind of your favorite time of your life.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

Why was that the best time? Even though you were traveling three hours, three hours back, like that feels hector. But you're still your funnest time.

[Jill Scott]

I think we just had like really good banter. And I remember us being. And by the way, some of the girls were. They were a lot older than me and some of them were full time lecturers and they were playing for England so that they'd do full time lectures all week. Then we'd go away on a Saturday because we were playing Arsenal away and would be on this tiny little bus and then we'd stay over and then they'd get back sometimes early hours Monday morning and then they'd just go and lecture all week again. So I didn't have as rough a ride as they did really. But when I think back to them, coach journeys would just have so much banter and would just be playing these mad Games and probably all these just crazy games that you play. And I think it was because we weren't probably sat on our phones. Whereas now if you go on 99% of team coaches, I bet they've all just sat on the phones, probably not even interacting. So I always think if I ever got to manage or coach a team, I'd be like, when we get back on that coach, phones away, like, interact. Because that's when you have the best banter, and I think that's when the best friendships are formed as well. So I just love that I got to experience that with that team. And I think that's why we'll always be lifelong friends.

[Jamie Laing]

You go from Everton, then you go to Man City and you spend a lot of time there. And obviously the England squad, you. You've been around a lot of leaders.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

What do you think makes a good leader?

[Jill Scott]

I think what makes a good leader is when they do it their way and they don't try and do it like somebody else. So I've had leaders that were very focal who would get in at half time and they'd be shouting and screaming and telling people what to do. Then I've had leaders who you say like a Kelly Smith, who for me is still one of the best footballers England's ever had, and she led by example on the pitch. So she'd put a tackle in, you'd be like, I'm gonna back you up and put a tackle in as well. But you would never scream. She'd never shouted you. So I think, yeah, I think leaders that are true to themselves, I think they have to be true to themselves, because I think if not, you can see that they're trying to do something different and you don't feel as if it's genuine. But I've been around some great leaders and then you look at managers. Serena, who's had so much success with the lionesses, and what I loved about her and what obviously she still does, is just that directness. She'll tell you exactly what she thinks of you, exactly what needs to be better, and she doesn't leave any gray areas.

[Jamie Laing]

We know where you stand.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, definitely. And I think. I think that is a Dutch mindset set. Definitely.

[Jamie Laing]

Really?

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. Where they're just kind of good, though.

[Jamie Laing]

Because then you're not guessing.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. Because there's some managers who'll be like, yeah, you played all right today. We'll. We'll probably play you next week. And then you don't play and you're left so disappointed. Whereas she'd probably just be like, that wasn't good enough. Be better in training and you've got to earn your spot. And it'd be hard to take at the time, but you'd be like, right, I know what I need to do and I think that's important.

[Jamie Laing]

Would you ever want to be a football manager?

[Jill Scott]

Not a manager.

[Jamie Laing]

Why not?

[Jill Scott]

I don't think I'd like to be a manager because I think I'd like that kind of rapport with the players. Whereas I think with a manager you need to have probably more of a gap. Whereas, say, an assistant coach. I'd like to be on the grass coaching, telling the players when we need it to be better, but then also being able to sit, have lunch and probably have a bit of a laugh. I think that'd be a. A better a role if anybody needs an assistant coach.

[Jamie Laing]

You spoke about your partner, Shelley, earlier and you mentioned you would like to have kids one day.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

Would you like. You would like to have kids one day?

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, definitely, I think. Well, I'm 38 now, so I'm. I'm getting older. But, yeah, I think it's definitely something in my life. I was. I was talking to my mom the other day, day, and it was my nephew, actually. He said to us, have you always been a tomboy? And I said, yeah, I was always scraped knees, wanted to be out on my bike playing football. But one thing, when I look back on photos of me, I've always got a doll in my hand. I love dolls and, like, having a pram and whatever else. And my older sister's got three kids and I've always been very hands on with them since them being babies. My younger sister's just had a baby. Well, as. As well. And I just love babies, love kids. Don't get me wrong, when I've had them all overnight and they get up at early hours of the morning and I get to give them back and then I get to go and have a lie in. That is a good feeling. But I just love kids. I think they're just such a joy to be around. Shelly's got two daughters as well, so we've been like a family for the last eight years. They're older now, they're not like little kids. But, yeah, I just love being around kind of children. And I think you can come home, can't know you, you. And you can think so much has been going on in work, and then you can just get back, maybe watch something on the telly that's like A kids TV program and it just relaxes you and you look and think, you know what, maybe that wasn't such a bad day at work.

[Jamie Laing]

It's amazing. I know, you know, you've spoken about this in the past about you never felt that you had to speak about your sexuality in any way whatsoever. No, but it feels like in the men's sport it's still something that people don't really talk talk about.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. I think I've always kind of been somebody where I've never hid away from the fact that me and Shelley are together, but I never really wanted to sit down and, and do a big interview about it because I'm a big believer in if you meet someone and you're happy and you fall in love, well, that's it. Like, I don't care if you're with a man, a woman, as, as long as you're happy, it's fine. So it's always been something that I feel like hopefully I've set an example in a way of just maybe doing a post on Instagram or when we got engaged, doing a post and saying, look, we're happy, we're engaged. And yeah, I don't like to probably sit down and do this big thing like I'm with a woman because I'd like to think that the next generation can hopefully just talk about it like, oh, talk to the parents and say, I've met a girl or I've met a boy. And maybe the parents turn around and say, are you happy? Happy? Yes. Well, that's the biggest thing. So, yeah, and I, I hope obviously in the males game, I know it's not spoke about as much and we know that a lot of players think about the stands and the stadiums and maybe the environment that it would cause for them. And that makes us, makes us really sad because I think we should be from a, a generation where I didn't.

[Jamie Laing]

Even think, I didn't even think about that. Do you know, weirdly enough, I didn't even think, think about the fans. Yeah, I'm more thinking about locker room and this and that. I didn't even think about being on a pitch and having to deal with the fans for the away fans and then saying something towards you or whatever it was being such a. They would think maybe distraction by, you know, using your sexuality against them. That'd be awful.

[Jill Scott]

I don't think it would ever be anything in a, in a locker room like being from team situations. I think that team becomes your family and, and your family love you don't they? And. And they want you to be happy. So. Yeah, I. I don't think it would ever be anything from like, within a locker room, but I. I just can't get my head around when people give people stick for maybe falling in love or, or meeting someone. I don't get it. I really don't get it. I'm like, as long as you're happy and however that may look, God, it can look at a million different ways. I'm like, yeah, I just don't understand it.

[Jamie Laing]

So I'm so with you and just. And just what you're like a pillar for is just to be yourself.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, exactly.

[Jamie Laing]

Who drilled that within you, though, to say, like, I'm just gonna do. You're gonna do whatever it feels like throughout your career and whatever you've done, it's just like, no, this is who I am and this is what I want to be, so deal with it.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, I think I'll have to give my. My mum credit for that because I was. I was third child out of four and I remember when I was younger saying, I just want to play four football. And she probably thought, there's no one even really playing football like women who were probably making a career from it. But you know what, she never questioned it. She was like, if that's what you want to do, that's what you want to do. And I think I was a very determined young person, so she probably thought, even if I tell you you're not doing it, you're still gonna do it. But she did give us a lot of freedom. I even think about my younger days, like I'd come in late because I. I'd gone to football or. And she. I feel like she did trust us. So maybe we're not really a family that sit. We're very close, but we'll probably don't sit and talk really deeply about things. But I think just the fact that she allowed me to follow this dream that didn't even exist, I think I'm really grateful for that and I hope. I hope parents can allow the kids to kind of follow whatever the dreams are, which I think a lot of parents do now anyway.

[Jamie Laing]

That's it. When families are there, you. They don't have to say that they, you know, every day that they love you or whatever. You just know they're there.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

And so you know that they're just going to be there for you, whatever happens.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. And I think that's definitely me with my family. I don't think we'll probably say I love you and stuff like that. But I know if I ever need them, if I think back to. To my life where maybe I've like, needed my sister in a moment, she's just been there in a flash and I think actions speak louder than words to on that.

[Jamie Laing]

One thing people might not know is that you love writing poems.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, I love poems. Love poems.

[Jamie Laing]

I've written you a poem.

[Jill Scott]

Oh, is this for Valentine's Day or are you going to tell us it now?

[Jamie Laing]

This is for Valentine's Day for you. Are you ready for this?

[Jill Scott]

Yes.

[Jamie Laing]

There once was a lioness named Jill.

[Jill Scott]

She didn't need to take the pill. Is that the next line?

[Jamie Laing]

Yeah. Okay, you got it. There was once a lion ass called Jill whose midfield play showed mighty skill. With passion and fight she shone dare night and left fans with hearts she would thrill. What is it about poems you love?

[Jill Scott]

I've always been into. So at school I was always quite good at the creative writing in English, but I do think I've got a brain that goes 100 miles an hour sometimes. So it sounds really weird, but sometimes I'll be walking, walking through to get the train and I'll just be speaking in poems in my head. It's serious. Yeah, just. It's weird sometimes.

[Jamie Laing]

Do you think that's an ADHD thing?

[Jill Scott]

I. I think. You know what, the more I learn about adhd, I think I could definitely have. Have a form of it. I think like the overthinking, I never really sit still. I don't know if not. Is not having structure part of that?

[Jamie Laing]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. So I think there is certain parts of it, but at the same time, again, I think there's a lot of positivity can. Can come from having a. I don't want to say quick brains. I'm not saying I'm super clever, but yeah, I think creativity and sometimes I like to just sit on the train and I'll just write a poem. And when I was in the jungle, actually, you stay in a villa for like eight days before you actually go in. And it's just you, no phones, you've got a tv. And I remember just sitting one day and I just wrote for about seven hours, just constantly. And I just wrote like this whole book of poems and it just went all through my life. But then what's so weird is I could sit now, you could give us a pen and paper and I might not be able to write anything.

[Jamie Laing]

But it is, it's that creativity, obviously that you love, right?

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

Which is. It's like a football, where it's like you're building towards something. It's the same when you're writing sort of poetry.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

There's something about the creativity behind it. Then you're left with, like, a finished product. There's something, like, amazing about that.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, I think. Yeah, definitely. Right. It's definitely something to do with process.

[Jamie Laing]

With your podcast, long story short, what do you love most about it?

[Jill Scott]

Because it's just me and a friend just chatting about stories, and we reminisce about the past a lot as well, which I love. Talking about stories from England camp back in the day. But then also we'll talk about things that have just happened in the week, and it'll just be. You don't actually remember all the stuff that happens until you write it down. And we'll sit and chat, and it'll be like, I went for a run in the back garden and I tripped over, and then I was looking. So we got a camera in the back garden, and you just see me absolutely stacking it when I'm running. And there's just all these different things that happen. I'm like, oh, Kaz, somebody said I could hire a Rolls Royce car for the week, and then I'll just go pick up this Rolls Royce car. And she's like, what? And then you just give her back? And I'm like, yeah. I'm like, my life's so random sometimes, but we'll just sit and chat. And we're so different. Like, me and Kaz, like, the whole name came from. We love telling stories.

[Jamie Laing]

Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

But I'm long, she's short, and so it all comes from that. And I think she's had to really, like, open up a little bit, because at first she'll be telling stories, and she'd go, jill, can we keep that in or not? And I'm like, yeah, we're keeping it in. So it's just fun catching up with a mate and just. Yeah. Telling stories.

[Jamie Laing]

Jill, can I just say thank you so much for doing this.

[Jill Scott]

Oh, thank you. Thank you.

[Jamie Laing]

To probably make you blush, I can tell exactly why you won the Jungle.

[Jill Scott]

Oh, thank you.

[Jamie Laing]

Just of who you are. You. You sort of, like, you wear your heart on your sleeve. You're so honest and authentic, and it just like. Yeah, it's really refreshing to see. So thank you so much. We like to end our conversation with eight quick fire questions.

[Jill Scott]

Okay.

[Jamie Laing]

Are you ready for this?

[Jill Scott]

I'm really bad at giving quick fire answers. Is it just got to Be like, whatever you think. Okay.

[Jamie Laing]

What's a saying or phrase that makes you smile or change cheers you up? Oh.

[Jill Scott]

Oh, that's a very good question.

[Jamie Laing]

And it's quick for us.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah. A phrase that cheers us up. Should we go for a coffee? That makes us very happy. If somebody says we're meeting for a coffee. Kick starts my day.

[Jamie Laing]

Best compliment anyone's ever given you.

[Jill Scott]

I think when I retired. I joked about this recently on the podcast, but nobody, nobody ever said, you're a great player. You did this so well when you were playing. You were technically good. But I did get a lot of thank you for being a good teammate and thank you for being there for me. So even though I joked about it, I am happy that people seen us as a good teammate.

[Jamie Laing]

What scares you most about yourself?

[Jill Scott]

Oh, that is a good question. I do. I get scared about. About sometimes. Like, I'm always checking in with my family. I think because I live away from home and I have since the age of 17. I think it scares us sometimes that I'm not just like two minutes away from them. So I. I over check in. I ring them, like every single day. So I don't know if that's something that's great that scares us. Maybe the fact that I'm not close in distance sometimes.

[Jamie Laing]

When was the last time you. You cried?

[Jill Scott]

Last night I went to watch Pretty Woman at an open cinema. You know when you sit on a deck chair, get a blanket and everything, and I was actually crying, you know which bit I was crying at? You know, when she goes in to try and get claws and she's got the money and the one server, and I just thought, that's so sad. And then when she went back in with all our bags and she was like, you work on commission, right? I stood up and I was like, yeah, good girl. You got them. I have seen the movie about 50.

[Jamie Laing]

Times, but I did that in, in Top Gun, the newer Maverick.

[Jill Scott]

Oh, yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

I stood up in the center and went, yes. I've never done that. I did that. The other thing I saw, I'm not. I. We have. I can't remember why this popped in my head. You know lime bikes?

[Jill Scott]

Yes.

[Jamie Laing]

I was coming to work this morning and there was a guy on a lime bike, and he was loving it so much. He slapped his leg. He went, yes, because he was enjoying his line bike so much.

[Jill Scott]

But what was he loving?

[Jamie Laing]

Just in the air, in the morning, and he's on a lime bike.

[Jill Scott]

That is so crazy. He literally went, yes, that is so Crazy. But do you feel like the cinema is one thing that switches you off?

[Jamie Laing]

Yes. I can see. I can close off. I don't know why. The thought about it, the eating popcorn. I know. I switch off, which is amazing.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

What's something you can't let go of?

[Jill Scott]

Can't let go of? Well, people will probably joke, the lionesses, because ever since I retired, I've been to the World cup with them, the next Euros with them. And I think there was a bit of a running joke going around that, like, Jill's just everywhere. I was even in the bus parade going through London. I was working. I was working. I was doing interviews. But I think it became a bit of a running joke. So I can't let go of the lion. Finesses.

[Jamie Laing]

Yeah. What's your guilty pleasure?

[Jill Scott]

Chocolate. I love chocolate.

[Jamie Laing]

Favorite chocolate.

[Jill Scott]

Dairy milk? Cadbury's. Just the plain bar.

[Jamie Laing]

Good shout.

[Jill Scott]

Love it.

[Jamie Laing]

With tea?

[Jill Scott]

Yes, with tea.

[Jamie Laing]

Lapsang Souchang.

[Jill Scott]

Yes. You took the words right out my mouth. Do you know what else I love as well and this is really bad? Custard cream biscuit. Yeah. And I eat the whole pack. How bad's that? Like 10 biscuit.

[Jamie Laing]

That's a lot.

[Jill Scott]

I know, I know. I just can't stop.

[Jamie Laing]

You eat the whole pack.

[Jill Scott]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jamie Laing]

What turns you off in general?

[Jill Scott]

Turns you off. Are you going to ask what turns us on? Turns us off? You know what people, when they're just being difficult. Like, I was on the train the other day and they were bringing. This is a really random example, but they were bringing water around and the guy wanted sparkling.

[BetterHelp Advertiser]

Sparkling.

[Jill Scott]

And the lady was so lovely and said, I'm really sorry, we've run out, but we've got still. And he was like, why haven't you got sparkling? And she was like, I'm just. Sorry. Like, this is all we've got. And I'm thinking, mate, just take the still water. At least you've got water. You obviously haven't got an allergy to still water. You know, just them people that just make situations difficult. And I'm thinking there's so many people going through things in the world, like the fact you haven't got sparkle and water.

[Jamie Laing]

Water.

[Jill Scott]

Like, just take the water.

[Jamie Laing]

What turns you on?

[Jill Scott]

Oh, turns us on in. In a weird way, or it's up to you. I was gonna say a coffee, which. That's going to be the headline. Jill gets turned on by coffees. I'm trying to think of things that make us happy. We just went on a big family holiday to Ibiza and there was 15 of us and my mum was there, my sister's new baby. Like, it was just such a great week away with the family being on.

[Jamie Laing]

Family, being away with family. Time turns you on. It's good.

[Jill Scott]

That's a bit weird. Family and coffee, they'll be like, this is weird.

[Jamie Laing]

What do you like most about yourself?

[Jill Scott]

Oh, I don't really sit there and say, oh, I like this about myself. But I. I love having conversations with people. I really do. I find, like, when I'm in London, though, because I'll be sitting and I'll just go to somebody. If I'm by myself, I'll go know, oh, like, get eye contact. And I'll be going, are you having a nice day? Or whatever. And I think people think I'm so strange. Whereas if I'm up north, especially in Sunderland, I'm like, having a good day. They're like, why? I. Yeah, like, what have you been up to? And I have conversation, but I think sometimes in London, everybody's just so busy. So I think probably the ability, the.

[Jamie Laing]

Way you put it, everyone's so busy. That is rude.

[Jill Scott]

Yes. I was trying to be nice. I know. To talk. The ability to talk to people and have conversations. I would.

[Jamie Laing]

Would say, okay, bonus snog.

[Jill Scott]

We're not doing this.

[Jamie Laing]

Bonus. Favorite goal you ever scored.

[Jill Scott]

I think the goal that meant a lot at the time was the semi final of the Euros 2009. I come on an extra time and I scored the winner to get us to the final. So I obviously every. I try and paint it like it was this really good header, but the ball literally smacked us on the nose and went bottom corner. So it wasn't the best goal in terms of technique, but in terms of what it meant.

[Jamie Laing]

Jill, you're the best. Thank you so much. You're amazing.

[Jill Scott]

Thank. Thank you.

[Jamie Laing]

Jill, that was amazing. Wow. What an amazing episode. Jill, if you're listening, thank you so much for coming on the show. So many things I love learned from that. So many things about sport and resilience and graft and teamwork. I didn't realize how much sport can play an impact into your life. When Jill came into the studio, she walked around and shaked every single person's hand and looked them in the eye and said to them by name, hey, how are you doing? She learned that from playing sport and going to different teams and meeting different people. That goes a long way in any situation situation. If you can go up to every single person, say hello, look at them in the eye and Say, hey, how are you doing? What's your name? My whole team loved it. The fact that she spoke about failure so openly, you know, she would lose matches, she wasn't the best player on the pitch, but she got up every single day and went back. She kept going back. That mentality of never giving up is really important that we should really have in life because things always do get tough. We are going to fail, we are going to get knocked down. But the fact that we keep getting up and keep going, that's what's really important. How teams are. Teamwork is really important. I think in life sometimes we. We don't like to collaborate. We don't like people copying us. We want to kind of keep ourselves to ourselves. But actually, life is about collaborating. It is about teamwork. And with a team, you can achieve so much more. And it made me realize that you don't have to be the most important cog in the machine, but being a cog in a machine, that is doing amazing things. That is what you want to be a part of. You don't always have to be the best, but as long as you're doing what you think is your best effort, then no one can ever doubt you. Jill, you're an amazing person and thank you so much for coming on. This episode of Jill also reminded me of a great episode I did with Ashley Roberts. Ashley Roberts was part of the Pussycat Dolls. She was a band member. And again, Ashley spoke about resilience and hard work and never giving up and graft and being part of a team and maybe not being the best singer or the best performer, the best entertainer, but being part of Machine, that did so many amazing things. So. So if you liked this episode of Great Company with Jill Scott, you'll love this episode with Ashley Roberts. We're going to leave the link in the show's description so you can go and click on it. And here's a little clip from the episode to whet your appetite and see if you like it. You did a European tour and you did something like 200 dates or something crazy like that or something wild.

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Yeah.

[Jill Scott]

We were in like three different countries in one day at one point. It was. It was nuts. And again, nobody spoke about, like their mental health or how they were feeling.

[BetterHelp Advertiser]

Feeling.

[Jamie Laing]

No one said anything.

[Jill Scott]

No one said anything. No. I mean, yeah, it was. Wasn't until I was like in the hospital, they were like, should probably should take a little moment, stop for a little second.

[Jamie Laing]

We will see you next week for another episode on Wednesday of great company.

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[Knox]

You look the same.

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[Jamie Laing]

You haven't changed your hair in 15 years.

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[Knox]

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[Jill Scott]

Co for more information.

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