Lioness - My Journey to Glory: Winner of the Sunday Times Sports Book Awards Autobiography of the Year

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Despite disappointments along the way, Beth focused on achieving her ambitions and has become one of the country's most recognised footballers, male or female. Success at the Euros has significantly increased the profile of women's football and female sport generally, which can only be a good thing. The England team continues to work tirelessly to ensure that girls and women in sport receive equal recognition and treatment, whatever level they are playing at. Of course, Beth is at the forefront of this. Since this book came out, Beth has been voted Sports Personality of the Year for 2022 - quite rightly, in my opinion.

The memories of Beth’s former coaches, including Phil Neville, supplemented Beth’s and made for the most complete story we could tell. Ian Wright wrote the foreword — my heart soared when his Word document dropped into my inbox and I saw the care he’d put into it — and Jermain Defoe, Beth’s friend from their shared days at Sunderland, needed little convincing to come on board for the afterword. Beth will also share the challenges that shaped her, what she faced on the journey to the top, and the life events that made her stronger. Featuring positive life lessons and an exclusive behind-the-scenes account of the England’s Euros campaign, Beth offers audiences of all ages the tools to be confident, brave, and resilient.The journey to European Champion and Player of the Tournament wasn’t easy, success didn’t come without challenges and perseverance. It was emotionally intense and draining at times, the off-the-pitch socialising and finding her place and being away from home, and she wanted to give up more than once. At Boro’s Centre of Excellence, England training camps she attended as a teen, and when she first started at Arsenal as an adult. Empowering, honest, and with the opportunity to ask your own questions, don’t miss the chance to hear her incredible story live from the Lioness herself.

Mead and Arsenal team-mate Vivianne Miedema started dating earlier this year (Photo: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

About this book

I so appreciate Beth's vulnerability and honesty sharing her struggles and I think they will help a lot of people. It’s not glory and fame every moment of every day. You don’t know what is going on in other people’s lives, what challenges they have overcome, or are keeping hidden. I cried twice when Beth wrote about her mother. Since the publication of this book June Mead has sadly passed away ( “If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever.” 💔) . It is clear the mutual love and devotion Beth and her mum shared for each other. It was an honour to read about that relationship. The Arsenal and England ace kept the aspiring youngsters entertained by helping them hone their footballing skills during the training session and hosted a special reading of Paddington Out and About. Beth Mead is one of the world's most talented footballers - Golden Boot winner and Player of the Tournament at the UEFA Euro 2022, England Player of the Year 2021-22, Arsenal Player of the Season 2021-22, and runner-up for the 2022 Ballon d'Or. But long before this, Beth was just an ordinary kid from Hinderwell, North Yorkshire who wanted to play football. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Beth's story. There are sad moments but many uplifting ones. Beth wasn't always as strong and confident as she is now and doesn't shy away from that reality. She also speaks candidly about her sexuality and her mother's cancer diagnosis.