An emotional Alex Scott has recalled how she used to pray that her mother would survive the abuse dished out by her violent father.
The former England and Arsenal defender appeared on Loose Women to discuss her memoir How (Not) To Be Strong on Monday. Scott has previously opened up about how her father, Tony, created a “toxic” home environment for her, mum Carol and brother Ronnie.
The 38-year-old, who now works as a presenter for the BBC, has decided to lay bare her own painful experience in an effort to help other victims of domestic violence. Tony has previously denied the allegations that he was ever violent towards his family.
Speaking on Loose Women, Scott said: "I think that in the world I grew up in, everyone had a perception that you have to be strong and I needed to do is strip that back and show my emotions and vulnerability.
"We felt like we couldn't do anything, and you wanted to save your mum. I thought I was better now and would be okay, but the visuals come back. You're just laying in bed hearing everything and praying your mum is going to be alive in the morning.
"My mum is my everything and I want to give her everything. Victims think they're cowards, but my mum isn't a coward and she saved me and my brother."
She added: "I wanted to love my dad so much, I was daddy's little girl, but he had this dark side and that's a side we saw a lot of growing up. Drink helped it come out a lot more, you could see him turn, that's how he took it out on all of us, more so my mum.
"From a baby I could feel it, the environment we're in. If you step out of line you know what's going to happen and you don't want that to happen. What my mum would go through, the terror, the helplessness that you can't do anything, you're just living in fear."
Scott used football as an escape from her traumatic home life and went on to play for Arsenal, Birmingham City, and Boston Breakers. He made 140 appearances for England as a right-back and has been credited by the current generation of female players as a groundbreaker.
Alex’s father Tony has previously denied the allegations made against him, telling MailOnline : "I have no idea why she's saying all this stuff. I was raised in a strict but loving Jamaican family and Alex should know what they are like.
"I taught her discipline, I did a lot to help her. Perhaps she is judging me by today's standards, I don't know. Parents were a lot tougher back then. But I was never violent, that's just not me. I never beat Alex or anyone else in the family or did anything like that."
