England defender Millie Bright has revealed how John Terry is still giving her and other Chelsea players support, despite the former Blues captain leaving the club two years ago.
Bright, part of England’s squad for this summer’s World Cup, moved to Stamford Bridge in a dream switch from Doncaster Belles ahead of the 2015 season. Growing up, the 25-year-old idolised Terry and, by moving to Chelsea, she was given the chance to follow in his footsteps.
The former centre-back, who is now assistant head coach at Aston Villa, was a strong supporter of the women’s team during his time at Stamford Bridge and Bright has revealed that is still the case.
“John Terry is someone I definitely looked up. It was John Terry [I idolised] before, but then when I signed for Chelsea it was even bigger then. I just liked his attitude.
“I liked the way he played and I saw similarities to myself. Moving to Chelsea, the support he gave to the women’s team was incredible. Still to this day, when he is not at the club, he is still supportive of all us players.
“Again, I just think he is a born winner and would do anything for any of his players. He just strives to be the best.
“[Former England international] Katie Chapman was another player I admired and I loved playing against her when she played for Arsenal and I played for Doncaster [the Belles],” Bright told Standard Sport. “I like to get stuck in, get a foot in. She was someone that I wanted to be, she was a born winner.”
Prior to joining Chelsea, Bright was playing semi-professionally and she was ready to begin working as a horse-riding instructor.
However, when the Blues came calling, the defender shelved those plans and focused all her energy on making it at the highest level.
“Horses were my first love and football was my hobby,” said Bright. “My mum and dad have had horses since I was little.
“We have got stables and everything. That was my job, I was a groom. I was competing in the horses and I was just about to go into my teaching when I got the call from Chelsea.
“I was working hard in football and I wanted to be a professional footballer. I was only semi-pro at the time, but you have to continue a life until that opportunity arises.
“When Chelsea came in, I didn’t hesitate and I went for that. Horses is something I can always go back to but, definitely, that was my first love.”
Now Bright is hoping to go all the way with England in France. The tournament begins on Friday, with Phil Neville’s team opening their campaign against Scotland in Nice two days later. Bright admits she is still surprised at being selected.
Indeed, the defender was so stunned at earned a place in the squad that she did not tell her family until the news was made public.
“I didn’t actually ring my mum straight away when I got the email,” said Bright. “Even though I had got the email, I was still thinking, ‘Am I actually going?’
“I was even refreshing Twitter for the video after, even though I knew, I just wanted to double check, as it was hard to believe. I keep pinching myself. It is literally a dream come true.
“We have got a family chat, so everyone was screen-shotting it and writing: ‘OMG!’ I rang my mum and dad and told them straight away. It still hasn’t sunk in yet and I don’t think it will until we get [very close to the start of the tournament].
“Then it will be like, ‘Right, we are actually going to a World Cup!’.”
