Chloe Kelly has gone from being an England fan to living the dream at this summer’s Euros.
Manchester City winger Kelly went to Wembley to cheer on Gareth Southgate's England side in the Euros final last summer as well as having parties in her back garden and her mum decking the family house in flags and scarves. Twelve months on, Kelly is now hoping to win the Euros herself as part of Sarina Wiegman’s squad and is enjoying getting the same support from fans in the street.
England star Kelly said: “Last summer I was watching as a fan and now this summer being a part of it. England fans are brilliant, they just get behind the team. Last summer that was me as a fan and this summer it’s great to see so many people get behind us. I went to the final, we had some parties in the garden watching the other games. I’ve always done it as a kid, supporting England, my Mum’s got flags outside her window and everything, and she’s done it again this summer.
“Last summer I was going to games and really enjoying the moment and now this summer to be a part of it is brilliant, so this summer, the whole nation getting behind the girls is amazing, and hearing the fans after the games singing ‘Sweet Caroline’ is brilliant. It’s just about enjoying the moment, the fans and the players all together, and it could be a great summer so it’s very exciting for both fans and players.
“You see people in the streets and they’re sending their support even across the road. It’s lovely, really touching and it’s nice to see England fans getting behind the girls.”
Kelly, 24, is a great story herself because she had nearly a year out with an ACL injury and it was a race against time to be fit and in the England squad for the Euros. She has come on from the bench in England’s first two Group games and is desperate to start against Northern Ireland and she feels she is much stronger for the whole experience which has helped her on the pitch.
Kelly added: “I’ve got a completely different look on things and a different mentality. I enjoy myself, I’m just living in the moment, enjoy the moment and when something like that happens to you and you’re away from the game for so long I think nothing really fazes you after.
“Whereas before, I’d get quite nervous before games and when I speak to my family and they ask if I’m nervous, I don’t really have those nerves as I did before because I’m thinking: ‘what’s the worst that can happen?’
“I’ve been through the worst of anything that has happened to me so far and I have to enjoy every moment, playing with no fear.”
