Spurs skipper and former Lioness Beth England is determined to use her celebrity status for good. We joined her on a visit to an exercise session for cancer patients
Charlotte Henry and Meg Jorsh Features Editor
21:03, 31 Jan 2026
Beth England
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Tottenham Hotspur captain Beth England said she was moved by the group's stories(Image: Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
An excited hush comes over the Holtwhites Sports & Social Club in Enfield, London as Bethany England enters. She is joining people dealing with cancer after an exercise session run by the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.
With her is Spurs teammate Clare Hunt, who plays for the Aussie national side. They sit down with the patients for a chat and, in one case, a big hug.
Bethany has visited this group twice before, including to deliver new equipment that she personally provided. “When we come here, they treat us like we’re the celebrities, but genuinely, for me, they are the inspiration," she says.
Beth England
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Beth England revealed just how much cancer had touched her family as she chatted and played with survivors(Image: Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
The Spurs skipper also understands that however lucky you are, cancer has a devastating effect. “I've always had a roof over my head. I've always had parents and family that supports me and friends and stuff. Even during all that, I've gone through hardship with a lot of cancer and stuff in my personal life,” the football pro explains.
She decided that “if I'm in a position where I can help give back, that's exactly what I want to do.” Ms England, who has 26 caps and scored 11 goals for the Lionesses, tragically lost her aunt to leukaemia aged just 42.
Her grandad also died from skin cancer and her great-grandmother from throat cancer. “I know what that's like firsthand during my own family's struggles,” she reflects.
The 31-year-old wants to help those suffering in the way her family did, and groups like the one she is supporting can have a really positive effect. There’s certainly a lot of camaraderie on display between the coaches and participants.
The two footie stars seem happy and relaxed, laughing and teasing each other. Bethany says she was chuffed to be backed up by the Aussie international defender, who she says “actively chose to want to come with me today.”
“You could just sense the buzz in the room today,” she says afterwards. “Everyone was happy. Everyone was like, ‘oh, they've really pushed us today’.” The group has made huge steps over the weeks, going from mainly seated exercises to standing up and moving with weights.
Beth England
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She was moved at the speed of recovery the group has made over the course of several weeks(Image: Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
But it isn’t just those battling or recovering from cancer who Ms England is trying to make a difference for. An unashamed dog lover, she is a backer of animal charity All Dogs Matter. She has spoken out on LGBT issues too.
“I've never hidden [being gay], but I've never really thought my voice was that important,” she says. Then she contributed to BBC documentary Gay Marriage and Me, presented by Radio One’s Calum Leslie.
The Barnsley-born forward’s charity interests come alongside a hugely successful footballing career. She started as a semi-pro at Doncaster Belles, then signed for Chelsea in 2016. She won four league titles with the Blues and two FA Cups, before joining Spurs in 2022 for a then record fee of £250,000.
The prolific finisher remains one of the WSL’s all-time top scorers, having netted 142 times in 318 appearances at the time of writing. She is one of just three players to have scored against every WSL team she has faced. On the international stage, she picked up a winner’s medal as the Lionesses brought football home at Euro 2022. She featured in the World Cup final the year after – but has since been overlooked by boss Sarina Wiegman.
It’s clear she has been disappointed by this — but she hasn’t yet given up hope of playing in the 2027 World Cup. “I would love to, but, unfortunately, that decision's out of my hands,” she says. She’s still been thrilled to see the growth of British women’s football on the back of those international successes. In September 2024, the FA said there had been a 56% increase in the number of women and girls playing.
Beth England
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She said she was thrilled to see so many women and girls taking up football as latest figures revealed there was a 56% increase(Image: Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
Ms England calls it an “amazing” development. “Men actively want to come watch,” she notes. “That to me is the biggest win, especially if it's young boys, because they could be the next future manager in women's sports or referees and stuff like that.”
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She concludes that “the game's grown loads, it's still got a long way to go, we know that. But we're slowly getting there.” And right now, Bethany England is just focusing on the people in front of her. She promises the group that she will work to get them some more new equipment that they need.
“I'm just a regular person, and if I can help, I will,” she says. “I've been lucky enough to have, and still have a great career, and be in a position where I have an audience. I have a voice, and I will always stand up for what I believe is right. I think it would be a waste to not be able to do that and help people at the same time.”
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