by Ruby Vince and Caitlin Kelly (8/4/24)
Throughout a 22/23 season full of challenges finishing ninth in the Barclays Women’s Super League, Tottenham Hotspur saw a huge positive through the arrival of forward Bethany England into the squad.
England joined the club in the January 2023 transfer window, signing a three-year deal for a record fee of reportedly £250,000 – the highest amount paid between two WSL clubs at the time. During her spell at London rivals Chelsea, the forward won nine trophies, scored 76 goals, and made 164 appearances over a span of seven years.
With the likes of Sam Kerr, Fran Kirby, Lauren James, and Pernille Harder creating an extremely strong competitive selection for the front line, England found herself with limited starts and minimal chances within squad rotation – all contributing factors to her move from the Blues.
In addition, young emerging talent in the Lionesses’ ranks combined with very few opportunities to prove herself, England had lost her place in the squad, despite being a part of the 23 who won the European Championships in 2022.
Tottenham finished the 21/22 season in fifth place giving them strong expectations heading into the following season, but contrastingly found themselves battling through the league and were in need of some new additions to the squad in the January transfer window.
Swapping a title race to a relegation battle, the arrival of England made an instant impact. The Lilywhites were on a four-game losing streak. During the opening half of the season, the North London side had scored just eleven goals in nine games, eight of which came in the 8-0 win against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Her arrival began by scoring in a 1-0 win over Leicester City, securing Tottenham’s first league victory since October. The season-saving star scored just 28 minutes into her debut, setting the scene for the 28-year-old’s first season with the club whereby she scored 12 important goals across 12 games.
More importantly, prior to the fixture, just two points separated these two relegation-fighting sides, so the three points secured by England were valuable. Moreover, a brace from her helped to secure a crucial point against Brighton and Hove Albion, leading to only five points separating the bottom four. Then a brace from England in Spurs’ 4-1 victory over Reading saw them assure safety from relegation. Therefore, she proved to be a priceless signing creating vital moments to save Spurs from relegation.
Impressively, England has maintained a commendable disciplinary record over the past three Women’s Super League seasons, avoiding any yellow or red cards. Her ability to navigate the competitive landscape of professional football with such consistent fair play speaks volumes about her commitment to the game and sportsmanship. In a sport where physicality often comes to the forefront, England’s clean disciplinary slate underscores not only her skill on the field but also her disciplined and composed approach to the game.
England’s strategic move from Chelsea massively helped to increase her playing time, catching the attention of national team coach Sarina Wiegman and ultimately securing her spot in the 2023 Women’s World Cup squad. The transition to Tottenham not only showcased England’s adaptability but also highlighted her determination to play a pivotal role on the field.
After proving her ability, determination, and importance to her team, England was awarded captaincy of the North London side for the current season. After missing out on the first ten games of the season recovering from surgery, the striker wore the armband for the first time against Manchester United on 10th December 2023. Since then, she has captained her side fourteen times, including leading the Lilywhites out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to their first-ever North London derby victory, and has netted five goals in all competitions since her return.
Despite her absence at the beginning of the season, her moments on the pitch have been pivotal for her side. Her first two goals of the season came in her appearance facing Sheffield United in the Women’s FA Cup, whereby her brace clawed Spurs back level before her teammate Rosella Ayane snatched the winner in order to progress to the next round.
Another crucial goal since her return came in the 96th minute of their FA Cup quarter-final fixture against Manchester City. This brought Spurs back on level terms at the death, sending the game to penalties in which Spurs were victorious to send them through to their first-ever FA Cup semi-final.
In their most recent fixture, facing Bristol City, England scored the only goal of the game for Spurs to steal three points on the road. Thus, she remains a driving force in many of the Lilywhites’ recent triumphs and has recently become the second player to reach 70 goals within the Barclays Women’s Super League.
The striker has emerged as a dominant force for Spurs since her move from Chelsea, impressively notching up 17 goals across 28 appearances. Her impact on the field has been truly noteworthy, consistently finding the back of the net and making substantial contributions to Tottenham’s attacking capabilities.
England’s goal-scoring prowess not only underscores her individual skill but also emphasises her pivotal role in the team’s success. As a central figure in the squad, she has displayed an exceptional ability to create and capitalise on scoring opportunities, earning admiration from both fans and teammates. With such a prolific goal-scoring record, England has undeniably become a cornerstone in Tottenham’s attacking strategy, solidifying her status as a valuable asset for the club.
England’s move from West London to North London was palpably the correct decision to benefit her and the future of her career.
Follow Impetus on social media –
Twitter (X): @impetusfootball TikTok: @impetusfootball
Instagram: @impetusfootball
impetusfootball.org 