Women's Football Weekly: NYE Special
44:34 Share

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.

Hello everybody, welcome to a very special edition of the Women's Football Weekly. A New Year's Eve special as we head into 2025. And it's a huge year for women's football too, with Euros in Switzerland this summer. With me to go through it all, Ellen White. How are you? I'm very well, how are you Ben? Yes, very good. Very excited today because we've got some amazing guests. Jen Beattie is going to be fashionably late to our New Year's Eve party. Of course she is. But...

You've got another pair of hands with you to help us along without Jen for the first bit. I have. It's so nice to have someone in person. So I've got the lovely Esme Morgan here, all the way from Washington. Welcome back, Esme. Fresh off the plane as well. Yeah, straight off the plane just a couple of hours ago. So hire car picked up and I whizzed into New York City. Oh.

I love it. Absolutely amazing commitment to the cause. You must have been so good last year, Esme, when we had you on that we had no choice. As soon as you got back, we've got to get you on an episode straight away. Number one on our guest list. Absolutely amazing. How's it all going? Great, thanks.

Thank you. Yeah, absolutely loving it out there. I feel very at home in Washington and with the team as well. Everyone was so welcoming. So really enjoying it off pitch, but also on the pitch getting exactly what I wanted out of it too. So perfect, really. So wonderful to hear and lovely to see you with a huge beaming smile on your face. We'll get on to your story a little bit later on.

And touch base on all things Washington DC. But as we're heading into 2025, we wanted to do a podcast that's all about making big moves. So we'll talk about Esme's time in the US. Plus, we're going to be hearing from Demi Stokes later on. And she's going to talk about her big move to Newcastle in the championship. But we're going to start the pod today.

with a coach who's made some big moves of her own in 2024, leading England women's under-17s to their first ever Euros final, as well as securing a fourth place finish at the FIFA Women's Under-17 World Cup. So a very warm welcome to Lioness' under-17s head coach, Natalie Henderson. Natalie, how are you? I'm good, thank you. Thanks very much for having me. No, thank you so much for coming on. It's great to chat. Come on.

Can we first just get you to tell us a little bit about the group that you have at the moment? Because we've seen so many generations and iterations of this side that have seen players come through and then go on to perform for England women's senior team. So what's the group like that you've got at the moment? The groups all in all are very exciting. I think for England fans all over the country, they should be excited with England.

the youth coming through our pathway so the under 17 group this season has had a lot of success obviously like you said making the Euro final our first ever Euro final and then qualifying for a World Cup so yeah I think as England fans we should all be excited I think we've

produced and seen some great lionesses go through our pathway in the past and certainly we hope to see many more come through in the future. As you mentioned there, it's been a really, really good run for the side. Finished fourth and unlucky to miss out and get a bronze medal with a 3-0 loss to the USA.

Can you just tell us a little bit about how that experience was for the team, playing at a major tournament, getting that experience of getting to the latter stages of a tournament as well? Yeah, I think these major tournaments are so important for our young players. I think

with everything that comes with major tournaments, being away from home, playing in different humidity, different time zones, being away from friends and family, and then on the pitch playing against different playing styles, different formations and players who potentially are world-class players at this age and are going to be in the future who they're going to be up against. So I think the major tournaments,

are so valuable for our young players. It's why certainly from an FA perspective, we want to try and get as many teams as possible to these tournaments to give our players those experiences to help with their development.

Naturally, we were very disappointed to miss out on a medal in a podium place. I don't think we ever want to sit in the stands and watch a final and watch people collect medals ever again, feeling the way we did. But we certainly learned a lot of lessons, players and staff, and again, those experiences that we had

almost a month away from home will be experiences the players never forget and can hopefully use to motivate them even more as they make their way through our pathway and hopefully into our lionesses one day. Hi Natalie, it's Ellen. Huge congratulations on what you've achieved. I read doing a little bit of research on you. I saw a quote you did in September saying growth happens outside your comfort zone. So we want to be outside our comfort zone and

and we want to compete and get as far as possible. And I thought that was a really refreshing look on kind of development and you're kind of exposing these young players to being uncomfortable, but being comfortable with uncomfortable. And I think that's really refreshing in your coaching style. Is that what you want to do for these youngsters to kind of help them then in their next kind of career?

age group or at their clubs as well? Yeah, 100%. I think naturally growth does come outside your comfort zone. And I think in the past and certainly even now, playing for England teams carries a lot of pressure. Players come into the building feeling a lot of pressure. So we often talk about in our team around being comfortable to make mistakes, learning from those mistakes, and

coming in the building and showing what you can do. And we want to be outside our comfort zone, but we want to be outside our comfort zone together. We want to face challenges. We want to face difficult times because we know that's what makes us better and helps us learn and helps us accelerate our development. So it's certainly something in the team we speak openly about in terms of things being outside of our comfort zone, but being comfortable with that and knowing that that's how we get better. And we all want to be better. We want to be working at the highest level possible and

unlocking as much potential as we possibly can in each and every single one of us. So yeah, being outside our comfort zone is what we like.

Under-17s was the first age group I came into at England. I was kind of still fresh out of grassroots football and just joined the RTC at City and then got called into it. And I remember just being wowed by how switched on and refined all the other girls were compared to me. So I definitely think I picked up so many things so quickly. Being in that environment, John Griffiths was my manager and just some of the details

that he gave me I carry with me to this day I always had this little notebook that I just wrote all the coaching points down in because I was just like I need to learn and catch up to everyone else quickly so yeah I was just trying to absorb as much as possible but I definitely agree with the notion that when you're stretched and

you're struggling a bit more, that's when you make the greatest learnings and the greatest strides because you don't want to stay in that feeling of feeling out of your depth or uncomfortable. So it just really drives you to take on board as much information as you can and just improve on the things that you need to. Is there a lot of conversations, Natalie, in the Lionesses' pathway? Obviously, we've seen

A lot of Lionesses go through that path. Obviously, you know, Rousseau, Stanway and Toon were the last ones in that Under-17s World Cup in 2016. And obviously the likes of Grace Clinton, Aggie Beaver Jones, you know, Ruby Mason, Blinker Brown, they've all made that transition into the seniors. Is there a lot of conversations with other coaches from obviously your age group and right the way through? Yeah, I think as a pathway, we're very connected, right, from our seniors and Lionesses and Serena players.

down to our under 15s, I think we have a very good connection across the pathway, good connection as national coaches and also players as well. Players play amongst each other in club, yet sit in different age groups with England. And I think certainly the players and what they see in seniors and the culture throughout that pathway is what excites them and motivates them. And like you said, some of those players that previously paid for under 17s,

who now represent our Lionesses and, you know, won the Euros in the summer. I think it only motivates our players even more. They see that these players were in their position one time and that gives them that bit more

more hunger and a bit more desire to you know desperately make the Lionesses and I think the pathway is in a really good place and like I said at the start I think England fans should be excited we've already produced some real top players that have made our Lionesses and hopefully we're going to produce many more Natalie can we go back to the beginning for you and just

tell us a little bit about your background. Am I right in saying that you started out with Newcastle men's side? Yeah, that's correct. Yeah. But yeah, I've been coaching many, many years. I started very young because I probably knew I wasn't going to make it as a footballer, to be honest, and had a million injuries. So I started coaching from a really young age, from 14. I was volunteering and coaching with the younger age groups at Newcastle United. And then I,

I coached a women's college team, coached for Newcastle United Foundation and worked in the community, working in primary schools and working with players with disabilities and all sorts of different backgrounds and environments working.

And then I moved into the Newcastle United Men's Academy where I spent eight years working in their youth development phase and then progressed to the women's side with England. So, yeah, that's a whistle stop tour of my coaching journey so far.

Who have been your role models? All those things, you know, you've obviously taken a lot from those different experiences, coaching and different backgrounds. And who have you been influenced by? Yeah, it's a good question. And it's one I get asked a lot. And I think for me, I've had many different role models across my years. And it started from me having a female coach when I was young and there wasn't many of them. And I used to look at her and think,

I want to do her job. I want to be a football coach because back then there was hardly any female coaches. And naturally your family want you to be a PE teacher because that's what they think you should be if you like football. And they think that that's the career you should go down. So I seen that I had a female coach from a young age and wanted to

to be her essentially. So that was one role model. She's called Lisa Bell. She's still at Newcastle United to this day. So she naturally motivated me to be a football coach. But then throughout my journey, I'm a big believer in that you can take bits from everybody, good and bad. Sometimes you look at people and you think, oh, I don't ever want to make people feel like that. And I don't want to do that.

or you look at other role models and you think, I want a bit of that and I want to add that to who I am. And I think across the years, I fell into the habit of looking at other people and thinking, right, I want to act like them. I want to be like them. And I guess naturally, as you become more experienced and you get older, you realize you want to take bits from them, but you don't want to change who you are either. And you want to be authentic as well. So I've had many role models, male and female, that have helped shape who I am now.

And I'm sure I'll have many more and I'll keep trying to shape and keep trying to learn and get better as well. And Natalie, because you've had so many different experiences across both the men's and the women's game. Have you found that you've needed to refine your style or change your style depending on whether you're coaching on the men's side or the women's side? I think a bit of both. I think naturally, whatever team you work with and whatever person you work with, you adapt your style.

based on that individual or that team. I always get asked if there's many differences across the men's and the women's game. And the way I always see it is that I'm just working with people who want to get better and want to get to the top of their game. And that's the way I like to think of it. And I think across the men's and women's side, that is my outlook on it. If you're just working with people that want to be better and they want you to help them get better. And that's what I try to do. So,

I don't see massive differences, but I also know as a manager, each individual is different. Each individual ticks in different ways and are motivated by different things. And it's up to us to get to the bottom of that and to try and get the very best out of them. So, yeah, I do adapt based on individuals and groups.

But I like to just see it as you're working with people that are trying to make it to the very top of their game. And ultimately, that's what it comes down to. And that's my job to try and help them do that. I think I would have loved you being my manager. Yeah, I think it would have been so much. I'll take that. That's nice. I'm going to remember that forever. Thank you. You're very welcome. What comes next, Natalie, for the 17th?

So we've just got a new group, actually, two weeks ago. I got the next group of under-17s through. So they'll have a camp in February and then they'll have a Euro qualifier in March.

which is a really difficult draw, which is good. It's what we want. Hopefully we can get to another Euro finals again and hopefully another World Cup again this season. So, yeah, I very much don't like talking about that. I like going one step at a time, stay in the present, focus on the next camp. Let's just keep getting better every day.

But yeah, that's what the under-17 season could look like. Natalie, thank you for joining us. It's been such a pleasure to catch up and hear about the 17s and congratulations on all the success you've had so far as well.

Thanks so much for having me. I've really enjoyed it. Thank you. Lovely to catch up with Natalie Henderson there, under-17s head coach for the Lionesses. And Esme, I was thinking, as you were talking about your experiences with the 17s, seven years ago now, how quick has that gone? Very, very fast.

Now that you've just said that, I'm like, wow, it does not feel long ago that we were in Czech Republic for our Euro finals. We didn't have the opportunity to go to a World Cup because it was the year prior that Georgia and Toonie and Les and Ellie Roebuck were in. They had the World Cup year, which they made. And we wouldn't have qualified anyway, given how our Euros went. But it was still an amazing experience and wonderful.

As Natalie alluded to, just the opportunity to have that experience of going abroad, being away from family, having to travel around to different places to play your games and having a base camp almost.

It does then reflect in senior tournaments and that doesn't feel as alien or as intense when you've experienced it at youth level. So I think the experience is so valuable for the young players to have. So fingers crossed this year's group make the Euros finals too. Ez, can we go back? What brought on the move? I remember seeing at the time when you were going to move across. I thought, wow, that's so brave. It's so exciting. But I wondered what it was that...

sort of flicked the switch in your mind and made you think, right, I'm leaving the WSL? I think it just felt like the right time for something different. I'd been at City, including my time in the academy, for nine years and I felt like I was reaching a bit of a plateau as a player, which is something that you never want. You always want to be developing and pushing yourself and I wasn't getting as many minutes as I wanted to and I didn't necessarily feel like that was going to change with the situation I was in. So,

I was really grateful to, it was Niels at the time, was the director of football, kind of acknowledging that what was best for me in my career was probably to look elsewhere. And so we kind of worked with them and tried to find ways

or explore what opportunities are out there. And thankfully, there was plenty of interest. And when I spoke to the guys at the Spirit, Jonah specifically, the head coach, he was just someone I was desperate to play for. His enthusiasm and energy and love for football was just infectious. Just listening to him talk about his plans for the team and his values and the

the principles he has, I was just like, get me on the training pitch now. I was just desperate to play for him. And so I think that excitement and that enthusiasm really kind of drew me in. And knowing that the NWSL has so many dangerous, talented forwards that I could challenge myself against on a weekly basis was just a massive challenge.

pull for me and I've always wanted to play abroad at some point in my career and so it just really felt like the perfect time for all of those things to come together. Talk to us about this season as well then, getting to that playoff final, what was that like for the group and you personally as well, has that

I'm not saying you didn't have fire in your body, but did that reignite something in you to be like, this is amazing, I'm really enjoying playing football? Yeah, I think as soon as I went over there, I felt kind of a new lease of life and just...

a real energy and passion to better myself and really focus on the things that I wanted to work on and being challenged so much in training the intensity Jonah brings to sessions is so high so you kind of have no choice but to really really work hard to improve yourself and so I really enjoyed that and then

I mean, I'd not even set foot on the pitch and we'd already qualified for the playoffs. I was like, well, I'm no use here, am I? But obviously I had that to look forward to and the playoff journey was incredible. The atmospheres in the two home games that we had were just insane. The noise, I get goosebumps just thinking about it because it's some of the loudest atmosphere I've ever played in.

It was so much fun to be a part of and obviously late winners are the biggest thrill you can get in football. So we had a couple of them on the way and then just gutted with the way the final went. I really do believe we were the better team and I was telling Anna Morehouse this on camp. LAUGHTER

And I was frustrated personally with the goal we conceded because Barbara Banda, as you know, is such an incredible forward, one of the most dangerous strikers on the planet. And I felt like me and Tara, my centre-back partner, had really managed their well the whole game, except for the goal. And it's just...

rubbish when you do so well and then just one moment is so costly and I suppose that's what it is at the highest levels it's those tiny tiny margins but as I mentioned before you probably learn so much more from those moments that feel hurtful and you think I'm never letting that happen again and I feel really desperate again to work on those things so if that situation ever comes it's zero chances you get rather than one I

I was thinking, as Esme was speaking there, she hasn't picked up an American twang at all. Still very... Oh, no, that's not happening. Oh, thank you, Esme. I was going to say, like, you physically, you can't. No, I refuse to say any of their words as well. Go on, say some. What are they trying to say? Like, obviously, soccer. They'll say, like, cleats and, like, training facility.

And I'm like, oh no, it's the training ground. And they say locker room and I say changing rooms. So my rule is that if they understand me, I'm going to stick with it. And if they don't understand me, I force them to. What's bib? Do they say something with bib? Oh yeah, they say, oh, it gives me the ick. They say penny or pinny. Oh, it goes through me a little bit.

I think I would be exactly the same though. Yeah, I'm like, no, it's a bib. Do you keep saying football when you're there though? Yeah, I really try hard not to say soccer unless like, so when I was going in and I was immigrating into the US with my visa for the first time and you know they ask you all the questions like, what are you doing here? You're like, oh, what's your job going to be? And I was like, footballer. And then I thought, better fit to me with a big,

a big person. NFL, here comes this one. They're thinking, no, she's having a soft time. Wait, wait, I mean soccer player.

I thought they're not going to let me into the country. They're going to think I'm taking a mix. I thought I'd better clarify. But it's only for specific situations like that that I'll use the S word. The S word. I'll accept that. I'll accept the S word, yeah. It's so funny. As if it's a swear word. We had Jess Carter on the pod a couple of weeks back and she accidentally said soccer and

And then she self-censored. She sat there and was like, no, no, no, no, no, no, straight away. She had this panic in her eyes that she had said the S word and she'd slipped into American parlance. I'm so glad, Ez, that you're not one of those. You're not straight away going over to call me a sucker. Thanks, Ellsworth. I mean, to be fair, Jess does have American family, so she's got greater influences than me. It's more acceptable.

I would say. Yeah, I agree. We'll let her off. What's, you're calling him Jonah. I noticed that. Is that a thing that he goes by for the team or is he Jonah all the time? Oh, I don't know what his family call him, but we all call him Jonah. Because it's

I was expecting you to be on familial terms with him. Esme, we were speaking about the playoffs. One side that you managed to sneak past en route was Bay FC, where one Jen Beattie is currently playing her football. Now, there's always that person on New Year's Eve that scans around the different parties to see which one is the best one to go to before they make a decision.

So, Jen, have you finally landed on our party this evening? Are you happy to come spend some time with us? That is the most hilarious intro I think we've had yet. Three, two, one, happy new year! Just in time. How are you, Jen Beattie? I'm sorry I'm late to the party, guys, but thanks for having me. I'm so sorry I'm late. Happy new year, everyone.

Don't be stressed. It's a delight to have you. Jen, I'm trying to remember what you said that you and Esme chatted about after the game. You had like a little chance to catch up, didn't you, after your game in the playoffs? Yeah, we did. Because it's always, you know what, when you're so far away from home and obviously

say the emphasis is on the game and it's intense and you know for an expansion team as BFC it was it was amazing to be in the playoffs but you're always buzzing to see your mates or the people you know from home so when I knew Esme had signed over here I think we had a few whatsapps back and forth so I was buzzing to see her when when we played with each other and you know like because we go way back to Man City days from when we did play so it was great to see her and I just wanted to see if she was enjoying it to be honest and how she was finding it over in the States and

and how different it was and I know she's talked about that loads but what a challenge for her and I think it's just great to see players of her age coming out and experiencing a whole different league, a whole different culture, a whole different style of play but what an opportunity for her to go and really explore all of that and it's credit to her for getting to a final in her first year but yeah it was a lovely little chat and to be honest

We just spoke about family, Christmas, all the fun stuff. Nice to have you, Esme. Nice to speak to you as well. Thanks, Beats. It's a joy to catch up once again. Did you have one of those every week where you were bumping into someone? Like, how were you finding it? Maybe not quite every week, but there are a good few games. We played Angel City and obviously Zell and Claire Emsi are there. And we had a few days off actually afterwards. So I stayed with Zell for a couple of days in LA, which was so much fun. How was that? What did you do?

We saw all the sights. She took me down to Malibu, down to Venice Beach. She's quite good at sightseeing stuff. Zell is an expert tour guide. She made sure I saw everything. And then I went to the Hollywood site as well. Were you rollerblading? No beats. I thought it was better to protect the ankles, you know? Oh, nice. Smart. See that maturity you've always had, mate. LAUGHTER

It was great, though, bumping into all my British friends across the season. It was so much fun. And I felt bad because I was dead giddy after the Bay game and I thought Beats might be quite sad. But we had a great chat anyway and you didn't mind too much. No, not at all. I think when you're that far away from home, like I said earlier, it's just so nice to see people that you can catch up with. Yeah, for sure. I think, you know, mates, whether we win or lose, it's all good.

And you got to the final. That was unbelievable. Thanks, Beats. Did you guys ask for advice off anyone before you moved? Did you do your sort of your homework? I asked Beats.

Yeah. Did you actually? Yeah. I think Esme was just at a point in her career where she was just curious about, because the thing about when you're playing in England, the States is so far, so you don't actually, it's hard to keep in touch with, you know, how it's going in the games. It's hard to watch the games. So you don't, you know much more about the European League.

And I did the exact same. So I was buzzing that she kind of reached out and kind of tried to explain the style of play and what certain clubs were trying to do in that sense. But I said lifestyle-wise, East Coast is going to be great for her because she's not that far from home. Washington's a brilliant city. So much to do. And then, of course, the recruitment of a Spanish manager and the style of play that he really sold

to Esme, which I thought was incredible. I said nothing but positives, to be honest. I think for someone of her age to be able to go and do it, having been at a club like Man City for so long, I had nothing but positives and great things to say. I just kind of highlighted, obviously, the differences in style of play, which is what I struggled with, especially centre-backs in similar positions.

but I think what the coach was trying to do at Spirit and will continue to do will suit Esme down to a tee I did the exact same thing I remember reaching out to Rafa obviously an old Arsenal teammate who was at Orlando or even Steph Catley I think was one of the first people I spoke to because she had played at Orlando for a long period of time and

knew lots about the league so I think it's so important to kind of reach out to get advice and if you have mates playing in certain clubs and certain different leagues that you don't know much about On the Football Daily the Women's Football Weekly with Ben Haynes Ellen White and Jen Beattie

Another player who made a big move in the summer from Manchester City but back to the North East to newly promoted Championship side Newcastle United. A big welcome, Demi Stokes, how are you? I'm good, how are you? Really well, it's great to hear your voice. How are you getting on? Good, surviving. That's the most important thing.

How's the season been so far? Good. Do you know what? I think, obviously, when... Like, I had a lot of people questioning, I guess, why I moved to Newcastle, but...

But, you know, I keep saying it's been, you know, it's very up and down. Like, you know, one week you're top of the league, the next minute you're seventh. So it's very up and down. It's very an emotional rollercoaster. But I keep saying, like, it's so refreshing just to play, just to play football each week is so enjoyable. How have you found the experience of...

of playing in the Championship, being a senior figure and a leader within that group that everyone is looking towards for guidance? Good. It's been enjoyable. I think, obviously, naturally, you know, people, the younger players tend to, you know, gravitate towards us. And it's quite nice to, you know, have that role where I can help the younger ones out. Because I keep saying, obviously, when I first signed for City, it was the same. It was a similar journey. We started from scratch and was building ourself up. And then that's almost what we're doing now.

here at Newcastle so it's quite nice that I can you know help chirping not in just the football aspect as well Who were you leaning on then at City at the very beginning? Well I think when I signed at City there was Jill there was Steph

There was Karen Bardsley. There was all these senior players. Obviously, Beats Ellen was there as well, Esme. So I think they were a lot older than me and, you know, they helped me. So it's almost like I have, not I have to, but I enjoy paving the way, you know, to help younger players because I was, you know, very fortunate to have a lot of good people and friends around us. Dem, it's Ellen. Hey, how are you? Hi, little reunion. I know.

I was just wondering, can you talk about playing in the Championship in the sense of only one team going up and down? Do you feel like the teams potentially need a bit more incentive for two up, two down? Because like you said, it has been chopping and changing top to seventh to eighth. Do you know what I mean? It is a fast-paced league. Yeah, I think so. But I think obviously, like you say, because only one goes up, I think that's why it's so crazy each weekend.

and everyone is beating everyone, which again is also crazy. Whereas I think in the WSL, it is a bit more like, you know, you have your top four teams who you think, oh, well, naturally they become very consistent. But with the championship, you're literally like, what was that? And then the next minute, you're like, we're the best team. And then the next week it's like, oh, we've not been great. But I was saying, that is also enjoyable because...

I think as well it also shows that the teams are evening out people are playing and signing better quality players and it does make it enjoyable as much as it is up and down Birmingham's beats now, hi Hello How are you?

I remember you as being the absolute chef of the team. Next, obviously, you're footballing unbelievable abilities. What's next on the menu? Are you still chef and making everything? Are you going to bring a cookbook eventually, please? Remy's going to kill us here. But Remy keeps pushing me. She's like, you need to get on TikTok. You need to post this. And I think, Remy, I've already made it and I've already ate it. LAUGHTER

So from that aspect, I'm trying to be better and film what I do and stuff. But I would love to bring a cookbook out. I've said it for years, but I think I just need to be a bit more proactive with it and do it. And I've got Harlan in, so Harlan will be making a bit of an appearance as well at some point with it. So, yeah, I think I just need to be more...

more diligent with it. Even cooking for Harlan and what's that like and how that's developed even as a mum with your chef skills? Do you know what? I think obviously cooking for Harlan, it's really enjoyable but he just eats what I eat so from that aspect it's not, you know, he's got a good palate and he has done probably from a very young age but it's quite nice. I enjoy cooking and I like that he enjoys his food. I think he eats more than me to be honest.

But I like it and I enjoy it because it was something my mum, I think, installed in me when I was younger. We always had, you know, nice cooked meals and it was very rare we had, you know, McDonald's and things like that. So I think it's nice that I can obviously share that time with him. You know, we've made pizzas, which he's obsessed with, but doesn't understand the concept, you know, it needs to be cooked before you can eat it and then it's a bit of a scream in my head.

Yeah, it's just nice, I think, to share that. And I think it's a good skill to have, you know. I'm glad my mum, you know, did it with us. So it's nice that I do that with Harlan as well. How has it been balancing kind of mum life, football life, Dem? How's the club been with that? Do you know what? The club have been brilliant. Um,

And that was like another reason why I wanted to sign because they understood that obviously I was, you know, a mum, I was a footballer. And, you know, we do have other lives, you know, outside of football, which is what I was so drawn to because I said, you know, it's, you know, family first and then it's your football and we respect that.

But no, Newcastle have been so good. Like, Becky's so understanding. And even the girls, like, the girls are like, oh, damn, like, if you need to just get off, like, from weights early or you come in and do weights early, then, you know, go and do that. So it's quite nice that you have that support because it is tough having to, you know, do your training and then travel and, you know, take care of yourself. But also when you get in, it's, oh, you've got to do it.

you've got a child to take care of as well. So the club have made it really, you know, easy from that aspect and, you know, you can enjoy the football more as well. Do you think that Newcastle have the right structure to be in the WSL right now, Dem? Or do you feel like the team would be

benefit from maybe having a few days experience in the championship before making that leap? Yeah, I think so. I think obviously with the results, I think we've shown, you know, we can get to that level. You know, when we've played Everton, we've played Liverpool, Man United and we are up there, we are competing, but you can still see that there is that gap and

you know, and it's even in like training, we're so hard on ourselves and it's like, okay, yes, we got beat, but that's where we want to get to. So, you know, at Man United, that's where we want to get to and actually we're not there yet. So, obviously we know that as a team, but in terms of Becky, Sue, us as players,

We're driving that every day and we're so annoyed when we played Middlesbrough and we were quite upset with that performance because we're saying, you know, we should be winning and we should be doing better. And if we can't do it consistently, then we're not going to be anywhere, the WSL. So, you know, in terms of the...

The standard of what we expect of ourselves is very high, but we know we've got to keep pushing to make WSL because it's not an easy league. Demi, it's been lovely to be a part of this reunion of getting the old City band back together.

And I would really very much like it if we could do this again next year. Maybe you'll be playing WSL for Newcastle then, but also releasing a mum and child cookbook that we're all buying and promoting for Christmas. Can I? I need one. I need one, Dem. I need your advice. I'll send you one. Signed, Poppy. Demi, take care. Thank you so much for joining us. Thank you. Take care, guys. Right, just before we finish up...

we have to go back and just talk a little bit more about England's Euros draw with Esme on the pod with us. Es, I think first and foremost, we need your reaction to the draw. How did you feel when you saw the teams coming out? So France, Netherlands, and then a huge derby against Wales. Well,

I didn't watch it live so I just saw once the group was like in its final form and I thought oh nice a tough group exciting challenging got a local derby thrown in there as well so yeah I think it's something to be looking forward to me and Elle spoke a bit about before the show it was inevitable we were going to get Wales so

I feel like England always seem to draw the home nations in the Euros. So that was always going to happen. So that'll be fun. And then we've had recent games against Holland and France and they've gone both ways. So we'll have to make sure that we're at our best to hopefully beat them both and progress through to the knockouts. Did you have any, not worry in your mind, but did it occupy any space in your mind, the fact that you were going to have...

this period of time now where it's the off-season in the US, there's obviously big Nations League games coming up. Was there any part of you thinking, I need to make sure that I stay sharp so that I'm in contention again when those games rock up? Yeah, I think definitely that's been something that I've spoken to the physical performance staff at England about in terms of managing, getting the right amount of rest post-season, having been on, I suppose, for...

over a year with the WSL season into the NWSL season and then as you say there's a camp in February which obviously I need to be

in match fitness for to be in contention to be selected. So I'm starting to build up now already and get back into moving in a football manner over the next couple of weeks. And then we'll be back in pre-season in January. So I think I'll be fine to be match fit for all of them. But I actually think I've spoken to a few of the girls about this, that they're

The American schedule, I think, has helped them in their summer tournament performances because the Olympics, for example, a vast majority of the US girls were in the middle of their season, so they were peaking physically, whereas all the European teams, it was basically pre-season for them, so they're kind of rusty, or if it's further and closer towards the end of the season, then people are really fatigued, so...

I'm kind of excited about the prospect of hopefully being involved in a tournament and feeling in great physical shape and kind of getting the US benefit from that point of view. Yeah, I was going to say, do you want to train together? Because I'm struggling motivation-wise maybe with you. No, for sure, Beats. I was messaging Zell today.

Me and Zell are going to do some sessions together, so join in. Right, well, send me dates and times and I'll be there because I, for one, this is why I play a team sport. I'm not built to run on my own over winter. I completely agree. But no, 100%. I actually think it's, you know, sometimes most Christmases over the past, like, however many years, I've lost count of the amount of pre-seasons I've done. But I've always, like, enjoyed getting out on Christmas Eve and

Boxing Day and all of those days and just to kind of take over. But funnily enough, our SNC this time, they kind of said, take those days off. Those days just, you know, there's almost not much point because of the, you know, the meals and the potential alcoholic beverages that may be consumed and non-alcoholic beverages that may or may not be consumed too.

So, yeah, I actually didn't take too much time off after the season, kind of kept going for as long as I could so that over that actual Christmas break, that's when I'll kind of take a few days off and chill out and get back into it. But I'm not sure if Ez is the same, but Ellen was for sure the same. I don't like taking too much time off. I think I get irritated. I don't like it. I start to feel mentally a bit rubbish. So I kind of try and take over for as long as possible.

but I will say this is the first off-season I've done over winter and whoa is that harder when it's darker, the weather's a bit rubbish. Pre-season in summer is a little bit easier to get that motivation but no, the program has been sent through, it's well and truly underway

And to be honest, I can't wait to get back out and actually be with the team because I'm not built for this stuff on my own. I don't play an individual sport. Ellen, any temptation to get your boots back on and join the pickup game? Absolutely not. Retire and have a baby and then you don't have to do anything. Do you know anything else? I haven't done anything since I did the Great North Run. It ruined me. That's unbelievable. Only an Ellen White can go and walk up to a Great North Run.

You didn't train? No, I did train. I did train for the Great North Island. I just have done nothing since. But I bet you you could run it tomorrow and be absolutely fine. No, honestly, it was the hardest thing ever. No, no, no. Do you know what? For Christmas, though, I just got in a calorie deficit. So go in the morning and go for a run and then you get a calorie deficit and then you can eat more. It's amazing. Just make more room. Just for everyone's...

just like a little jog or a nice walk and then you're already in a calorie deficit. Go for it. It'd be rude not to try and get a Friends reference in here, but have you still got any of your maternity clothes that you can use like Joey does with the turkey? Maybe. Maybe got a few bits. LAUGHTER

Right, with it being New Year's Eve, we're going to ask everybody for one thing that they want to leave behind in 2024 and one thing that they would like to see happen in the women's game in 2025. So something you want to leave behind football-wise in 2024 and something you want to see happen. So leave in 2024 people who say they don't deserve funding because they don't make enough money. Bye bye.

See you later. Good one to leave behind. What's your one for next year? So I'd like to throw it out to the listeners and to any grassroots team. I would love to sponsor two grassroots team in 2025. So I'd love you to send it in, your grassroots team, and then in the new year, I'll draw it out, two teams, and I'll sponsor you in 2025. Wow.

That is such a good one. FootballDaily at BBC.co.uk or at Five Live Sport. That's a mic drop moment, Alan. Sending your teams. Should we bother with ours or what? I don't think so. I'll just end the programme there, to be honest.

Get your emails in. Esme, I'll do my one looking ahead for 2025. I'd like to see Esme Morgan with her hands on the Euros trophy. Oh, thanks, Ben. We'll manifest that. Definitely. Manifesting that and then Jen Beattie to go right the way through to the end of the playoffs and win it in the NWSL. Oh, nice. What? Ben, what the heck? You would prefer the trophy, surely? No.

We'll take the Euros. We're just giving you the Euros. For NWSL, you've got to go Euros. Come on. Give Jen something. Well, mine's not going to be England winning the Euros, is it? Well, don't say Wales. LAUGHTER

Is there anything you want to leave behind? I'm going to say negative social media. Oh my gosh, I was going to say the same thing. I just think we're just trying to be progressive and bring positivity to everyone's lives and the way women's football is growing. I just think the negative energy that's thrown towards it is just not deserved. And I would love to see that be left in 2024.

Okay, so you and Esma can both have that one. Es, what are you looking forward to in 25? I think we're seeing continued growth. Hopefully very well-supported Euros with travelling fans from across Europe going to the games, filling the stadiums.

And yeah, long may that continue across the leagues as well. In the NWSL, we have some amazing fan bases. And so looking forward to experiencing more of that next year. And I enjoy seeing the WSL pulling great crowds too. So lots more of that, please. How wholesome was that? Love it. You've been doing that media training out in the US, Esme. That was unbelievably well delivered. Thank you.

And that is the perfect place for us to leave it. Thank you so much to Esme, to Ellen, to Jen.

to Demi as well and to Natalie. It was such a wonderful show today. And thank you to everyone that's listened over the course of the past year. We'll be back with the Women's Football Weekly on the 14th of January. If there's anything you'd like to see or hear on the pod next year, you can always get in touch with us. Or if you would like your team to be sponsored by Ellen White, footballdaily at bbc.co.uk and 5 Live Sport on our social channels. Happy New Year, everyone. And we'll see you in 2025.

In the shadows of Glasgow, two crime families rose to power. You're either with the Daniel family or you're with the Lyons family. There's no in-between. A brutal war for control of Glasgow's lucrative drug trade that still rages today.

Police think it's the work of a criminal gang. Join me, Livvy Haydock, as I investigate the battle that shattered the old school rules of crime. They're just terrorising people, whatever they meant. Gangster, the story of the Daniels and the Lions. Listen on BBC Sounds. Yoga is more than just exercise. It's the spiritual practice that millions swear by.

And in 2017, Miranda, a university tutor from London, joins a yoga school that promises profound transformation. It felt a really safe and welcoming space. After the yoga classes, I felt amazing. But soon, that calm, welcoming atmosphere leads to something far darker, a journey that leads to allegations of grooming, trafficking and exploitation across international borders.

I don't have my passport, I don't have my phone, I don't have my bank cards, I have nothing. The passport being taken, the being in a house and not feeling like they can leave.

You just get sucked in so gradually.

And it's done so skillfully that you don't realize. And it's like this, the secret that's there. I wanted to believe that, you know, that whatever they were doing, even if it seemed gross to me,

was for some spiritual reason that I couldn't yet understand. Revealing the hidden secrets of a global yoga network. I feel that I have no other choice. The only thing I can do is to speak about this and to put my reputation and everything else on the line. I want truth and justice.

And for other people to not be hurt, for things to be different in the future. To bring it into the light and almost alchemise some of that evil stuff that went on and take back the power. World of Secrets, Season 6, The Bad Guru. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.