Beth Mead: ‘I told Saka just to curtsy when he sees me!’

B eth Mead became a national hero last summer as the breakout star of the England women’s team who triumphed at the 2022 Euros. The 28-year-old Arsenal forward followed that by winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and being made an MBE. She will, however, miss this summer’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament last November. Born in Yorkshire, Mead now lives in Hertfordshire with her partner, fellow Arsenal forward Vivianne Miedema. Mead’s debut book for younger readers, the nonfiction Roar – which aims to inspire children to pursue their dreams – is out this month.

You’ve had a busy few weeks: it’s been your birthday and you’ve been presented with an MBE. What’s been the highlight?Well, in football terms I’m getting old now, so my birthday is not a happy thing any more! Obviously, I don’t think you can top the MBE. I met Prince William, we got to go to Windsor Castle – that was pretty surreal. And I got to do it with my dad, my brother and my partner, Viv, so that was a very proud moment.

Does being an MBE confer any special privileges?I haven’t Googled that one. I had a joke with [Bukayo] Saka today when I saw him in the gym. He said: “Oh, do we have to call you by anything now?” I’m like: “No, no. If you just curtsy every time you see me, that’d be great!”

Almost a year on, what do you think went right for the Lionesses last summer?Sarina [Wiegman, the coach] did an amazing job bringing a different culture to England’sgame. She’s brought Dutch culture, her directness, her expectation, and every single person within the squad, from number one to 23, all bought into the system. We lived and breathed it every day, on and off the pitch, and that was 100%