Thanks JM

Excellent Faye was on around the euro's time

Luckily I managed to tape that one

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/02/28/Everton_eye_an_upset_against_u.html

link don't work

When I recently visited the usa I bought a wadge of nike wrist bands with words on like respect and discipline, I gave kelly one with victory on it in with a few american sweets I didn't for one minute think she would wear it or maybe even keep it but she was wearing it at the cup final !

And this was Byrnefan when she Kelly wearing it

Yes I was more interested in her wrist than her face, I also gave 3 of kellys team mates them

Aw, that is brilliant!

Well done Brynefan, I bet you were like "I...gave...her...that... !!!"

From The Times


As well as playing for the England Women's football team , you're also one of the stars of Arsenal Ladies - are you on a winning streak ?

Yes , we won the FA Women's Cup last week when we beat Leeds 4-1.

Did you score?

I scored two goals.

It's the end of the season; can you put your feet up ?

The England team have two weeks off before we start training for a friendly with Germany in July. Then we have two more qualifiers for the European Championship later this year.

So it's a fortnight of partying before putting your boots back on ?

Not quite. My coach has suggested that I try low-impact exercises such as yoga and cycling. Yoga's very good for stability and core strength.

Is that relaxing?

More so than training.

Do you train as hard as the boys ?

Absolutely. We train every day; lots of weightlifting and long runs to build up stamina. It's harder for us though as we all have other jobs.

What's the day job ?

I have a full-time job as assistant director for the Arsenal Girls Academy. I help to train the girls and organise their matches. Other women in the sport work as postwomen or teachers.

A far cry from the men's game ?

Yes. All the money is in the men's game. I get paid a little bit to play for Arsenal and a bit when we go away for England , but it's barely enough to survive on.

Does it unleash the green eyed monster ?

It can get frustrating seeing how much male footballers earn , and they don't have to do a day job on top of training , but you do it because you love the game. And the crowds are growing.

Women's football compares well ?

I think people have negative preconceptions about women's football. But if you watch a high level women's game the technique is the same. We may not be as physical , but in terms of movement and excitement it's very similar.

Were you a tomboy ?

I just wanted to be outside.

No barbie dolls then ?

I wasn't interested in girlie things; I didn't have dolls. I wanted to be active and I always had more male friends than female friends when I was little.

Ever get up to tabloid exploits with your teammates ?

I work all week at Arsenal , train with my teammates and then play on a Sunday , so I only have Saturday off and that's for friends and family.

Have you ever dived to win a free-kick ?

There's not much play-acting or diving in women's football.

But you still get the odd red card ?

Sometimes. I missed the Uefa Cup Final last year because I was suspended. But that's just two yellow cards - it's not as serious as a red.

What were they for ?

I can't remember. Honestly. It might have been a bad tackle , but they happen in the heat of the moment.

Broken any bones ?

My worst injury was when I tote my ligament in my right knee. It happened in 2001. I've had to have two operations since.

Pioneering surgery ?

Yes. They replaced my ligament with one from a cadaver. we don't do it in Britain , but I was playing in America at the time. Usually they take a piece of your hamstring and use that as a replacement ligament but that means you have two areas to heal and it's not the right material for the job. Using the donor ligament means the rehabilitation time is reduced and you've got the right bit in the right place.

Is it back to full strength ?

It's much better but I do special exercises for it. I have to keep the muscles strong around the knee to support it.

Anyone to kiss it better ?

I was dating someone in America but it didn't work out.

Try any alternative therapies ?

No , just physio. I did lots of stretching and weights.

Ever worry about your footballers thighs ?

Obviously we think about our weight and how we look , but it's not negative. It's because we have to take care of ourselves; we have to watch what we eat and exercise appropriately.

No food vices ?

I am strict with my diet and we have a nutritionist on the coaching team at Arsenal who helps us to choose healthy food that will give us lots of energy , but Friday is chocolate day. I allow myself almost a whole day of bad eating.

Any pre match superstitions ?

I'm always the first to get ready in the changing room. Most player's go and look at the pitch , but I need to get my head right.

How do you psych yourself up ?

I do visualisation exercises the night before. I imagine myself on the pitch , taking players on , scoring and celebrating. It gives me more confidence.

Kelly has voted the Nationwide International Player Of The Year.

The award was voted by supporters via the FA website and is just reward for a season in which she hit 15 goals in 25 games and added to her bulging medal collection by winning the Premier League and FA Cup. In addition Smith enjoyed a wonderful World Cup with England.

" This is a great honour. It is up there with some of the honours I have achieved in my career. It is voted for by the fans on FA.com so for them to have actually voted for me for last season's performances is a very proud moment " , said the 29 year old.

" I have come a long way and still got a good couple of years left! When I was young , growing up , I always had a vision to play for England; that was always my goal ".


Well done Kelly

from fa.com

Smith delighted with award


England striker Kelly smith admits she was thrilled to win the Nationwide England Women's Player Of The Year award.

Smith won the award , voted for by England fans on the FA.com , and said she ranks it alongside some of the biggest prizes she has won during her career.

Smith has enjoyed an amazing career for both club and country and is regarded as one of the best female strikers in the world.

The Arsenal forward played a major role in helping the north London club win the quadruple two years ago and was back to her best last season as she saw the Gunners land he double by winning the league and the FA Cup.

After starting for England at the World Cup last year , Smith believes she can become even better over the next few years and is delighted that supporters have recognised her talents.

Smith , who was speaking at a sponsoredbyyou.com coaching visit organised by England Team sponsors Nationwide Building Society , said , "It's a great honour and up there with some of the big trophies I have won.

To be voted by the fans on TheFA.com for my performances last season is a very proud achievement for me.

I have come a long way playing from the age of six to where I am now and still going strong. I have 70 caps for England and I'm still going strong. I still feel I have got a good couple of years left in me.

When I was younger I always had a dream of playing for England and that was always my goal.

For any young girls aspiring to do the same , they should train as hard as possible and need to be touching the ball every day and working on their skills ".

Despite winning the double , Smith is disappointed that Arsenal failed to win the Uefa Cup again last season.

Smith said , "We got knocked out of the Uefa Cup in the quarter final stage which was disappointing. Maybe we went into the game a bit naive thinking we would probably win it , but it wasn't meant to be for us.

That was mentally draining knowing we were not in the best competition. I think other teams are starting to work us out and we lost the League Cup Final to Everton.

It is good for the women's game and I don't like the fact that Arsenal keep winning everything because it then becomes a bit boring and mundane.

But people are now looking at the women's game and feel there are other teams challenging than just Arsenal which is what we want because we don't want it to be a walkover all the time ".


I think Kelly will soon get her wish , as a couple of teams have nearly caught Arsenal up.

On youtube Kelly has answered questions from reader's , she gets a little embarrassed when asked about a nookie ban before games

omg i saw that, it was halerious when she got asked lol

Only a guy would of asked that question but her expression was priceless

from the Independent

The Arsenal and England footballer Kelly Smith , 29 , was recently appointed an MBE in the Queen's birthday Honours. She also received the British Lung Foundation's Lungs Of The Year award as part of its Breathe Easy Week , which ran from 16 - 22 June.

If I weren't talking right now I'd be....

Talking to my students at the college where I coach.

A phrase I use too often...

" Stop moaning ". The kids I coach are always moaning.

I wish people would take more notice of...

Elderly People. People should open doors and be more caring in public places.

The most surprising thing that happened to me was...

Receiving the MBE.

A common misperception of me is...

That I'm rude. I'm actually quite shy.

I'm not a politician but...

If I were , I'd employ workers to clean people's recycling bins. I have dogs - I hate recycling.

I'm good at...

Football , being loyal , and eating chocolate.

I'm very bad at...

Anything to do with maths.

The Ideal night out is...

Dinner with friends and family , and then a show.

In moments of weakness I...

Call my best friend - she makes me less panicky.

You know me as a footballer but in truer life I'd have been...

A male footballer , because I'd be a millionaire.


The best age to be is...

25 - still youthful.

In a nutshell , my philosophy is this...

Take each day as it comes.

From Fair Game Magazine

Looking back on the season , what has been your favourite goal?

The FA Cup final first goal because for so long I didn't think it was coming and it was one of those games where we dominated and I've played in games like that before where you just can't score. But the ball form Rachel Yankey was right on my foot so I couldn't miss.

Which game has left you the most battered and bruised?

The Bristol game at home. It was very competitive. I missed the away game , which we won 1-0 but it was quite intense so when they came to us it was the same type of game.

You've been on telly a fair bit this year , what was it like going on Jonathan Ross?

It was good doing the show , sitting next to Take That in the green room. But I was crapping my pants.

Were you worried he would take the mickey?

A lot of people said ' why are you going on the show , he'll rip you apart ' , but it's about getting exposure for women's football. I saw him beforehand and said ' don't rip me apart '. But he said he'd seen me play in the World Cup and thought it would be great to have me in to promote the game.

Do you feel a responsibility to promote the game?

I do , having been in the national side for so long , to be a face move the game forward and do what I can , whether it's events like for the girls to see what they can achieve. I never had that so it's a goal to them.

Arsenal's assistant coach Emma Hayes has left to manage a professional side , is that a bog loss?

Emma leaving is a big blow to the club , she's brought so much energy into the side and it was good having a young female coach with a lot of passion about the game. She didn't really want to go but the offer was too big to turn down.

Do you think you might follow in her footsteps?

I've just bought a house , I'm happy in England , I've got my family and friends close by which I didn't have for seven years and I love being at Arsenal and being part of the club. I've got a good deal with them in terms of my job , so for me to leave all that behind it would take a very big offer.

What kind of offer?

Financial. For me it would be about money because I feel I've already been to America and done that. I spoke to my old Philadelphia Charge coach Mark Krikorian a couple of weeks ago and he said that I am a wanted player out there , which surprised me because I see my age as an issue.

You aren't that old!

( laughs) No I suppose not , I'm 30 this year so I think I've got another three or four years at the top.

But wouldn't you like to spend those in a more competitive set up?

Hmm. The US league would be the top players and it would be so competitive , as it was when I was playing before , so do I go out there to get that? These are all questions I have.

Have you got the youtube link? sounds a good watch

The link won't go put Kelly's name in and scroll down to you get to answers readers questions. It's got the FA sign in the background .

Thanks Smithy, I found it.

She really is thrown by the nookie question bless her,