LIONESSES captain Steph Houghton hopes to lead England to glory at the Women’s World Cup in France this month – while facing an off-pitch battle caring for her sick husband.
Centre-half Steph, 31, married footballer Stephen Darby last June and three months later he had to announce he was retiring after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Former England Under-19s defender Stephen, 30, played for Championship side Bolton before their relegation last month to League One. He was previously at Bradford and part of the side who made the 2013 League Cup Final and won promotion to League One.
But as he faces up to his illness, which attacks the nerves, makes everyday movements harder and causes muscle-wasting, he spends much of his time cheering on Steph.
The Manchester City skipper said: “He comes to all my games and is my No1 supporter. He’s my priority. If anything were to change in the near future, my job is to be the best wife I can and look after him. But at the moment, everything is great. He’s as good as ever.”
She will now turn her attention to the World Cup, which kicks off on Friday — and those closest to her believe she will be fully focused.
Younger brother Stuart, a school assistant headteacher, told The Sun on Sunday: “She has had massive ups and downs but her head is so screwed on, she knows exactly what she needs to do to get back.
“She has managed to refocus, that’s special. You can have a talent, but to be able to overcome adversities the way she has is inspirational.
“Both boys and girls can take a lot from that. I get to see the impact Steph has had on young girls. The uptake in football has rocketed.
“She takes part in Skype calls and goes into schools and speaks to the girls. They realise it is attainable to become a female footballer. If you work hard, something you dream about can become reality. Steph has proved that.”
She stood out. Even when she played with boys she was still the one scoring
Stuart Houghton
The footie ace won an MBE from the Queen in 2016 after leading England to their first ever World Cup semi-final, in Canada four years ago.
She started kicking a ball around as a toddler while growing up in the then pit village of South Hetton, Co. Durham. Her dad Len, an electrician, and mum Amanda, a civil servant, both 54, encouraged her love of the game at a time when very few girls played it.
Her grandad Thomas Coxon, 79, a retired electrician from Easington, Co. Durham, also supported her. He said: “Steph has done so well in her career but I can still remember her playing football in my garden when she was a toddler.
“I always had to climb over the fence to get the ball back. She has been very keen from the start.
“But despite all she has achieved, she’s so down-to-earth. When she’s back in the area she comes to see me. Once, on a Saturday morning, she said, ‘Grandad get your coat on, we’ll get out for breakfast’. We had our meal and were crossing the road on the seafront and there was a little girl.
“The girl started crying because she had seen Steph — who said to her, ‘Give me a call and I’ll come to your school, we’ll come and do some coaching’.
“Steph has worked for everything she has. But she has a lot on her mind with her husband being ill. We think the world of her. I am so proud of her.”
By the time she went to South Hetton Primary School, Steph was spending hours playing footie with the boys.
She has become a world-class centre-half and is a humble and nice person
Mick Mulhern
Her brother Stuart, 26, added: “She stood out. Even when she played with boys she was still the one scoring.”
Her talents were spotted and by 14 she made her first-team debut for Sunderland Ladies — paying subs of £250-a-year to play.
Former team boss Mick Mulhern, who coached Steph for five years, said: “She’s been a top-class player ever since she was at Sunderland. She was a forward when she played for me and scored lots of goals, but she could play anywhere.
“Steph’s a great role model for young girls. She has become a world-class centre-half and is a humble and nice person. She’s willing to help anybody. She’s part of the team and approachable and down-to-earth.
ONE of the greatest ever football seasons has just reached a dizzying climax with four English clubs competing for the two biggest European trophies.
But it is not over yet. On Friday the Women’s World Cup will kick off, and for the first time this thrilling tournament is expected to attract up to a billion viewers.
Phil Neville’s Lionesses have a real chance of bringing home the cup.
Come on, girls!
“It would be nice if we can win the World Cup. England have a really good chance. There’s not many individuals more deserving than Steph.”
After Sunderland, Steph played for Leeds, while also studying for a sports science degree at Lough-borough University, then joined Arsenal before joining current team Manchester City.
She represented England at junior levels and made her debut for the senior side at age 18, when they thrashed Russia 6-0 in a friendly match at Milton Keynes in 2007.
At the 2012 London Olympics, Steph’s goal saw England shock Brazil 1-0 at Wembley to top their qualifying group — only to then crash out to Canada in the quarter-finals.
To see her transform that devastation to mad celebrations was just fantastic.
Stuart Houghton
Then came the 2015 World Cup glory. They suffered a heartbreak 2-1 loss to Japan in the semis but then, playing to the slogan “Inspire a generation”, beat Germany 1-0 in the third-place play-off to win bronze.
Two years later Steph presented her team to Prince William at a Kensington Palace reception, just days before leading them to the Euro championships in the Netherlands — and another semi- final. They lost 3-0 to the home nation, who went on to win the tournament.
Last November Steph won her 100th England senior cap in a friendly against Sweden at the New York Stadium in Rotherham, — although her side went down 2-0.
Stuart still finds watching his sister captaining the England team a “surreal experience”. He said: “We went to the World Cup in Canada in 2015 and to the Euros in Holland two years later and it is a very proud moment to see her walking out leading the team.
“After the disappointment of losing to Japan, Steph getting the bronze medal in Canada was amazing. To see her turn that round and transform that devastation to mad celebrations was just fantastic.”
It caused a massive spike of interest in women’s football in the UK — and crowds at the FA Cup Final at Wembley rocketed from 4,988 in 2013 to 45,423 last year.
Stuart added: “Steph is helping others achieve their goals.”
TASTY clash with debutants Scotland, then chance to avenge 2015 World Cup defeat by Japan. After 2017 Euros semi, too, England are now eyeing a final.
ONES TO WATCH (from left to right): Winger Toni Duggan, midfielder Jill Scott and defender Lucy Bronze.
THERE are six groups of four teams. England and Scotland are in Group D, with Argentina and Japan.
HAVE made history by qualifying for the first time ever, after a roller-coaster ride. Manager Shelley Kerr says: “We did it the hard way and have shown great maturity and determin- ation to succeed.”
ONES TO WATCH (from left to right): Defender Rachel Corsie, midfielder Kim Little, forward Erin Cuthbert.
LAST played a World Cup in 2007 but from 2015 they had two years of no fixtures and no coach and fell out of the world rankings – so making this year’s tournament has won them widespread respect.
ONES TO WATCH (from left to right): Forward Soledad Jaimes, midfielders Florencia Bonsegundo and Estefania Banini.
WORLD CUP champions in 2011 in Germany and beaten finalists four years ago in Canada, can Japan hit the heights again this time? They are known for their speedy, slick passing game.
ONES TO WATCH (from left to right) : Defender Saki Kumagai, forwards Mana Iwabuchi and Kumi Yokoyama.
