'It's a movement'

Leah Williamson has been at the forefront of the women’s football boom for the best part of a decade – and she was very happy to switch sports ahead of the AIG Women’s Open.

The Lionesses captain was invited to play a round with Nadiya Bychkova as the Strictly dancer continued her mission to learn how to play golf.

They were joined by One Show presenter and former England defender Alex Scott at Royal Wimbledon Golf Club as the trio hit the putting green, the driving range and finally the course.

Leah said: “I don’t think it’s just about women’s sport. I think it’s about women empowering other women. It’s a movement.

“I’ve never met another female athlete who isn’t happy to promote another women’s sport. We’re all in our own lanes but we’re all together. So why wouldn’t we use any opportunity to collaborate and grow together?”

Leah joined the Arsenal academy in 2006, when average attendances in the FA Women’s Super League were in the low hundreds.

By the time she led the Gunners out against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in February this year, Leah was playing in front of over 60,000 people.

She said: “I’m so proud and grateful of the work that’s been done in women’s football. It wasn’t an easy ride. It was a constant grind to get the game out there and get us noticed.

“There were so many different moments along the way. The London Olympics, the World Cup in Canada, but when we won the Euros [in July 2022] that kind of put us in a new stratosphere.

“So I’m honoured to be asked to work with other athletes in different sports because I do believe that when one women’s sport grows, we all grow together.”

However, far from simply being an advocate of women’s sport, Leah is a golf nut – and she attributes this love to her upbringing.

“Golf reminds me of my family,” she said. “The best day of the year for me is the annual memorial golf day for my grandad, John Baker, in Milton Keynes. He loved his golf. And it’s one day a year when loads of people come together to help raise money for the hospice he was in.

“I’m not sure how good my grandad was but I know that he used to go on golfing holidays. My whole family love golf.

“Apparently I’ve always had a natural golf swing and I started going down the range when I was about 10. In fact, my strongest golf memories are going to the range with my dad and my brother.

“I absolutely love going for a round of golf or hitting the range for a bit. Doing something that probably doesn’t come very naturally to me is a challenge. And I really enjoy trying to get every ounce of ability out of my body.”