Former England Netball Coach, Tracey Neville has revealed the heartbreaking news that she suffered a miscarriage, just a day after coaching England to their first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in April 2018.

The 42-year-old, who has not long ago revealed that she is expecting a baby with partner Michael Timmins, surprised many when she announced in June that she would be leaving her post "to focus on her personal life". 

The Vitality Roses Head Coach broke the retirement news to the media in a statement, just before the start of the World Cup in July where England finished in third place.

But yesterday in an interview which BBC breakfast broadcast yesterday, Tracey gave audiences an inkling behind her decision to step-down when she revealed she tragically suffered a miscarriage a day after winning Commonwealth Gold.

She recalled, "I had a miscarriage and then I went into a three-hour media fest to celebrate what is something that I'd been waiting for something like 30 years for."

The bury-born coach continued to explain how "You think to yourself: 'This can't be right.' You see other ladies who have been through traumatic situations take time off work, but I just wasn't willing to do that.

"This was my family, this was my commitment. I didn't want to miss this journey that the Roses were on because, in a way - and it's awful to say - the Roses were my priority."

Tracey described how the "crunch point" came following another miscarriage around the Christmas period. Her decision to leave the Roses was "one of the most difficult decisions of my life".

Neville, whose twin brother is Phil, head coach of England women’s football team, also went on to address the negativity that she has experienced due to her age deeming her pregnancy as ‘high risk’.

‘It creates a fearful environment’, Tracey explains. "If only there was just a bit more positivity around health and well-being." 

Tracey thanked the support of her family in helping her to get through the trauma of miscarriage.

"I am still their little sister. For them, they want me to be happy. They always want me to succeed and they give me the best support."

The 42-year-old has been succeeded in the England job by Jess Thirlby, who left her role as head coach of Team Bath in January after 20 years as a player and coach to begin her work with the Roses.