Ellen White is the Lionesses’ top scorer of all time, but a newspaper article from 1998 has revealed that she was once banned from playing football as a nine-year-old. The striker was part of the England side that won the Euro 2022 Final at Wembley on Sunday, after beating Germany 2-1.White started every match for Sarina Wiegman’s side at the tournament this summer, scoring twice in six matches. 

Who is White? 

Having made her England debut back in 2010, White has since scored 52 goals in 113 appearances for the national side. 

Currently, she is second on England’s all-time list of scorers, one behind Wayne Rooney and needs just two goals to overtake the former Man United star. 

The 33-year-old has been named England’s International Player of the Year on three occasions, in 2011, 2018 and 2021. 

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White’s early life? 

White was originally spotted by Arsenal scouts when she was just eight years old, after playing for Aylesbury Town juniors and scoring more than 100 goals. 

She attended the Grange School in Aylesbury and played for the boys' team because the school did not have a girls side. 

However, she was prevented from playing in a local league for boys in Buckinghamshire, which led The Bucks Herald newspaper to publish a front-page article on September 23rd, 1998. 

Ellen White

What did the article say? 

In the article, White can be seen in an Arsenal kit and a caption reads that she “scored 100 goals last season.” 

The piece leads with the headline: “Soccer girl banned by league for boys,” while the sub-heading says: “Ellen is only nine and can’t fathom why she can’t play football.” 

One of her former teachers at The Grange stressed her love for all sports, particularly football. 

“At the time Ellen was at the school we did not have girls football on the curriculum, but she was always playing football with the boys and loved all her sports," they said.

White’s remarkable career

Fast forward 24 years and the 33-year-old is now an England icon. 

White has led the line for the Lionesses for much of the last decade and has scored some crucial goals in that time. 

Ellen White

In 2019, the striker was the joint top scorer at the Women’s World Cup with six goals and later that year she scored against Germany at Wembley. 

Away from international football, White has also enjoyed a successful club career. 

Having played for the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Now Man City, White has won two WSL titles and the Women’s FA Cup.