Quickfire Questions with Ellen White

Lionesses legend Ellen White joined UCFB to answer quickfire questions about her career, while also offering advice to students about their sports industry careers.

The all-time goalscorer for the England women’s team visited UCFB Manchester as a keynote speaker, giving students guidance and tips for securing a role in football and sports.

During her visit, she answered some questions about her illustrious career on the pitch and life afterwards.

See what she had to say below…

If you weren’t a footballer, what career path would you have taken?

Well, I went to university and did sports science, so I was thinking of maybe going into that kind of role. I don’t think I had the brains for maybe a physio, but I feel like there’s so many roles now in sport that are really exciting. I feel like having that kind of base of education was really important for me because I didn’t know if I was to become a professional footballer.

What’s the best moment of your career?

It has to be winning the Euros in 2022. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but it’s pretty cool. And it was just absolutely incredible. The whole summer, the atmosphere, the crowds and then ending it at Wembley. It’s amazing to be able to say that I won a European trophy with my country.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Just be a good person. I think that’s really important in any environment because, ultimately, to help learn and develop and grow, you need to be surrounded by good people and they will help you as well. And also work hard.

What would you say to somebody relocating for university or work?

Changing location is really exciting and daunting at the same time but I think just throwing yourself into it; researching that city, finding places, joining a club.

How important is education for athletes and professional footballers?

Being a footballer can be very short-lived. I was 33, and it is quite daunting in that aspect. Plus, you don’t know what’s around the corner; injuries could occur, things can be taken out of your hands, maybe you have to retire or stop playing a little bit younger.

Having that education, that foundation and that base where you’ve learned, you’ve developed, you’ve got something else that you could maybe move into quite smoothly, is really important.

And there’s so many opportunities within sport, not just being a footballer, but being involved in a football club outside in journalism, media, sciences. So, there is huge opportunity.

Have you played with footballers studying alongside their playing careers?

Yeah, I’ve met a lot of them that do it. You know, as soon as they get home, they’re straight onto the computer, doing papers, essays, research.

I think that’s absolutely incredible. They’re using their time amazingly well. It must be so tiring at the same time. But yeah, they’re broadening their horizons. They’re learning something different. I think that’s really inspiring to see and to watch.

And it’s not just in sport. I know someone that’s worked in accountancy, in banking. There’s just so many different fields. I think that’s quite exciting as well, doing something that’s completely the opposite of what you’re doing as well, having that break from football.

UCFB students gain access to many guest speakers from across football and sport thanks to our dedicated Employability and Career Planning Team. Learn more about them and the experiences and opportunities they offer our students.

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