To say it’s been a rough couple of months for Beth Mead is an understatement.
After tearing the ACL in her knee in November, an injury that left her World Cup hopes in the balance, Mead lost her mother, June, to ovarian cancer in January.
It can be remarkable to see how the football community can support a player in his time of need.
From England captain Leah Williamson dedicating the Lionesses’ Arnold Clark Cup victory to Mead’s mother to Arsenal’s men’s team holding up a shirt after their win over Tottenham, the 27-year-old was overwhelmed. for the support he received.
“The world of football can be an amazing place when things like this happen,” Mead tells Sportsmail.
To say it’s been a difficult couple of months for Arsenal’s Beth Mead is an understatement.
The Gunners and Lionesses star lost his mother June (left) to ovarian cancer just two months after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee.
But she has been overwhelmed by the ‘incredible’ support from the world of football.
“After my mother passed away, the world of football really reached out and gave me the perfect support that my family and I really needed at that time.”
‘Every single girl in the last few months has sent me a message. It shows how important the world of football can be and how it can help people.”
Mead is three months into ACL rehab, and he says it’s going well. ‘I’m currently ahead, which is good. It is better to be ahead than behind with this injury.
“I think it’s going to be a bit of a roller coaster, obviously there are going to be good days and bad days.”
Mead, who has not given up hope of being fit in time for the World Cup this summer, admits it was difficult to watch England’s Arnold Clark Cup campaign from the bench.
“It’s been difficult to watch the games with England, they did amazing, but it’s not nice to watch when you can’t be a part of it.”
“Obviously it’s not nice not being able to go on the field when you’re at the games, you can’t get involved, you can’t control anything.” I think that’s been the hardest part so far.
‘The longest injury I had before was three months. I had my MCL done and ankle ligaments done, but normally you’re on the field in two months. We are now at 11 weeks, almost three months, which is the longest I have not been able to kick a ball.
Mead faces a race against time to be fit for the World Cup after tearing his ACL in November.
But at least she has her teammate and teammate Vivianne Miedema (left), who suffered the same injury three weeks later, to turn to for advice.
On the upside, the striker has plenty of people she can turn to for advice, including Arsenal teammate and teammate Vivianne Miedema, who suffered the same injury three weeks after Mead.
“Obviously I’m living in a house with someone else going through it, too,” says Mead.
“I spoke to Kim Little, she did her thing when we both got to Arsenal. Jordan Nobbs has been through that too.
‘She’s ahead of me, but I’m currently talking to Alexia Putellas. In fact, she texted me when I first did it and she asked if she needed anything or help.
The Barcelona star Putellas, who suffered an ACL injury just before the Euros, beat Mead at the Ballon d’Or in November and at the FIFA Best Awards on Monday.
But Mead is no stranger to winning awards herself with the striker named BBC Sports Personality of the Year for December.
I can’t tell you how heavy that trophy is. I had to stand up front with it. At first they said, “Whoever wins, you have to stand up very awkwardly until the music ends.” She seemed like a lifetime and at that moment she had half a leg! I had DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) in my arms the next day.
Mead was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in December after inspiring England’s success at Women’s Euro 2022.
‘It was quite surreal to be there in general. There were some amazing people there and people I’ve admired for a long time like Jessica Ennis-Hill, Chris Hoy, who gave me the trophy.
“Obviously it is such a historic award. I have the trophy at home and I sit and look at it sometimes and the names that are there, I sit and think “why am I on this trophy with them?” Princess Anne, Mo Farah, Andy Murray, Sir Bobby (Charlton), David Beckham. Some of the names that are on there are crazy.
‘I say I’m on it, they don’t really have room for me at the moment, it’s full! So I don’t know what they’re going to do about it. Maybe they hit me deep inside.
Mead is speaking to Sportsmail at a Fun Football session for McDonald’s, for whom she is an ambassador, in association with World Book Day.
“Obviously I had the opportunity to step back and see the impact that we are having on children across the country. It makes me incredibly proud of the legacy we’re building, but we also have a responsibility to keep the momentum going and help inspire kids on and off the field.
“That’s why I’m so passionate about what McDonald’s does – giving all children the opportunity to learn and play regardless of their circumstances. Giving kids access to millions of free books and millions of hours of free Fun Football in 2023 is just amazing.”
The 27-year-old was speaking to Sportsmail as she celebrated McDonald’s giving away 10 million books to children across the UK.
Mead appeared as an ambassador for McDonald’s Fun Football and World Book Day at
It’s fair to say that Arsenal miss Mead’s presence in attack with just one win in their last four games. But with a League Cup final against Chelsea and a Champions League quarter-final with Bayern Munich to come, Mead is confident that his team -m
“Obviously, as a top team, you are expected to win every game. The last block was not our best. There have been some difficulties on and off the field but this block now after the internationals is quite important, a Cup final of the The league against Chelsea, two Champions League games against Bayern (Munich) and Man City again. It’s a great month for us and I know the girls are working very hard.’
Beth Mead hosted McDonald’s Fun Soccer session to celebrate World Book Day as part of her commitment to give all children the opportunity to learn and play by providing millions of FREE books. Visit: https://www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/football/fun-football-centres.html