South Yorkshire holds a rich history and pedigree for developing international stars.
Millie Bright, Bethany England, Ellie Roebuck and Esme Morgan all hail or have connections to South Yorkshire from their early playing careers. This is an insight into South Yorkshire’s Lionesses in the limelight.
Esme Morgan
Esme Morgan, born in Sheffield, played her early football at Ecclesall Rangers boys team at the age of four, remaining with the side until the age of 16.
A product of the Manchester City youth academy, England signed her first professional contract with Manchester City in 2019, with a league debut against Yeovil Town in September 2017.
In the 2019-20 campaign, Morgan spent time on loan at Everton women’s side, gaining valuable Barclays Women Super League (WSL) experience during this period, before returning to her childhood club.
In 2024, Morgan announced she would be leaving childhood club Manchester City, in favour of a move to NWSL club Washington Spirit, signing on a four year deal. Morgan made her debut for her new side on 15th September, in a three-nil victory over Houston Dash.
On The International Stage
Morgan made her first appearance for the Lionesses in a half-time substitution against the Czech Republic and was included in the Lionesses’ 2023 World Cup squad, where the defender was an unused substitute. Morgan, to date, has 12 international caps for her country.
Millie Bright
Millie Bright is one of the Lionesses modern icons, currently with 88 international caps to date.
Hailing from Chesterfield, her early career began at Sheffield United. Bright then joined Doncaster Rovers Belles in 2009.
Bright, described as a “tall, powerful, athletic striker with a good eye for goal,” made her Belles debut against Watford at the Keepmoat Stadium in August 2009.
Bright scored her first goal for the club on her first start, in the following month’s five-nil victory over Leeds City Vixens in the FA Women’s Premier League Cup.
In December 2014, Bright transferred to Chelsea ahead of the 2015 season. Bright made 14 appearances for Chelsea over the 2015/16 season, and was named Players’ Player of the Season by her teammates.
Over the course of her career at Chelsea, Bright has made 170 appearances for the club, and was named captain of the women’s side on 29th September 2023, following the departure of Magdalena Eriksson.
International Spotlight
Bright’s first international cap came in a 2-0 win over Belgium in 2016, coming off the bench as a last-minute substitute.
Bright captained her country for the first time in a friendly against Canada in April 2021, and was selected for the 2022 EUROS by head coach Sarina Wiegman.
Similarly, in the 2023 World Cup, Bright was named interim captain for the tournament after an injury to Leah Williamson.
Ellie Roebuck
Ellie Roebuck also hails from Sheffield, beginning her career as a Sheffield United season ticket holder, whilst also plying her trade at Beighton Magpies, before joining Manchester City’s development squad in 2015.
Three years later, Roebuck signed her first professional contract with the club, making her senior debut in a 0-0 draw against Chelsea a month later.
In the 2019-20 season, Roebuck was awarded the inaugural Barclays FA Golden Glove, having kept 10 clean sheets in 16 league appearances.
In 2023, Roebuck suffered a stroke and was left fearing she may never play football again.
It was Christmas when Roebuck began to feel something was ‘not quite right’, she told the BBC, with feelings of nausea, dizziness, fatigue and black dots affecting her vision.
Club doctors diagnosed her with what is medically known as an occipital infarct.
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to an area of the brain is interrupted. The occipital lobe is the area of the brain responsible for visual processing, enabling us to understand what we see.
The timing of Roebuck’s diagnosis came just two weeks before her formalised agreement to leave Manchester City, and join Barcelona on a pre-contract agreement basis.
In June 2024, Roebuck completed her dream move to Barcelona and in December 2024, 303 days after her diagnosis and 18 months after her last football appearance, Roebuck made her Barcelona debut in a four-one victory over Real Betis.
We’re all with you, @ellieroebuck! ❤️ https://t.co/TgGlZhjB5h
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) March 30, 2024
International Career
Roebuck made her first senior England appearance as a 79th-minute substitute for Mary Earps, in November 2018. She made her first start for the Lionesses in April 2019, in a two-one victory over Spain.
Roebuck has 11 senior England caps to date, and four GB Olympic appearances, having featured in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Bethany England
Barnsley-born Bethany England began her career at Junior Tykes F.C, a boys’ side, before later being scouted for Sheffield United girls’ centre of excellence.
At the age of 13, England joined Sheffield United academy, playing alongside twin sister Laura, before joining Doncaster Belles at 16 and breaking into the first team within the same year.
England made 79 appearances, scoring 28 goals in her four-year career at Doncaster Rovers Belles, and, though offered a full-time contract at the club, she chose to join Chelsea at the end of the 2015 season.
England’s Chelsea career spanned 7 years, making 99 appearances and scoring 45 goals.
During the 2019-20 season, England scored 14 goals in 15 games, and was named player of the month for January and February. England, was, at the same time, named by then manager Emma Hayes as the best English number nine in the country, in the same season where she scored 21 goals across the Women’s Super League and Continental Cup.
England currently plies her trade at Tottenham Hotspur, having joined the club in 2023. Her transfer fee was a rumoured £250,000, breaking the record for a domestic women’s football transfer.
Representing the National side
In October 2019, England scored her first senior goal for England in a two-one defeat to Brazil.
She was also included in the Lionesses’ squad for the Euros in 2022, as well as the squad for the Women’s World Cup in 2023.
The Lionesses have a rich history of South Yorkshire-based heritage, with four of the current squad making a name for themselves on the international stage.
With the Women’s Euros 2025 beginning in July, and England starting their title defence against France in Zurich, the spotlight will be on some of these players from across South Yorkshire in the women’s national sides defence of their European crown.
