Lioness: My Journey to Glory

by Beth Mead, Ian Wright (Foreword)

The Sunday Times bestseller and winner of the Sunday Times Sports Book Awards Autobiography of the Year 2023

Fully updated paperback edition, with two new chapters

Beth Mead is one of the world's most talented footballers - Golden Boot winner and Player of the Tournament at the UEFA Euro 2022, England Player of the Year 2021-22, Arsenal Player of the Season 2021-22, and nominee for the 2022 Ballon d'Or. But long before this, Beth was just an ordinary kid from Hinderwell, North Yorkshire who wanted to play football.

Now, Beth shares the challenges that shaped her, what she faced on the journey to the top, and the life events that made her stronger - from being dropped from the England squad and receiving devastating family news, to finding her best form under the guidance of Jonas Eidevall and Sarina Wiegman. Filled with positive lessons and an exclusive account of England's triumphant Euros campaign, Beth offers readers of all ages a heartfelt, behind-the-scenes look into her remarkable journey to glory.

Empowering, inspirational and honest, this is Beth's story.

This paperback edition has been fully updated to include the details of the 2022-23 season, Beth's ACL injury and her recovery, her thoughts on the 2023 Women's World Cup, as well as overcoming devastating personal challenges and how this has made her even stronger.

Genres: Nonfiction, Football, Biography, Sports, Soccer, Autobiography, LGBT

279 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 10, 2022

Reviews

[Khurram · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great inspirational story. I will admit I am not a football fan (male or female teams), but living and growing up in London, it is impossible to do or not take notice when England is playing. Especially at football. So is being a non football fan in London is hard being a female footballer is a billion times more difficult, which is what makes Beth and the other Lioness' story even more incredible.

The book starts with a dark time in Beth's life, then goes back to her childhood, her family, and of course, her start in football till the current day. Thr highs and lows and her amazing 2022.

Football is a team game, and through Beth is a standout player she gives full praise to her fellow teammates, coaches, managers, friends, and family. One thing that really strikes me and is very evident is the pay and resource difference between the male and female players. This is one of the reasons Beth had for writing this book to shine a light on and hopefully inspire the next generation of women/Lioness.

[Lana Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

ugh this book. i’m obsessed.

i started reading this book with the view of “oh i like beth mead, let’s read this” but as i got further into the book, i realised just how much i related to beth, from her mental journey, to the locations (eg southampton, whitby, and st albans).

without spoiling anything, chapter 12 made me violently sob. knowing that beth, someone who i look up to is currently going through the same thing as me, made me feel so much less alone.

it was lovely to read about how far she has come <3

[Molly™☺ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very inspiring story that journals Beth Mead's football career from the start all the way up until the infamous Euros win. As someone who used to play football myself when I was younger, I found much of the earlier years highly relatable. However, whilst I moved away from playing during secondary school, Mead shows her dedication and commitment to the game and making her dreams come true. She's also very open about the mental struggles she's faced both on and off the pitch, and it's refreshing to see someone talk about it so honestly. Motivational, touching, and very grounded in humanity, it's a great read that's left me excited to see what Beth does next in her football career.

TRIGGERS: cancer

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I feel weird about rating biographies.)

All I will say is if you are a fan of football, this book is a must read. Like many, I was one of those people who only recently got into women's football post-Euros. This book is the perfect introduction to one of the 2022 Euro's key player– Beth Mead. It's inspiring, well-written, and filled with anecdotes of some of the most important moments in Beth Mead's life– from signing with her now-club Arsenal to winning the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 with England's Lionesses– and everything in between.

5 stars.

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Star ratings and their meanings:
★★★★★: I loved everything about this book! I would re-read it and would highly recommend it to you, your family and your cat!
★★★★: I liked it. I didn’t love it but I still liked it enough to still rate it highly. I could see myself still recommending this book to a lot of people
★★★: It was an okay book. There maybe have been a few things that bothered me while reading this book but for the most parts the likes outweigh the dislikes.
★★: the cons outweigh the pros, unfortunately. There might be some things that were lacking in some areas—writing, characterisation, plot etc, but there may have been a few moments that I liked.
★: Nope. I should've just appreciated this book from afar.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting autobiography of the England and arsenal player from her origins in North Yorkshire to the euros in 2022

[Maddie Coe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a huge Gooner (unofficially crowned as the biggest Gooner at Northville High School) but I’ve really only paid attention to the men’s game. It wasn’t until the Lionesses started winning in the Euros that I started watching their training and interviews on YouTube - something that I do regularly with the men even though they share the “England” channel. Thus, it was this summer as I sat down to watch the Euro final (and the Lionesses ended up winning!) that I made a promise to myself that I would pay more attention to women’s football. Beth Mead and Leah Williamson captured my attention in that final, because a) they are world-class footballers and b) I knew they played for Arsenal.

After reading this book, I realize I still have so much more to learn, and especially in England, there is still so much more work to be done to grow the women’s game. It really opened my eyes to the journey that these women have to take (unlike Saka, who I absolutely adore, being signed to Arsenal’s Academy at about 8 years of age). Thanks Meado for all that you do, and all that you will continue to do!

[Sophia Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beth Mead has been an inspiration to me for quite a few years now and being able to read about her journey helped me understand her more as a person and player. It just makes it all the more sad knowing she’s missing out on the World Cup this year. But I know she’ll come back from her injury even better than ever

[Lmao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I’ve read from a footballer

[Malin Davidsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ni boktjejer här på Goodreads vet nog inte vem Beth Mead är men det är en så kallad fotbollsking. Stark bidragande faktor till att England vann EM-guld förra sommaren. Väldigt intressant att få lite information från insidan. Fint när folk öppnar upp sig. Bettan, en levande legend.

[beccy · Rating 3 out of 5]

i love love love this team

[soosfie · Rating 4 out of 5]

„You genuinely never know what day will be your last. In seeing how fragile life truly was, I found a new motivation to enjoy every aspect of life, and live every moment. In football, I found a genuine joy and real happiness. I’ve been so happy, despite everything.“

„My message to you is to love life before something bad happens. Life is hard, but it’s worth living. There are so many moments to enjoy. Life is full of ups and downs, but it makes me feel alive still because of those moments.“

A very interesting and inspiring insight in her world of women’s football and her story. It made me laugh, think and smile. Loved it :)


Niche favs:

„Only one of us is not nervous – Lucy Bronze.“

First Sentence chapter 6: „I probably should have realised that I was gay a little bit sooner than I did.“

„Who was on the opposing team that day, also making her debut? Someone called Vivianne Miedema. You might just be reading more about her later.“

[liv mae x · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love beth mead so much. this book put me through the motions, to be able to relive the euros again made me so happy, but reading about june made me so sad, but honestly if your a woso fan,read this book. like yesterday.

[Beth Toye · Rating 5 out of 5]

so interesting to understand the inner workings of the euros winners, an incredible auto biography, very inspirational

[natalya · Rating 5 out of 5]

i can’t count the amount of times i cried

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweetheart <3

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow wow. Best book ever. The new found admiration and respect I have for not only Beth, but for every women’s football player, is unmatched. This diary style retelling of the euros was perfect, translating the feeling of pressure Beth felt in training sessions, games and tournaments, from her experience with homesickness and shyness when she was younger to having to adapt to a post-European champion who can’t go to McDonald’s without getting recognised life. The behind the scenes, insider stories made me feel like I was on the pitch with her. During the retelling of each game, I watched the highlights on YouTube, watching it with fresh eyes, now knowing what was said in the changing rooms, in the tunnel, on the pitch, shouted between players after a goal. Sarina and the Lionesses have a way of making everyone feel connected to the game and the players. They’ve transformed women’s football and I’m so excited to continue to follow and support the growth of the game.

[Lianne Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watching the rise of the Lionesses squad over the years, I don’t think I ever expected women’s football to be where it is now, and it truly is thanks to these incredible women. Reading first hand the struggles they went through to get there only furthers my admiration for them.

2022 was probably one of the best summers I had with my friends following a tournament we’d never expected to be celebrated for women as much as it was, reliving that through the chapters of this book really made my heart sing. I’m also really happy to hear I’m not the only woman in her 30s collecting sticker books now we finally have them 😂

[Maija Adamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first biography i’ve read but it certainly won’t be the last. This book gave us an insight into Beth as a person and the struggles and hurdles she went through to get to where she is today. Footballers are usually seen from their successes and mistakes. Beth takes a dive into her own personal life and what has happened over her career which helps her strive to be the best player, she takes difficult events in her life and uses them to power her mentality for the game. I’m glad young kids can call her their idol.

[Jade Doodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it was fascinating to read about Beth Meads football journey from day 1 until present day. I liked that she was completely honestly about her feelings at certain points in her career, she definitely wasn’t scared of sharing the lows as well as the highs. I’ve been lucky enough to see her play a few times and what a player she is! A huge inspiration for many of the little girls in my life.

[Fenella Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I played football (soccer) as a teenage girl but in the USA, so I do come from a background similar but I Hr UK youth network is quite different and I appreciated seeing that difference.
I found it very readable and unusually for me finished it within two days.
I had seen the Euros but hadn’t clocked Mead out of the rest of the women. I rewatched some of those moments again having read her perspective and was amazed all over again that England won the Euros.

[El G · Rating 4 out of 5]

[listened to audiobook]

Enjoyed this! Appreciate how open Beth is about her quite intense mental health issues, particularly as a child. Her story, from growing up in a small village in North Yorkshire to becoming an international player is both inspiring and just very cool. Rec to anyone who enjoys sport, especially women’s sport.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this one on audio - for those in the UK or with access it's free on BBC Sounds
I do feel Beth is a little young for an autobiography and she's not retired but can't blame her for making hay whilst the sun shines as the women's team have been overlooked until now.
An interesting and honest account of her anxiety, team mates and managers. I had a tear in my eye when she talks about the legacy they've left after the Euro win. My daughter has a school girls football thanks to the lionesses. Hopefully things won't be so hard for the next generation.

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helps highlight just how much womens football has grown recently. Even as a non-Arsenal fan, Beth Mead is hands down a legend. Being able to read the player’s perspective of one the biggest turning points of my life just made me love everything that happened this summer more. This helps to shed light on the difficulties so many of our top players have faced to make it to where they are now in football. This book was beautifully written and I can easily say I loved it with my whole football loving heart

[Sophie Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the way this book was written brilliant. Such a moving and inspirational story. Meado!

[Fiona Schinzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing and emotional

[Tess Blakeborough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started this AM & clearly shows how much I loved it!

[Charlotte Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from start to finish (maybe I’m a bit biased but I don’t care x). The inspirational story that people need to hear, keep going guys !

[hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

cannot believe it’s taken me this long to finally read beth’s memoir, absolutely loved it and now desperately need more female football players to write their own

[mattea · Rating 3 out of 5]

i admittedly read this bc it was the only book on my kindle on a flight, that said it was p good! read as written by an athlete lmao but that’s what it is so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ luv u beffie⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5
A raw and honest biography that was touching as well as inspiring! I really enjoyed reading Beth's story and getting to know her football journey over the years.