Interview Sean Cole
KAREN CARNEY
England 3-2 Finland
June 5, 2005
European Championship
“The Euros were in England and our opener was at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester – we had 29,000 people there. I was 17, and I got an assist and a goal – the winner in the 91st minute. Everybody always says to me that it was a massive moment for women’s football in England, but it was also a massive moment for me. It really put me on the map. My family were in the crowd and they couldn’t believe I was starting the game. My name was called out and they thought there was a mistake! They thought I’d be on the bench: ‘She’s only 17, she’s skinny, she’s not going to be starting’. Lo and behold, I pulled out the winner. I was still at college and doing my A-levels at that tournament. It was just an amazing moment – live on the BBC.”
Arsenal 0-0 Umea
April 29, 2007
UEFA Women’s Cup Final second leg
“Umea were known as the Galacticos – they had players like Marta in their side – but we shut them out over two legs to become champions of Europe. We were so together, I’m so proud to have been part of that team. It’ll never be forgotten. We’d already won the league, the FA Cup and the League Cup, so this completed the quadruple. No one’s ever done that, and no English team has won the Champions League since. We made history. On paper they had the better team, but we had great players too, like Rachel Yankey, Kelly Smith, Alex Scott and Katie Chapman, as well as a togetherness. Our coach Vic Akers was a great advocate for the women’s game, the only person I call gaffer or the boss. He taught me about Arsenal and respecting the badge.”
Birmingham p2-2 Chelsea
May 26, 2012
FA Cup Final
“I’m usually pretty calm, but I’ve never been so nervous as during that penalty shootout. I knew how much it meant to everyone – it was my team. I’d been a mascot aged eight and I’d started playing for Birmingham at 11, so it was emotional. It was boiling hot and we had 90 min
