STEPH STEPS IN FOR FAYE

Former Arsenal and England legend Faye White was inducted into the PFA Hall of Fame at the National Football Museum recently along with the likes of Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs.

Unfortunately illness meant that former central defender Faye couldn’t attend the event so Manchester City and England captain Steph Houghton was their to collect the award.

SK: Hi Steph, how have you enjoyed the night so far?

SH: It has been a brilliant night and obviously credit to everyone who has been inducted into the Hall of Fame. A special mention for Faye White, it was a real honour for me to go and collect the award.  She has been a great ambassador for the game.  She was an inspiration to me personally and she is a great leader, a fantastic player and an even better person

Steph Houghton receives the England Player of the Year Award from former captain Faye White in 2013. (FA via Getty)

SK:  What have you learnt from playing with Faye on the pitch and off it?

SH: She is real leader and she loves the game.  She always wanted to improve but most importantly she always wore her heart on her sleeve and always wanted to win.  When you play in the same team as her it rubs off on you and no matter what her dedication and will to win a game was always world class.

SK: When you play against Faye, or with her, does it make you appreciate just how good she is?

SH: Yes of course, she makes things look easy at times.  That is the sign of a real class player.  Her communication and her ability to score goals when needed.  Her defending and tackling was out of this world.  I have so much admiration for her as a player but even more as a person and I know that she would have loved to have been here tonight.

SK: Do you think it shows just how far the women’s game has come that Faye has been inducted?

SH:  I think it’s great for the women’s game that people are being recognised for how hard they have worked.  No matter whether you are male, female or part of a disability sport it is important that you get recognised and this night was perfect to do that.  

SK:  How have you found things since the World Cup?

SH: It has been a bit all over the place but in a good way.  It shows how much we gripped the nation and it was a great privilege to be part of that.  I think all of the girls wanted success and we got that, now we need to go further.

SK: What did it mean you being captain during the World Cup?

SH: Playing for the country is a real honour first and foremost, as is being able to captain a great side.  They make my job easier because they are a great bunch of girls.  To be able to captain the side to a bronze medal at a World Cup is a real honour.

SK: How have you found the attention with the extra media attention that has come your way?

SH: It is different but at the same time this is what we need to kick the sport on and to make it grow.  I think the girls who are involved in it now have a responsibility to leave a legacy so that women’s football can carry on growing in the future.

SK: How are things at Man City? What is the future there for you now?

SH: I just want to be successful and I am a winner, I want to win trophies and play with and against the best players in the world.  We have managed to obtain a Champions League spot and we look forward to playing in that but as a team, and as individuals, it is all about winning trophies so we will try to do that.

SK: Going back to tonight do you think there is anyone else in the women’s game who can get into the Hall of Fame, maybe yourself?

SH:  I think you have to retire so I hope I won’t even be thought of for a long time yet but I do think with the game increasing in popularity we will see more women inducted into the Hall of Fame over the coming years

Thanks for your time Steph and enjoy the rest of your night!

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