My No. 23

Lioness Media Day

Another day, another morning run and another disappointing coffee. Once at the training ground Sarina spoke us through the media day.
"There will be all sorts of different stations. I have sent you all a schedule of what media station you should attend and when. Try to stick to these as close as possible."
I take a look at my schedule. There's 3 different stations. Getting to know you, who in the team and meeting Kelsey.

I finish my tea and bagel then head through with Leah.
"What have you got first?" She asks.
"Getting to know you" I reply "what about you?".
"Aw I mind having to do that on my first camp too" she says "I've got two truths and a lie with Mary".
"Aw that sounds well class I don't even have that". I say to her.
"We have meeting Kelsey together but later on" she says with a smile.
We say goodbye to one another and head to our separate stations.

I'm stood by myself for a minute until a woman with head hair ushers me over to her and puts her hand out.
"Molly? Over here. Hi I'm Samantha" she says with a warm smile. She shakes my hand. "I'm just going to ask you a couple of questions to let the fans get to know you a bit." She pulls me in front of a tripod with a phone attached to it. "When you're ready give us an intro and then I'll give you the questions". She says. I nod.
After a couple of seconds n some deep breaths I start.

"Hi everyone it's Molly Bell here. And this is get to know me" I say with a smile finding it easier than I initially thought it would be.
"Who's your football hero?" Samantha asks.
"Aw that's tough" I say swaying side to side. "Think it'd have to be Rooney. Growing up I always got his name printed on the back of shirts". I clock Alessia at the station across from me waiting to start. Her eyes wandered the area and fell on mine. But unlike normal she left them on me. She smiled.
"Molly?" My eyes focus back in on Samantha who's looking at me with an inquisitive face.
"Oh sorry. Mind went somewhere else. What did you say." I quickly say. She laughed.
"Don't worry we can cut it. I asked, what's your cheat meal?"
"Oh man. Me and my Arsenal teammate Kyra, we always get a pizza when we're having a cheat night." I reply
"What kind of pizza?" she quickly asks.
"BBQ chicken" I say without hesitation. "Onions and peppers on it too" I finish. My eyes glance behind to Alessia who's still watching but now is half covering her mouth laughing. I smile looking at her.
"What past player would you have liked to played with?" Is the next question.
"Without a doubt Jill Scott. You know I didn't even get to play against her but I always found watching her entertaining. Yeah she seems class." I say back smiling.
I see Alessia being dragged out by Ella away to another station. Samantha asks me a couple more questions before showing me some of the footage making sure I was okay with it.

After that I thank her and head off to my next station, who in the team. Next I meet with a man call Toby. I start this one a lot easier.
"Who in the team would be late to training". Toby asks.
"I think I'd have to say Tooney." I say taking a deep breath. "I've only had one training session with the girls but she was last there. And when my alarms been going off she just rolls back over."
"Who's most likely to play a practical joke?" Is the next question.
I look around the room for the answer.
"Yeknow I think Millie T or Mary. They're both really funny and making everyone laugh." I answer.
A couple more questions get asked. Then the final one.
"Who in the team would you want to be stuck on an island with?"
Without hesitating I let out, "Alessia". I realise what I've just blurted out. "Yeah I've enjoyed getting to know her over the last few months and I enjoy her company and yeah I reckon she'd be good crack in that situation" I finish shrugging my shoulders laughing.

We finish up and I wonder round watching the other girls. I find Leah and wait on her to head to our final station, Meet with Kelsey.
We walk over together, Mary is already there. Samantha's at this one but it's a couple of properties cameras this time not just her phone. She explains that we would be meeting a young fan Kelsey. Kelseys only 6 but claims to be the lionesses biggest fan so they brought her up to be the mascot for the game against Scotland.
Kelsey walks in and immediately falls into Leah's arms. She asks us a couple of questions. I then ask her what position she likes to play in. When she said striker Mary stuck her tongue out at her. I then suggested we take some shots at Mary in goals. I think we ended up playing for half an hour before her parents came over and said it was time they got back. She gave us all a hug and we said we'd see her tomorrow night at the game.

"Good job there Bell" said Mary slapping my back with a smile on her face. "That's what it's all about".
I nodded at her and smiled. That was the moment it sunk in that I wasn't just playing for a big club. I was not playing for my Country and impacting these people's lives.