Sports pundit and former football player Alex Scott has spoken publicly for the first time about her secret long term relationship with her fellow Lioness Kelly Smith, as she revealed she fell “madly and deeply in love” with the striker as a young player competing alongside her.
The 37 year old star, who many football fans will recognise for her insightful commentary of the much-loved game, will speak candidly about her romance with her former teammate as part of her new memoir How (Not) To Be Strong, reports the Mirror.
Discussing both the highs and lows of their relationship, Alex will also open up about her subsequent heartache when they split – but admitted herself, she wouldn’t change a thing.
While in their relationship both women had their own personal demons to overcome, with Kelly having being caught in the grip of alcoholism during their time together.
Alex herself, also had a traumatic upbringing to contend with, as her controlling father had left the talented player very vulnerable.
Speaking a little about the upcoming release of her book, Alex told guests at her launch party in London that she almost hadn’t included the chapter about her relationship, as it went against her usually deeply private outlook.
However, she said it would have been “cheating” to leave it out, as Alex went on to admit that Kelly had been her first love and held a special place in her life’s journey.
Alex explained: “I thought I’d be cheating you all if I didn’t put that in there. And for me, it’s like that first love story, I fell madly and deeply in love.
"And yes, there’s that heartbreak and those things, but it’s a huge part of my life and I wouldn’t go back and change that.
“Because that feeling of love and that excitement and what it gives you, it needed to be in there.”
Alex and Kelly both signed for Arsenal back in 2005.
Kelly, then 24, joined after playing in America, while Alex had been playing for Birmingham.
In 2009 they transferred together to play with the Boston Breakers, one of just seven teams competing in the inaugural Women’s Professional Soccer league.
Both women later moved back to the UK in 2012, when the women’s GB team were playing in the London Olympics – much to the delight of the home audience.
Now aged 43, Kelly has since gone on to marry management consultant DeAnna Dobosz, with whom she has two children.
She first spoke publicly about her battle with alcohol in 2009, as she revealed she had turned to alcohol to help her through her injuries as a young soccer player in the US.
In 2004, when she returned to the UK, Kelly was determined to get her life back on track and checked into rehab, where she admitted herself that the treatment was “tough” but it helped her to beat her addiction and get back to the sport she loved.
Following her rehab stint, and their move to Boston, Kelly admitted things were definitely better the second time around – as she had Alex by her side supporting her every step of the way.
Alex’s heartfelt and deeply personal memoir will be released on Thursday, and details every aspect of her life including her traumatic upbringing with her estranged father Tony, while also exploring her footballing and subsequent broadcasting careers.
Speaking about how much the book means to her, Alex declared: “I wrote the book to be free. I wrote the book for my mum and I wrote the book just to have that weight lifted, to move forward.”
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