Millie Bright

“I don't know where horse riding could have taken me, and it's something I can always go back to when I've retired from football, but the crossroads came in my life when Chelsea wanted to sign me and make me a professional footballer in 2013 when I was 20.”

“Women's football will always be different from men's football, but that doesn't mean you cannot still appreciate it. OK, so it might be a bit slower than the men's game, but then League Two football is slower than the Champions League, and it doesn't stop people turning out to see their local teams.”

“I'm happy staying in the World Cup bubble with England and eliminating the distractions. Besides, I want to enjoy every minute of this unique experience, and I don't want to look back and think that I was just sat on my phone.”

“There are times when you might have a bad training session or a bad day, and although I would often go to a team-mate to have a chat if that were the case, it's also great to have the option of expressing your thoughts in a journal if you don't want to bother anyone.”

“Football is my priority. It's a short career, and you have to make the most of it, which is why making the World Cup squad is such a big deal and something I will never take for granted.”

“I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.”

“I think I've always been regarded as a mentally strong person and a tough character, but it took me a while to reach a point where I realised that internalising your emotions wasn't doing me any good.”

“I was probably on a horse before the age of three. From a very young age, I could ride on my own, work, trot, you name it.”

“The fans have been amazing at Kingsmeadow, and we've really settled in. It's our new home, and we want to embrace that and perform for the fans.”

“People just need to be open-minded enough to accept the game for what it is. If you don't want to see it, then you're never going to appreciate it, which is fine; it's your choice. But we appreciate not being slated in the meantime.”

“When you get the relationships right and get to know each other, it really translates onto the pitch.”

“You can go back into equestrianism any time - we've got a yard back home in Sheffield, and the horses are still there. They're just on hold for the moment. I can't ride and play football; it's too much of a risk.”

“I got to a point where I was doing county-level shows, but it was dressage that I really loved where, effectively, the horses are dancing. At one point, I was a groom for Hannah Esberger, who has competed for Great Britain and has seven national championship titles.”

“Top players now will get bonuses for winning competitions or reaching various stages of them, scoring goals, or keeping clean sheets, but most don't play football for the money, because it's not been in the game that long. They do it for the love of playing.”

“Being vice-captain at Chelsea, I've learned to manage my emotions better this season and have matured massively, but part of that is embracing those feelings of disappointment rather than suppressing them and pretending everything is OK.”