Lucy Staniforth: Former England midfielder ‘at ease’ with decision to retire from football

York-born Staniforth was one of a handful of Lionesses who excelled at academies in the north-east of England and went on to successful careers.

She broke into Sunderland’s first team at the age of 16 and was close friends with Lucy Bronze; He was sharing training sessions with his former teammate and current England defender.

Midfielder Staniforth, known for his clever movements and passing range, ended his career at Villa, having made more than 50 appearances in all competitions.

It hasn’t been a smooth ride, however, as he suffered back-to-back anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in different knees in 2014, causing him to miss almost three seasons.

“I feel very lucky to be able to go to the places I’ve been and meet the people I’ve met,” Staniforth added.

“Football ended up being my life. It made me who I am and it’s all I know. It’s a huge thing and I loved it. Sometimes I hated it because it was really hard!

“There are so many moments where you question your worth. That’s something I’ve struggled with throughout my career, knowing who I am off the field.

“I’m excited right now because I’m not ‘football Lucy’ anymore. It may be hard to accept as we go forward, but right now it excites me.”

Away from the game, Staniforth hopes to “discover a new part of himself” and learn to celebrate his achievements.

“I’ve probably been very hard on myself my whole career. I always wanted to achieve great things and be this great player with the hall of fame,” he added.

“I’ve learned that even though everything is so hard, I’m very resilient. I just have to say, ‘Fair play, it’s not easy.’

“I can overcome anything and I’m really proud that I’ve been able to do that and still reach the pinnacle of my career.

“I tried not to take life too seriously. I always tried to be a great teammate and lift everyone’s morale. I hope these skills will lead me to success after football.”