Tottenham Women star Beth England nominated for EA Sports FC Team of the Year for 2023
Tottenham Women’s star Beth England had a stellar 2023, and that has been reflected in her recent nomination for the EA Sports FC Women’s Team of the Year.
On a personal level, the 2023/24 season has not been a memorable one so far for Spurs’ captain.
Although there have been clear signs of progress under Robert Vilahamn, who led his team to their first-ever win over north London rivals Arsenal Women with a 1-0 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (16 December), England has hardly been a part of that progress.
She spent the first part of the season sidelined by injury and has only recently returned to the fold. Nonetheless, while the last quarter of the year was full of struggle, that shouldn’t take away from a brilliant first nine months of 2023 for the England international striker.
It is for these first nine months that England has seen herself nominated for the first-ever EA Sports FC Women’s Team of the Year for 2023 (Tottenham Hotspur Official Website, 8 January).
England is one of 61 top-flight players who have been shortlisted for the digital team, in recognition of her scintillating form last year.
Upon her arrival in north London last January from Chelsea Women, it is fair to say that England settled in quickly to life at Hotspur Way, making an instant impact on the pitch. Her 13 goals in 13 WSL appearances helped Spurs to steer clear of relegation from the division and saw her finish third in the league’s scoring charts – only behind Aston Villa’s Rachel Daly and Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw.
Although she only spent the second half of the 2022/23 season with the club, England finished as Tottenham’s top-scorer and was rewarded for her brilliant club form with a call-up to Sarina Weigman’s England Women’s World Cup squad.
The Lionesses reached the World Cup final where they were beaten by Spain, with England’s commitment to the cause revealed by her recent admission that she was suffering from Hip Dysplasia throughout the tournament, which meant she was putting her career on the line every time she stepped off the bench and onto the pitch (The Guardian, 15 December).
Although she didn’t get on the scoresheet from open play, she did find the back of the net during the penalty shoot-out victory over Nigeria in the Round of 16 and gave her all every time she stepped onto the field.
Vilahamn will be keen to see that same commitment and desire when Tottenham return to action on Sunday 14 January with an FA Women’s Cup tie against Sheffield United Women.
With the club yet to kick a ball in 2024, England will be boosted by her recent nomination and will be hoping to go one better and build on her success from the previous calendar year.
In other Tottenham news, the club are deciding on whether or not to sign an Ajax gem as his contract comes to an end in Amsterdam.