‘I had to watch my grandad’s funeral online while playing for England’ [Video]

Growing up in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Bethany England spent precious time hanging out with her grandad. They shared a love of football that fuelled her early passion for the game.

‘He was a big part of playing football with me in the park and I was around him a lot,’ says the Tottenham and England striker, 29, with a fond smile.

However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Bethany’s family received the devastating news that her grandad
Barry had been diagnosed with skin cancer.

‘He’d already had bowel cancer and got through that, but during Covid he found a mole which had gone too far,’ Bethany says.

Watching the impact the diagnosis had on her family was tough, she admits.

‘Seeing my mum having almost to be his primary caregiver throughout such a difficult time, on top of caring for my nan as well, was heartbreaking at times.

‘I live so far away from …