In Focus with Lucy Bronze and Alex Scott

BBC-podkast on suurin poliitunut. Osoitteessa kiekuviiväkanamunat pistefi. Mitä se vielä ootok? Mä oon tärkeää. Mä oon tärkeää. Mä oon tärkeää. Mä oon tärkeää. Mä oon tärkeää. It's my hyper focus, football. Okay, so then what happens then? It's like towards the end. I'm just, don't know. Everyone's like, we're so worried about it. I'm football anymore, but I'll just find something else. Like even now with football, my head's everywhere with it, like because I'm so obsessed, not even just playing, like, the boardroom, like the coach and the physios. Like, everyone will know that I somehow have an answer to everyone because I'm so obsessed with it all. So does your brain ever stop? No. Because you're like, hey, you're saying you're just obsessed with it. It's not just one thing you're already thinking about that and becoming obsessed with that as well. Yeah, I mean, that's one thing I really struggle with, like, sleep. I always have since I was a baby. My mum was like, you never. She always says that's the reason my sister's so much younger than me because I couldn't sleep, so then she couldn't sleep. But yeah, my brain's just like 100 miles an hour, like all the time, even laying in bed. And then I was like, just had a sleep expert and they said, just, uh, before we got a bed, like, right notes, like what you're thinking. And I was like, I'm right a book, then. Like, I must've just write a book every night before bed. I was like, that's not going to work. Just have to like exert some energy. Like, I've just got too much energy all the time. Is there a way that it does affect you on the pitch then? Or is that way? Wait, when I was playing, you can play centre-back. No, you have to play full-back this game, coach. Well, the thing is, is that again, something that I found out, I think maybe my mum might have known this, but like, something that's really good for, well, ADHD especially. On autism, having your focus, but like exercise, having that focus, having something to do, and like, keep it moving, like, that keeps me like, some training every day, as amazing for me. Even though I was like, are you sure you're 33? Like, you don't have stuff, I'm like, this is my superpower. I love that you can call it a superfowl, because it changes the way, and I suppose it changes the stigma around it also, right? I feel like that's something that, when I was younger, when I think now that my mum didn't want that test, I feel like it was because of that, and it was like, is she going to be like, seen as a problem, or this is an issue and stuff, which I think a long time ago would have been, until sometimes now maybe, but I do think times are changing, and people are realizing, like, I think there's so many people out there who are neurodiverse, who don't even know it, but they're just so successful, or just living life, and they found their focus, and they found their way to have the right people around them, have the right support, and just carry on with life, and not need to be assessed, and not need to feel like they're any different, because they're not, like, it's just who you are, and you find a way to make it work best for you, and I'm lucky I found my family, my friends who always understood our loses, that's just Lucy, and I found football, so I found all these things that meant that, everything that I've got because of autism is like, worked into my advantage, basically. Do you know what, even who you say that? Do you think there is so many people, I suppose, that are just masking? It's like, to, well, what people would say, to fit in, so it's like, they copy behaviours of others. I've copied behaviours of others, I think, all through my 20s. Really? Yeah, when I first came to England, I would not speak to anyone. Yeah, this trip. That makes you spoke to me. That's what you do. That's what you do. And, yanks, so the two that I felt like, come up with, and then there was, all of us, and my friends, the young a lot. Like, I think, Casey Stoney might have said, "I don't think you've ever looked me in the Iron Spoke, maybe I think it's not anything to do with you, it was me." Like, I just couldn't have like, this kind of conversation with people, I just had to, like, I would just watch, like, Jill, or watch Jill's behaviour and think, "Oh, she speaks to everyone." Like, what's she doing? Like, I just copied that a bit, and I'm obviously better at it now, but it's still like, hugging people. I can't, I contact when you speak. Those two things I'm like, have to learn, because I think they're seen as like, the norm, and the two things that make me so uncomfortable. But, I will say with the hugging one, I have got to a place now where people like, obviously it doesn't like hugs, it's fine. So they don't judge me for not doing it. Whereas before, I was actually so cold, the older I was like, I'm not cold, so then I had to learn to be like, through grit or tea. Literally, I was like, "Ha, this is lovely." Well, I speak into people as well. It was so frustrating because I feel like, I had to do that to make other people feel comfortable, but it made me more uncomfortable. Because I literally didn't like it. Whereas you don't dislike this. This isn't making you uncomfortable. You just think, "I'm rude." Whereas it's actually making me feel really uncomfortable, but I have to mask and try to do something for you, because it's a norm. So this is why this piece is so important, because it's not even people that think, "Okay, I need to go and get tested to be diagnosed." It's for everyone to understand. Yeah. You know, I think that's what I find fascinating. It's not just about one person, it's about everyone. But I think that's why I feel like I was so lucky to be around when I think of my life, friends and family, who just was comfortable with me being however I wanted to be. And I don't think everybody has that, because there's an expectation that you should hug people in England, or you should look at them in the eye when they speak into them. Or like, you shouldn't, you should sit still if someone's talking and listen, like, you shouldn't be fiddling with your hair or your feet or whatever. So yeah, it's just important for everybody to understand like the differences in people. And what they might perceive as something is actually making that other person uncomfortable. If anything, I felt more comfortable with you than being around loud other people. Yeah. Like, I just felt I would always be myself with you. But I think that's, well, that's the number thing, like all loud noises, loud sounds and things, things like that is also like something that for people with autism can be a problem as well. And sometimes those environments don't really help that. And I think I felt that a little bit as well. It was like, I need to stay away from that a little bit because it's straining me. But yeah, there was people that I found more comfort with and didn't really judge me for not. And you know what, it's like in England, I think someone said to me, "Isn't it crazy that you went like abroad and did all these things to meet new people?" I was like, "Yeah, but I went to places where there wasn't a certain way to be." And they were super diverse teams. And when I'm in a diverse team, I just, I'm normal because everybody's so different. That's so interesting. And that's what I figured out. Like, when I was in England comes younger, everybody has to be the same. Yeah. I'd stick out like a so-or-foam. Everyone has to be the same when you get to the older age groups because there's a certain way that we do things when we play for England. And I think, last five years, I've just been like, "I don't care anyone, I'm going to do what." It makes me feel comfortable and know that the likes of Phil Neville and Serena are like, "As long as you're doing what's best for you." And the right things then, be you? The Lucy, how you've explained that in terms of being in team meetings and kind of feeling away about yourself, to the leader that you are now within that team. So how are you when younger players come through? I think all you're in players, am I? Because I'm still just this excitable kid at the same time. Like, as much as I am an older player, like, I can keep up with them. My interactions with them are very different. Like, maybe it's what someone, like Millie, who's equally one of the older players, is maybe a bit different to her. But I think they just see me as someone who's like, "I'm just always myself." And just hear there and everywhere, but then on the pitch, I'm like, "I'm always Lucy bronze, I'm always doing my best, I'm always trying hardest, even if maybe sometimes it looks like I'm messing about, I'm just doing something different to other people." And for me, I think that's actually like, an aspect of a model to have that everyone doesn't have to be the same in this environment. You can be different and be successful as long as you're doing what you need to for the team when it comes to the big moments and stuff. I've seen your relationship with LJ. Lauren, do you feel like you're taking her under your wing in that environment? I've always said about LJ, she's someone who I look at who's been misunderstood. And I've always felt that when I was younger, her age and maybe in certain circumstances, people are like, "Oh, this is so angry," or she's this or she's acting out or she's not listening. I watch people say things about Lauren. I'm like, that's not her. Like, you're not really seeing who she really is. You're just comparing it to what you think un-anormous. And I think that's probably why, yeah, I've always been really close to her. Try to look at, I mean, she's not a baby, but I like looking after her just because it really annoys me when I think people are so misunderstood and because of that, like, treated differently. It's different, though, right, between how it is in women and men. Yeah, I mean, I guess the traits could be seen a little bit different. And I think there's a thing with kids at school and maybe, again, it's like a bad stereotype to say, "Oh, like, the boys who have got too much energy and they must behave and it's because of this, this and this, whereas it is a bit more common that girls may be masked things a little bit better than boys, but that's kind of generalizing everybody. But yeah, I guess the same as just how different traits show differently in different people. There's people who I like play with now or previously, and now that I know so much more and I've learnt more, I'm like, I can see these traits and other players that I've played with. And for me, I look at them and go, I think that's why they're good at football. Because I think it's such a good thing, like I'm so happy about it, is I guess uncomfortable to talk about, just because it's something new and different and not everybody understands, but I think it's something amazing. So would you tell now, whoever you could advise them, be like, go and get tested, go and get diagnosed? Yeah, and I think if you feel like uncomfortable or maybe that you don't fit in in certain places, like go and find out the assessment itself is like super straightforward in the fact that you feel really comfortable, like the process is really nice in that respect and finding out everything. You get the information, you get to sit and talk through it all to understand. I do know that I was, I do feel very fortunate that I was obviously in the England setting, so they helped me with that getting that diagnosis. I do know it's a little bit harder, there's a bit more of a way in list, but I do, I would encourage people to get a diagnosis and to learn more about themselves, to go through the process, not only of like the actual test itself, but even just looking more into it in books, on the internet and things, there's so much out there to read and to learn, even if it's not for yourself, it might be for a loved one or just educate yourself in general about the differences in people and neurodiversity. Hopefully me speaking them out, people will be a bit more open and not see it as like a stigma to big diagnoses a certain thing, it's not going to, you're not going to suddenly change, like that is who you are and understanding who you are, even better, it's such a good thing to have. Is there medication available and have you considered? I know that there's medication for ADHD. I was offered it and I can't take it whilst playing football and it, first of all, I'm like, maybe it's a good thing, maybe I'll be able to sit still and focus and do what other people do. And then I was like, no, I don't want that. So boring, I like the way I think it's made me who I am and I think it has made me so successful at football, especially, and maybe if I had a different job where I wasn't as free to, and doing as much exercise and things, maybe it might have been something I thought about, but yeah, I got to a point, I was like, what if this is like negative, what if like it completely changes me? Like, yeah, I go super active right now and then sometimes I'll be like completely crashed from social experiences. But I like how I don't want to change it. Is that why you feel ready to sit down and talk about this now because you feel so comfortable in yourself? Yeah, I think like, I couldn't have done this 10 years ago. And even now it's a little bit like uncomfortable just because it's not something I speak about a lot. But yeah, like, I'm in a place in my life, I'm in my career, people accept me. I think people sometimes go, oh, that's Lucy. And I've got to wear with that because I've become like Lucy bronze at football. But yeah, that's given me like, I guess, the platform to be so comfortable in myself. But I just hope that I don't want that for other people. Like, they should just be comfortable straight off the bat. I'm just in such a good place now where this is not going to affect me. It's not going to make people look at me differently because I'm so happy with who I am and the way I hold myself, whether it's with England, with Chelsea in life, in football. Like, I'm completely cool with it. And if someone else has a problem with me, that's not my solution. Yeah, it's not me. And I don't think I could have stood up and said that maybe five or six years ago. Do you feel that now though, that you said you're so comfortable within yourself, that if you earn an environment that you would just be open to on us and be like, well, yeah, I think, especially now, that I feel like I just don't see it as a bad thing at all. And I think too many people have, or maybe still do. And I think it's the best, the best thing ever. One of my favourite films, The Accountant. I haven't seen it. You need to see it. Watch that. Not why, what's it? Because there's, I can't spoil the ending for you. But there's a guy on it. And I was just like, he's so cool. He's like ten steps ahead of everybody. I can't tell you. Oh, now I need to go watch it. You need to go watch it. It's one of my favourite films because it's not a superhero film. But basically the guy who is the superhero, essentially in the end, he is autistic, but he's unbelievable. He's just amazing. And the person who gets him the most is his brother. Together they basically can do anything. And not only just sharing your story right now, but this is the start of something bigger, because I know you're going to start a project. Yes, so I'm going to become an ambassador for the National Autistic Society, also known as NAS. Yeah, and just, I guess, being an ambassador, working alongside them, raising awareness in some way, and I guess being like a role model of someone who has autism and just raising awareness, I think getting rid of the stigma, especially for me, is something that, personally, I hold really close to my heart, just because I think there's times in my life where maybe things might have been a bit easier for me if I didn't feel like there was a stigma there that I could have openly spoke about it. And yeah, I guess, especially for me, especially for younger boys and girls, just being so happy with who they are, I think that's something that I absolutely love. Charities that work with children, especially, I've always been someone who stands up for children, and I think being misunderstood when you're younger is so difficult, which is why I wanted to, you know, join the charity be like an ambassador, help people as much as I can, and I'm saying children, but anyone of any ages, just for me, specifically, growing up as a child that was misunderstood, I don't want that for anybody else. Oh, I think you sharing your stories, definitely going to do this, because Lucia, I always use Qilisia, so it's not going to change now. You are an inspiration both on and off the pitch, so I appreciate you taking the time to share your story and it is going to help so many people. Oh, so, yeah, right. A game of passion, rivalry and loyalty, but decades ago beneath the cheers and the chance lay a different kind of warfare called hooliganism. On a match, Dave. Everyone was your enemy. Everyone was going to kill you. We look over the bruisell, bloody battles we're punching for Loda Belt was a way of life. It was just a day of my hand. It's a day you dream of. Join me, Tony Belly, as we are from those bruising for a fight in the name of the fairs that they belong to. We hide it and we hunt it and we bat it and nothing like in a white football. Something they called the English disease. We were destroying the football club, the game I love. Gangster presents Hooligans. Listen on BBC Sounds. BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts. The game was about to end. We played the game, we played the game and we played the game. But then we got to play the game. But then we got to play the game and we played the game. And then we got to play the game. And then we got to play the game.