Leading From The Back: My journey to the top of women's football

This is the inspiring memoir of one of football's greatest players, Steph Houghton, in which she recounts the highs and lows of making it to the top of her game as England captain, star of the London Olympics, and Manchester City stalwart, via Sunderland, Leeds, and Arsenal.With 121 caps for the Lionesses, Steph has been at the heart of the women's football revolution, inspiring girls and young women around the world, but in her own understated way. In Leading from the Back, Steph candidly describes what it takes to reach the top of women's football when the odds are against you.Inside, she shares her dreams of becoming professional as a young girl in Sunderland and how reaching that status has been a long and often difficult journey, with many personal struggles both on and off the pitch. In between, she recounts the amazing highs of playing for her country, making history at the Olympics, lifting cups for her team, and the awe-inspiring people she has encountered along the way.This is not only Steph's personal story but also the story of women's football in England and internationally. Steph is one of the greatest influences in elevating the women's game to new heights.A remarkable journey of unwavering determination that reveals the grit needed to stay true to yourself and what it really takes to be a leader—this is the full and incredible story of a sports pioneer, 'Super Steph'.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Steph Houghton, MBE, was a pioneer of the women's game and contributed significantly to its growth. Steph has previously captained both the women's England team, the Lionesses, and Manchester City. She has won 121 caps for her country and twice represented Great Britain. She created history for Team GB in the London 2012 Olympics by scoring the country's first goal in women's football, and she later competed in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. After joining Sunderland, she has also played for Leeds United and Arsenal. Steph departed from Manchester City in 2024 after a decade, and she was soon recognised in the Football Museum's Hall of Fame.