North Carolina Courage’s Millie Farrow admits it is “crazy” to see how far she has come following struggles with her mental health.
Having started playing football from an early age, Farrow joined Chelsea’s centre of excellence before signing her first professional contract at 19.
Despite the enjoyment she got from the game, she began to struggle with panic attacks from as young as 10 and was later diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder.
Farrow’s struggles led her to write a book, Brave Enough Not to Quit, which was published earlier this year, and she said it was emotional to see how far she had come.
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“I’ve done the book, but I’m continuing with the career, all the struggles and stuff I wrote about, I’m still living with them,” the 27-year-old told the PA news agency.
“But I’m dealing with them so much better, which has resulted in me being able to live a much happier life and a much more stress-free life.
“It’s crazy to see how far I’ve come and to look back.
“It’s emotional to read about your own story and remind yourself of the really difficult situations I’ve been in and the really tough places I’ve dragged myself out of.”
Although her struggles began when she was 10, it took Farrow until she was 14 to ask her parents for help.
The forward played for Chelsea, Reading and Leicester in the Women’s Super League, but it took a long time to adjust to playing and coping with her OCD.
“As my career started to get more serious, so did the anxiety and the OCD,” she said.
“Because it’s a stress-related illness, it’s very hard to control and deal with, especially when you’re in a high-pressure career and a lot of that came down to me putting pressure on myself.
“It took me a long time to adjust to playing with OCD and still trying to be 100 per cent, give 100 per cent effort, perform at 100 per cent while having these battles in my head and it was extremely hard to do.”
Farrow believes even a couple of years ago she would not have managed to make the move to America, where she now plays for National Women’s Soccer League side North Carolina Courage.
“It’s not an easy life here – I’m fighting for a spot, I’m competing and trying to prove myself in a new team, new environment, new league,” she added.
“I’m away from family and friends, building a life in a completely different country, it’s not an easy thing to do and it’s something I never thought I’d be able to do.
“Two or three years ago I would look at that challenge and think there’s no way I’d survive or be able to do it without wanting to come home.
“Even though the story is based on being a professional footballer or the journey that I went through to get there, this kind of story can resonate with anyone.”
The profile of women’s football in England has increased markedly in recent years and Farrow believes players have “adapted” to the growth of the game, with all eyes set to be on this summer’s World Cup, which gets under way in Australia and New Zealand next month.
“I went to a lot of the games in the Euros (in 2022), the atmosphere was insane – filling out stadiums, seeing how the public reacted to it and how many fans,” she said.
“Everyone’s kind of jumping on the women’s football bandwagon now, whereas a few years ago it wasn’t televised as much, media coverage wasn’t there and now that’s completely changed in a matter of years.
“It’s definitely important for the girls to have that kind of support, but because they’ve been in the game since a young age and they’ve gone through the age groups, academies and England age groups as well, they are well prepared for something like this.
“You can see the players have adapted and are adapting to the amount of media coverage they’re getting. They’re essentially celebrities now, they’re famous.”
Guardiola: Foden can still get better after Player of the Year award
Pep Guardiola thinks Phil Foden can still get better, after the 23-year-old winning the Premier League’s Player of the Year.
Foden has been a pivotal part of City’s title challenge this season, scoring 17 goals and providing eight assists in the top-flight in 2023-24.
It is the youngster’s most prolific scoring season for City, while only six players have bettered Foden’s goal haul in the Premier League.
When asked about the strides that Foden has made this season, leading him to the award, Guardiola praised the England international’s influence on the squad.
"Obviously, he makes a step forward as a football player. In terms of minutes or time, but he's decisive in winning games," Guardiola said.
"Maybe before it was a glimpse of action, but now it's consistent. That is the truth, but they still have a margin. Sometimes his game is overexcited, it's over, and you have to be more calm because his excitement he has for himself, but we'll have question of time, but this season has been really, really important. Really, really important."
Foden has bettered his tally of 11 goals from last season and leads City’s squad for chances created this campaign with 68.
"He's moving forward, but I had the feeling he can be better, and I think he can do it because I've said many times, that he loves football," Guardiola added.
"He enjoys being on the pitch, and I think the feeling doesn't like when you have the day off.
"He likes to be in the training session doing less or more and I had the feeling it still can be better."
Manchester City can win a fourth-consecutive Premier League title on Sunday against West Ham, if they can match or better Arsenal's result.
Objectives met: Shabazz pleased with Golden Jaguars' showing despite losses to T&T
Despite losing both friendly encounters to Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana senior men’s Head coach Jamaal Shabazz says their objectives were met, as the players that made the trip to the twin island republic gained invaluable experience that will assist to shape their future in the sport.
The Golden Jaguars lost 1-2 and 0-2 to Angus Eve’s Soca Warriors at the Crawford Stadium, in Port of Spain, but for Shabazz, the fixtures served their purpose of gauging the readiness of players, who competed in recently concluded Round One of the KFC Elite League Season, especially with the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers scheduled to get under way next month.
“We did not win, but a lot of questions were answered as to who is ready to move into our full international squad. We achieved our other objectives. We got higher level match practice for the likes of Daniel Wilson, Kelsey Benjamin, Curtez Kellman, Colin Nelson and Ryan Hackett, all of whom travel with our first team. We gave valuable exposure to players like Marcus Tudor, Simeon Moore, Chris Macey and Stephen McDonald, just to name a few,” Shabazz shared.
“It is clear that player for player we were able to match our opponents. Some boys gave a good account of themselves, and some were a bit nervous. Most importantly, the lads would have learnt a few lessons for their future, like the margin for error at international level is small and the need for more composure in front of goal,” he added.
Aside from those he mentioned, Shabazz also had three overseas-based players from Canada, France and the United States, in his 24-member squad, and by all indications, a few more might be assessed, as the tactician prepares to select his final squad for the qualifiers.
Guyana will contest Group D of the qualifiers, alongside Panama, Montserrat, Belize and Nicaragua. They are set to open against Panama in Panama City on June 6, followed by the Belize encounter on June 11 in Barbados.
Shabazz expressed gratitude for the continued support in gifting local-based players the opportunity to showcase their potential, and challenge for spots in the final squad.
“I must thank the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Football Federation for enabling this exposure for the home-based players. At least twice a year we should get these types of matches for home-based players to develop,” Shabazz noted.
Guardiola: Other clubs have a chance to win the title against Man City
Pep Guardiola believes that other clubs do have the chance to win the Premier League while he is the Manchester City manager.
Guardiola has led the Citizens to five top-flight titles in his seven seasons in charge, including each of the last three in a row.
They have the opportunity to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League campaign – they must match or better Arsenal’s result on the final day against West Ham to finish top of the table.
Asked what he thought about the narrative that suggested other teams struggle to win the title while he is at City, Guardiola immediately brushed the idea aside.
He said: "It is wrong, look at the margin. If every season I won by 20 points, then I would say yes I am a genius, I'm so good, but it's not.
"The Premier League we won against Liverpool they could have won. Arsenal can win, we can win. It's like that.
"My judgement about the team, about how we behave, nothing changed, nothing changed. My opinion of Liverpool this year has not changed, whether they have won or not won.
"I know here there is just a prize for the winners and the winners smell good and everyone won a copy and everything, but it's not.
"It's not the case because behind of arriving here in the last press conference of the season before the last game of the Premier League there are a lot of work, like Liverpool was and Arsenal have been this season."
Guardiola was also quick to highlight the hard work of everybody at the club during their title challenge.
"It's not because of what we have done in the past gives you this season, it's completely the opposite," he continued.
"There are a lot of work for all departments. How many my backroom staff, the medical department, the physio department, how they care all the seasons, every single few, few injuries.
"Injuries are always there, but the balance is ridiculous, how good it is, and that's because there is a lot of work, they care about the players and the people, you know, every single day, hours and hours being above the players, you have to do this, you have to do this, you have to do this to be fit. So otherwise, we cannot be where we are."
The City manager was also asked about his future at the club, and whether he would be continuing past the end of the season.
"Yeah, I have a contract. I want to be here next season, yes," he added.
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