Beth Mead made history again again on Wednesday night, becoming the first female footballer to receive the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award for her outstanding performance for both club and nation.
The 27-year-old beat out England cricketer Ben Stokes, former curler Eve Muirhead, and snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan, while England Women’s head coach Sarina Wiegman took home the Coach of the Year award. England Women were selected Team of the Year as well.
Euro 2022 Beth Mead
The main reason Mead got the award is because she was a key member of the England group that won Euro 2022 in the summer.
She won the Golden Boot after scoring six goals in the tournament and was instrumental in England’s 2-1 victory against Germany in the final at Wembley. She was also named UEFA’s Tournament Player of the Tournament.
It was a momentous day for the England squad, which is why she was honoured with the trophy. It was England Women’s first major title, which is why Sarina Wiegman and the squad as a whole were honoured at the awards ceremony.
Beth Mead outstanding Arsenal form
Beth Mead has also been a crucial player for Arsenal throughout the calendar year, which has definitely contributed to her strong performances at Euro 2022. Her form was all the more amazing given that she was dropped out of Team GB’s selection for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Mead had 14 goals and 19 assists in 40 games for the Gunners in the 2021/22 season, behind only Vivianne Miedema in offensive production.
The 27-year-strong old’s form continued for Arsenal in the second half of 2022, with five goals and five assists in nine games throughout the WSL and the UEFA Women’s Champions League thus far. Unfortunately, her form has been cut short by a major ACL injury, which has ended her season prematurely.
It’s unclear if she’ll be able to compete at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this summer.
Mead’s reaction receiving the SPOTY award
Mead is the 13th individual woman to receive the honour, and the sixth football player to do so in its 68-year existence.
Mead was quick to put the emphasis back on the aim of getting women’s football and sport closer to the level of popularity and respect that men’s football and sport enjoys.
“I’m overjoyed to have won this honour. I couldn’t have done it without those females and the crew that supported me. Yes, I have this award, I performed my job, I scored a few goals, but I couldn’t have done it without them,” Mead said.
“And I surely wouldn’t have done it without my mother, my dad and all my relatives.
“But, most importantly, this is for women’s sport, and for women’s sport moving in the correct path. So let’s keep pushing the girls and doing the right thing.”
Mead received the trophy on the same evening that Arsenal defeated FC Zurich 9-1 in their last UWCL group game, guaranteeing their passage to the next round by topping a group that included included champions Lyon and Serie A Femminile champions Juventus.
