ENGLAND CAPTAIN STEPH Houghton has dedicated her 100th cap for her country, won yesterday, to her husband, ex-Liverpool defender Stephen Darby, who was recently diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.
Honoured, humbled and overwhelmed to be part of the @england #100Club 🏴
— Steph Houghton MBE (@stephhoughton2) November 11, 2018
Thank you to my past + present teammates, my club coaches, my England managers + staff who have had a huge influence on my @england career + created memories for a life time!... 1/2 pic.twitter.com/aBoPZvEGYr
But the BIGGEST thank you of all is to my family, esp Mam, Dad, Bro + my husband. Without your love + support through the highs/lows it wouldn’t of been possible! This is for you.... 💯❤️ pic.twitter.com/vwT4YzaohR
— Steph Houghton MBE (@stephhoughton2) November 11, 2018
The former Bolton and Bradford City player was forced to retire aged 29 in September off the back of the heartbreaking diagnosis.
His wife spoke publicly for the first time since the news broke after winning her 100th England cap in their 2-0 friendly loss to Sweden at New York Stadium.
The 30-year-old Manchester City skipper became the 11th female England player to hit the milestone, and while they suffered defeat, it was a memorable occasion
Houghton was presented with a commemorative Three Lionesses shirt beforehand and was joined pitch-side by her parents, brother, grandmother and husband Darby.
Welcome to the 💯 club, @stephhoughton2!#Steph100 pic.twitter.com/Qely88f2ZT
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) November 11, 2018
“I don’t want to mention too much about my personal life, but this one’s for my family, my husband,” she said afterwards, as quoted by The Telegraph’s Katie Whyatt, “who are there with you when there’s a lot of lows that people don’t really see away from the pitch.
“They’re the people that keep you grounded and keep you focused on what you’re supposed to do, which, for me, is to be the best captain I can be.
“I’ve never, ever set my sights on getting 100 – it’s more my family. My dad’s been counting down the caps for every single home game and he’s been to every single one I’ve played in England. I’m not setting myself goals.
“For me, my only focus is the World Cup coming up next year and playing well for Manchester City and this England team. That’s my only focus over the next six or seven months.”
The night before was an “emotional” and “special” one, she admitted, with video messages shared with her from family, friends and former team-mates who have hit the 100 club. A huge feat, marked accordingly with other lovely gestures.
England head coach Phil Neville praised the City stars’ humility and modesty afterwards, saying she was embarrassed by the hype, and added that he believes she can win up on 70 more caps.
“Steph’s not bothered, really, about her 100th cap. She wanted just to play the game. I think Steph’s overriding emotions will be, ‘Sod my 100th cap – I wanted to win the game of football.’
“Steph’s going to play on for another 50, 60, 70 caps. You always want to celebrate something as special as this with a victory, but it doesn’t take anything away from Steph’s achievement at all and the type of person she is.
“It means that she’s more worried about how the team are and how we can react to this.”
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He must really not like his brother.
Think it’s just good retirement planning by the parents. He signs his brother to take over the carers role.
A head scratcher if ever there was one.
Hate to slate a loyal servant but, it makes sense he allowed John afoa to go to Gloucester then.
Does make you wonder!
Not at all, that was a done deal long ago and Gloucester on sacked their present director last week.
NO ONE saw this coming, a real shocker!
Wow, I did not see that one coming! He was Mr Ulster, and I wouldn’t imagine he was anywhere near completing his objectives he had outlined with Ulster. Still, we should be able to attract a top class director. Conor O’Shea?
Big of a shock especially after the transformation that has happened up in Ulster the last few years…maybe he felt he couldn’t take them on any further?
Head coach
Mark Mc Call?
Not so strange. Frustration at the lack of success. By moving to Gloucester is he saying this is as far as I can take Ulster at this time? Is he saying that the powers that be do not share his ambition? What does Gloucester offer that he cannot achieve with Ulster? Shane Logan’s comments are curious, particularly regarding development as Ulster has a single representative in U20 in the junior world cup and a senior squad that can beat the best in Europe but has no trophies. Has the wrong man left Ulster?
That’s a strange one didn’t see that coming,are you any relation to charlize theron?
Hope it’s not a sign of things to come with the new financial clout of the premiership & top14 deals. I had worried about losing players but managers & directors are just as important.
Is it because there are simply too many too comfortable in their roles at Ulster paying lip service to sharing the vision or is it because he has read which way the financial wind is blowing?
Sad day for Ulster Rugby. Brilliant player, captain and leader. He spotted and attracted the best players and brought them to Belfast.
After 91 years you just can’t write off Ravenhill and its rugby history despite new stadium name. More to this story.
But can they afford to let ambition walk out the door?
If David was the director of rugby what was the title for Mark Anscombe ?
Coach
It was probably in the works for a while, but just officially announced today, in case it was a distraction during the tail end of the season. Real surprise though