Nearly two decades on, England fans should feel thankful it’s football one, tax audits nil. A defender for both Manchester City and the national side, Bronze is now considered one of the finest footballers in the women’s game.
We meet on a radiant Monday at St George’s Park, the FA’s immaculate, 330-acre national football centre in Burton upon Trent, where England teams of all ages and genders prepare for matches.
Earlier in the day, Bronze and 22 other players were named in England’s squad for this summer’s Uefa Euro 2017 tournament in Holland.
Having finished third in 2015’s World Cup, a performance that elevated the women’s game to new heights in this country, the team find themselves among the tournament’s favourites.
The announcement from their young manager, Mark Sampson, came earlier than normal. Many saw it as a statement of confidence. He already knows his best players, so why faff around?