Jill Scott’s road to becoming a Lioness, life outside football & running a business

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jill Scott (00:02):
Manchester will always be a very special place to me because
there's so many memories here, and so many more to make
as well. Prince William we kind of... Our paths crossed
a few times through football, and I accidentally slipped and wiped
him out. Sitting next to Boy George washing dishes and
he's singing Karma Chameleon, I'm like-

Alex Legouix (00:20):
So surreal.

Jill Scott (00:20):
... what is going on?

This is Show on the Road brought to you by
Autotrader. We're driving famous faces on a personalized road trip,
visiting the places that helped shape them, and hearing how
the locations turned them into who they are today. We've
matched each celebrity with a car chosen specifically for them.
So, join me Alex Legouix as we get this show

(00:44):
on the road. I'm about to meet former England footballer
Jill Scott, who had a fantastic 2022 after winning the
Euros with the Lionesses, and then ending the year on
a real high as she was crowned Queen of the
Jungle in I'm a Celeb. We've come to Jill's adoptive

(01:04):
home of Manchester where she spent eight years playing for
Man City and is amazingly still working here now as...
Well, serving guests in her own coffee shop. So, we've
matched Jill with a Mercedes G- Class, so I'm really excited
to see what she thinks about this very impressive beast.

Jill Scott (01:26):
No way, is it actually a G- Wagon? Yes, this
is my favorite car in the entire world. Wow, this
is so nice. Woo.

Well, hello.

Jill Scott (01:44):
Oh my God, I'm so excited that this is the
car. This is my favorite car in the whole world.

What do you think?

Jill Scott (01:51):
And I knew it was going to be green, so I went for a
green jacket.

You match it perfectly.

Jill Scott (01:56):
Oh my God, this is so nice. So, when I got out of the Jungle,
I got one of these for a couple of months and I loved it.

No, did you?

Jill Scott (02:02):
Yeah, but I was trying to get one. I said, "
Will somebody just let us drive one for literally a
day?" Because I just think they're brilliant, but yeah, it's my favorite
car in the whole world, so-

Is it?

Jill Scott (02:12):
Yeah. They say don't get into cars with strangers, but I know you so it's okay.
Yeah, this is lovely.

Isn't it nice?

Jill Scott (02:19):
It is. Are you liking driving it?

Yeah, I love it so far.

Jill Scott (02:22):
So nice.

I know. It's got all sorts of exciting features. Are you
warm enough?

Jill Scott (02:28):
Yeah, because it's got a heated seat.

Yeah.

Jill Scott (02:30):
Yeah.

Yeah.

Jill Scott (02:31):
I've got a story about heated seats.

Go on.

Jill Scott (02:33):
So, I took my grandma for a drive once and we were driving for
ages, and she went really quiet. And I was like, "Grandma, are you okay?" And she was like, " Yeah, I'm
fine." I said, " I've heated your seat for you." And she was like, "
So glad you've told us that, I thought I'd weed myself."
So, that was the first time-

That's amazing.

Jill Scott (02:48):
... I realised about heated seats.

So, we're on our way initially to Platt Lane.

Jill Scott (02:56):
Platt Lane.

Your former training grounds.

Jill Scott (02:59):
Yeah, yeah. It just makes you smile. Look, I just smile when
you say Platt Lane.

Really?

Jill Scott (03:03):
Yeah, it's great memories. I think when I first signed
for Manchester City, I was playing at Everton. Everton had
just started going professional, but we weren't full- time professional.
Whereas when I heard that Manchester City were reforming the
women's team, they had these big plans. Platt Lane was
where we first went, and yeah, it's an amazing facility.

(03:28):
I wonder if it'll look any different though to when I first went there.

Yeah, so you haven't been back for a while?

Jill Scott (03:33):
No, I haven't been back. I think it has changed
a little bit. What I remember vividly about it in my mind
is when we pulled up into the car park, there's
a football cage, which is like a really small football
pitch. And after training, our manager who was Nick Cushing
at the time, we were so lucky that we got him.
He came from the boys' game, and he'd always let
us have a little game of five- a- side in

(03:54):
this cage. So, it was like tricks and flicks. I
didn't have many of them, but it was just... I think
sometimes football can be too serious when you're full- time
professional, but he always let us have that just going
back to being kids and just having a mess about
in the cage.

As a child was it football straight away?

Jill Scott (04:14):
Yeah, yeah, from my earliest memories. My grandma reckons that
on my christening day when I was six months old,
my legs were just doing this the whole time. And she
reckons, I don't know if she's telling the truth, that she said
to my mum, " She's going to be a footballer." Which
is mad because girls weren't even playing football.

Yeah, so did you get it from anyone? Is there anyone
in your family who was a keen footballer?

Jill Scott (04:37):
Everyone tries to have a little claim to it, I think. They're like, "
I used to play at school." My dad used to
play, to be fair. My brother's quite a good player. My
brother was always faster than us, it used to do
my head in. He still is. But yeah, I think it was just
a mixture. My mum used to do a little bit
of running, my dad was quite fit, so I think
the fitness gene was probably in us. But as my

(05:00):
career went on, that used to really annoy us because
people used to say, " Yeah, well, you're not naturally fit." But if
you imagine being 35 and having to keep up with 18, 19- year-
olds, I had to do a lot of work on my fitness.
So, I was like, " I know I'm naturally fit, but
I am working hard as well."

Yes.

Jill Scott (05:17):
So, yeah, there was probably an element of both genetics
but then also working hard as well.

And that work ethic as well, I think if you
were around it or your family has it and it
becomes a bit of a natural thing. Did you find that?

Jill Scott (05:33):
Yeah. Yeah, definitely. My mum's very fit and healthy now.
It annoys us when I go home, I'm like, " Is
there no chocolate in this house?" And she's like, " I've
got a bit of dark chocolate." And I'm like, "It's just not the same,
is it?" But everything was like light butter, light Philadelphia. So, I think we were
always quite healthy in that sense, and even now having

(05:56):
a glass of fizzy pop to me is a treat
because we didn't really have it as kids. So, I
think we were grown up in probably a healthy lifestyle
without really knowing it at the time.

What do you think your strongest memories are of Platt Lane and-

Jill Scott (06:12):
Yeah, Platt Lane, my memories... My first two years at
Manchester City I fell in love with the game all
over again, I really did. I remember turning up and
I was like, " Oh my God, we'll get our kit
washed," and our kit was just ready for us. We
went into Platt Lane, we had breakfast, and I was like, "
Is this really my full- time job?" And this is at the

(06:34):
age of 26, so I'd had a lot of years
of traveling, but for the first time when I got
to Platt Lane, I was like I'm settled, I'm living
in Manchester, I haven't got this long journeys to do,
and it just felt professional. Honestly, every morning I woke
up I was just buzzing that I was a full- time
footballer, so yeah.

Did you feel like... You mentioned luck earlier, did you
feel like you carved your luck? Were you just permanently
grateful? What did that mean to you in that sense?

Jill Scott (07:05):
Yeah, I was always grateful. I'm still grateful for every
opportunity I get now. I'd like to think that if people
meet us, they think I'm grounded, and I think it's just
because I do think along the way of any journey,
sporting journeys, work journeys, there is an element of luck.
But I always believe that if you don't try and
cut corners, if you treat people right in day- to-

(07:27):
day life, whether it's your manager, whether it's someone you
pass on the street, if someone's struggling, if you can
help them. And I think you just create your own
luck along the way. And I've always been a big
believer in what did I want my career to look like?
Yeah, it's great that I've represented England over 150 times,
it's a massive honor for me. But I think also that element

(07:50):
of just if I give 100% wherever I get to,
I'll have no regrets, and that was always the case.
When you talk about Platt Lane, it was a chance
for me to get my head down, just put all
my energy into football. And I was like whatever that
outcome is, I know that I'm in a position where I can
eat well, I can sleep well, I can look after

(08:11):
myself, I can train full- time. And I knew I
was going to get every ounce of ability out of
myself. Wherever that road ended, that would have been the
case, but I knew I want to give it my all, and I
think that's why Platt Lane is so relevant to the
start of my professional football journey.

So, we're now not far at all. How are you feeling?

Jill Scott (08:34):
Even coming down... You know what I'm getting as we're
driving down this road? A bit of anxiety because-

Oh, really?

Jill Scott (08:39):
... my timekeeping was never great, so I was always
a little bit later for training, and-

So, normally when you're down here you're powering-

Jill Scott (08:47):
Yeah, I'm thinking, " Oh my God, I'm going to be
late, I'm going to be late." And as we just come past here on
the left, I could always say if the girls... There's
the cage. The cage is still here.

So, on our left, for our listeners, we've got the
pitch. Talk us through what you can see.

Jill Scott (09:04):
Yeah, so on the left is the main pitch. That
was where we would have a few friendly games just
between ourselves. And then I can see the football cage
as well, and then also the big indoor facility. So,
yeah, even that indoor facility I'm just thinking about all
the passing drills we used to do, all the... When
I went to Manchester City, I was opened up to this

(09:26):
whole technical side of the game that I'd never really
realized. So, I used to just hang on every word
that Nick Cushing used to say to us because I was learning
all the time. But yeah, there's that cage. I'd love
to go and have a kickabout. Have you brought your boots?

Oh, I was hoping you'd lend me a pair.

Jill Scott (09:45):
Mine'll be too big for you, I take a size
nine in football boots.

Do you?

Jill Scott (09:48):
Yeah, so I'm a size eight in trainer and nine in football boots. They'd definitely
be too big.

You're a tall girl, aren't you?

Jill Scott (09:54):
Yeah. So, yeah, this would be me, I'm just thinking
I've got a coffee in my hand, probably half a
banana because I'm trying to have a little snack as
I come into training. But yeah, just frantically looking for
a car park space and thinking I've got to run into training.

There's actually football going on.

Jill Scott (10:12):
That's great to see though because already we've seen the
cage, the outdoor facility, another outdoor facility, which is the
astroturf pitch. And then you've got the indoor facility as
well, so there's so much room just to play football,
and that's why it really felt like home being here,
it really did.

And just watching the players now, when you spend time...
I know you do a lot with upcoming players, can
you spot talent, or can you spot people who have
potential quite quickly and easily?

Jill Scott (10:46):
I always tend to look for potential really, and I
used to like coaching the players that weren't the best.
If I could see that, I taught them one thing,
even a little six- year- old checking her shoulder before
she receives the ball, I would be so fulfilled after
that coaching session. The sun's out. We're in Manchester, the
sun's out, but just look at how people are playing football,

(11:10):
and I think that's the most pleasing thing for me.

They probably wouldn't know what to do with themselves if
you got out and went to play with them.

Jill Scott (11:18):
I want to join in, I want to join in.

Thinking back to when you started, what sort of thing
would you tell your younger self now with the experience
that you have today?

Jill Scott (11:30):
I think my younger, younger self just that it is
going to be a tough journey. But I always say
that through them tough times, if you keep going, I
always think of yourself a bit like a bow and
arrow and all that pressure's taking you back and you're
losing games and things aren't going well. Just at that
moment where you think you're going to give up, you're

(11:51):
going to shoot into the air. And that's what I think I'd
tell myself that all them low moments are building up
that pressure of where you are going to have them
high moments. And when you get them high moments after
so many lows, they mean so much. I look at that
Euros medal now and without the tough days here at
Platt Lane I would never have got that gold medal. So, it's

(12:15):
like all that journey added up to that one moment really.

The learning that you did along the way.

Jill Scott (12:20):
Yeah, definitely, and I think that's the thing for young players.
I think sport is brilliant. Just for being outside, how
many friends I've made through sport. You learn about winning
and losing as well. Sport can be tough, but life
can be tough as well, can't it? So, it's like if we
shelter kids from that winning and losing feeling, when they

(12:42):
get older and things happen in life, they're not going
to be equipped for it. So, I think sport can
just teach you so much.

Yeah, I think so, that like you say, is transferable skills.
Did you have to learn how to deal with rejection,
the sense of failure or loss, and how was that
for you?

Jill Scott (13:02):
Yeah, there's a lot of rejection along the way. When
I was 14, I got picked for England under 16s,
went away on a camp, and to be fair, I wasn't
good enough, I wasn't at that level. And I think
when I look back, that was a very pivotal moment in
my career. Do I give up, look to do something else, or
do you keep going? And I kept going and made
my England debut four years later. But yeah, it is tough. There

(13:26):
was moments I'd text my mum and go, "I just don't
think I'm good enough. We've lost another game, training's not
going well." But I learned to surround myself with people
who would give you criticism, constructive criticism, they were really
wanting the best for you. So, over the years I've
had Mo Marley, Nick Cushing, Hope Powell, and I felt

(13:47):
like they were great managers who really pushed me but really
had my best needs at heart, and I think that's
the biggest thing. There's a lot of younger players now
who they rely on social media for their validation and
it's quite a sad world to live in sometimes. Whereas
I think your coaches and your teammates are the most
important people really.

Who were your idols at the time?

Jill Scott (14:10):
Oh, growing up, I was obsessed with David Beckham.

Were you?

Jill Scott (14:14):
I've got to admit that, yeah. I was just... Everything about him, the way he played. I managed
to meet him once and he went round... He was
probably the most famous footballer out there and he signed every
single autograph. He stayed out there after an England game
for hours and I always said if I ever got
in the position... I used to practice my autograph when
I was a kid actually, I think because I was bored in

(14:34):
school sometimes. And I always thought, you know what? If anybody
ever asks for my autograph, I'll stay until that last
minute and sign them all because I think it's so
important. If you can put a smile on someone's face
just by scribbling your name on a piece of paper
like David Beckham did for me that day, and it's one of
my most favorite childhood memories to think that I might

(14:55):
be able to give a child even 10% of that,
then I think it's just such an important thing to
do. A lot of things going on in the world
where people do need help, and I just think if you're in
a position to do it, then it's a very important thing
to me.

I really get the sense that you've always had a
lot of perspective.

Jill Scott (15:14):
Yeah, yeah. I think naturally, but when I was at
Everton before I came to Manchester, I was surrounded by
great role models
like that who were playing for England, and they just
had a really good perspective on life, on values, on
morals. So, I think, again, you're learning from them, aren't you? As we're

(15:37):
driving away from Platt Lane now, I'm relaxed, I'm ready
for my coffee. This is where I'd usually go for my coffee.
Training would be done, I've got a big green tick, and
I could go and have a flat white. I think
that's the good thing about going for a coffee. It's like
a social element to it as well because we'd all
go and socialize, maybe talk about the training session. Plus,

(16:00):
as well, when I first went to Platt Lane signing
for Manchester City, I was with a lot of players that
I didn't even know. So, I think sometimes you don't get to
know people through training and playing football. But I think
going for them coffees and just saying, " Oh, have you got a
brother? Have you got a sister?" We had players that
were coming from New Zealand and different places, and just

(16:22):
getting to know about their life as well, I think
then it would help when you stepped over that white
line, and you were going to play games. You felt
like you knew your teammate a little bit better.

That's really interesting. I think you're right, it makes people more human,
doesn't it? Or seeing that side of them.

Jill Scott (16:38):
Yeah, and I think sometimes when it's like work, it's like
football, it's like any sport. You can just go into
training, you can play football, go into your job, do your job,
and just go home. But I think it's so important
that you get to know your work colleagues, your teammates.
Can you sit down and have a different conversation rather

(16:59):
than work, and I think it's so important that you
can do that because everybody's a human being. They're not
defined as a footballer, they're not defined as someone that
works in an office or whatever job you have. That's
not the definition of them as a person. I find
people so interesting, I really do. Everyone has a story, don't
they really?

Okay, so we're not far. I guess memories around here as well from
Etihad Stadium.

Jill Scott (17:30):
Yeah. Yeah. Driving along here, so basically, when I first signed
for Manchester City, I remember they had all these plans on
PowerPoint presentations about this new facility that we're building, this
new academy, and how the women's team were going to
move there. And if I'm being completely honest, growing up
in girls' football, women's football at that time, there was

(17:52):
a lot of empty promises. So, I would look at
these models of this fantastic stadium, they were going to
build these facilities, and in the back of my head,
there was always this element of doubt of is it
going to happen? Is it really going to happen? Are
they just trying to sign you with these big plans
just to get you to put pen to paper and you're

(18:12):
going to stay at Platt Lane for the whole time?
But you know what? I was content with that. I
was content with that. It was never the plans of
this fantastic facility being built for the women's team, for
the boys' academy, for the men's team. It was never
that drew us to playing for Manchester City.

I guess you had a level of having to have
different expectations as well.

Jill Scott (18:36):
Yeah, definitely, especially in the women's game. There was talk
all the time we're going to play on better pitches
when I was at previous clubs and you're going to
get your own kit. And it ended up being the
men's old kit and stuff like that. So, my expectations
kind of... In a sad way, it lowered throughout football,
so when we'd been at Platt Lane maybe about 18

(18:57):
months, and then we'll be pulling up to it soon.
It still gets us excited, and you see that little model
that I'd got shown and it's come alive, and it's probably
even bigger and better than the plans that I got shown
originally. Driving into here, honestly, it's just a completely different
ball game, and this was when I realized the turning

(19:18):
point for women's football, I think.

I was going to say was there a moment where you
really saw a sliding doors moment, I guess?

Jill Scott (19:27):
Yeah, I think when you drive into here. I remember our
motto was one team together, our time is now. I
remember they had this big... Must have been about six foot,
which is my height, and it was a big picture
of me, and it said our time is now. And
I remember looking that picture in the eyes and I
was like, " Yeah, our time's now." Look, here's a young Manchester City-

Oh, look. Yeah, amazing.

Jill Scott (19:52):
I would have waved. Look, a young Manchester City academy
player, but look how happy she is. She's walking down
the street in her kit, and it just gives you that sense
of I belong to something. So, yeah, that was probably my
sliding doors moment when I seen we're all going to
be treated the same, we're all going to be training
at the same facility. And you'll see the difference now

(20:12):
from Platt Lane to this facility, it's amazing. And as
you drive in, obviously, you'll see the academy is on
the right. And then you just look over the road
and there's the Etihad Stadium joined by this bridge, which
is just... You know what it reminds us of? Did
you ever play the game Sims on the computer, and

(20:35):
you could just build your own little world? There was
another game as well, what was it? Where you could
have the theme park and everything.

Yeah, that's right.

Jill Scott (20:43):
And that's what I feel like. I feel like this is what it's like.

God, you can really feel the difference in stature, can't you?

Jill Scott (20:53):
Yeah, you really can, you really can. And the way that I looked at
it was like... So, when we were at Platt Lane,
we used to play at the Etihad, but on a
little athletics track, and there'd be a pitch in the center
of an athletics track and that was our football pitch.
But now on the right- hand side, you see we've got
a stadium. It was like seat 8, 000 people and

(21:17):
it's like a proper stadium. And driving up here on matchday when
I had a game and seeing fans come in, and
their numbers would just get bigger and bigger and bigger.
And look, this is John here, we'll see him in
security. It's still the same guy that was at Platt Lane.

Will he let us in, do you think?

Jill Scott (21:35):
Yeah, he'll let us in, he'll let us in.

Yay, how exciting.

Jill Scott (21:38):
He used to be the security guy at Platt Lane,
so he'll definitely... You know what? I used him the
other day because I went to a Man City men's game. I said, " John, can
I get a car park space?" So, yeah.

Good old John.

Jill Scott (21:53):
Hi, John. Well, how many years have you been here now?

John (21:57):
12 years.

Jill Scott (21:57):
12 years, yeah, and mine's... Well, obviously, I'm not here now, but it
was nine years ago.

John (22:02):
Yeah, you were one of the first there, weren't you?

Jill Scott (22:02):
Yeah.

John (22:03):
(I remember when the girls literally had to pay to come to football.

Jill Scott (22:04):
Yeah, did.

Wow.

John (22:04):
You was playing Wright Robin, didn't you?

Jill Scott (22:09):
Yeah, we did, Wright Robinson.

John (22:11):
Many, many years ago.

Jill Scott (22:11):
Yeah, I remember doing the Bleep test on Wright Robinsons.
I don't know why this memory's just come to my head
but didn't we used to get meat and stuff at
Platt Lane?

John (22:22):
Yeah, you used to get it off Abby. It was her brother used to work in a butcher's.

Jill Scott (22:27):
Yeah. Yeah, her brother used to work in a butcher's.

John (22:27):
You used to buy steaks .

Jill Scott (22:28):
Yeah, I remember, and we'd be like-

John (22:30):
Long time ago that was.

Jill Scott (22:31):
Yeah, yeah.

I feel like we should put John in the back of
the car.

Jill Scott (22:33):
Thanks, John.

John (22:34):
See you later. Have a nice time.

Thank you.

Jill Scott (22:35):
Take care, bye, bye, bye. Bye.

That's amazing. How is it to see old, very familiar faces?

Jill Scott (22:42):
Oh, you know-

He would have been really pivotal, I guess.

Jill Scott (22:44):
Yeah.

Can you remember the first time coming in here?

Jill Scott (22:47):
Yeah, I do. It was so special. It was literally
so special, and do you know what? As the years
went on, this was just driving into work, and I'm
not saying you take it for granted, but them days
where you were just having a bad day, training wasn't going right. And
I remember the days I went training, this became just
the norm. So, yeah, this was just the norm of coming to work, but-

It's mad, isn't it? How that sort of thing can
happen and yet-

Jill Scott (23:14):
Yeah, it does because I think as a human you're
just like, " Oh, this is my reality now," and whatever else.

You adapt.

Jill Scott (23:20):
But it's kind of I used to come back on
a night and do coaching, and I'd appreciate it so
much more. It was all lit up and everything, and
it's just a absolute fantastic facility.

And what's it like seeing it through fresh eyes as
well with the young girls?

Jill Scott (23:36):
Yeah, when you see them turning up, and obviously, the
fact that a young six, seven- year- old can bump
into Steph Houghton as she's coming out of training and think, " You
know what? That's who I can aspire to be. I'm
training in the same place, the same facilities." It's just
a really good full- circle moment. But yeah, when I
come back it's just like seeing your mates really. And

(23:59):
do you know what I'm looking at now? How many
cars is here. Look, these cars haven't even got car
park spaces because of how busy it is now because
of how much it's grown. The staff's probably gone from
having one physiotherapist when I was here to four. Having
two coaches to four coaches, so it's like everything's just
got bigger. But yeah, amazing memories, and you know what? I try and come

(24:22):
back now and then.

How much pressure is there being such a strong role model?

Jill Scott (24:29):
Yeah, you know what? I think the pressure side of
it, I think especially not in terms of being a
role model because I feel like you can just be yourself
and hopefully... I always did think about it in terms of
just how you conduct yourself in and around... Especially when you're in
facilities like this, making sure... But then also away from
here as well, so I wouldn't say that was a

(24:51):
pressure because it's something that I enjoyed doing really. Just
trying to set an example, especially to younger players. But
in terms of putting pressure on yourself to perform, especially
when you're at a club like Manchester City, I don't think I
realized until I stopped playing how much pressure I did
put myself under. Yeah, but I still get little pressures

(25:11):
now, like I'm doing a little bit of the punditry
and commentary.

Yeah, that's right.

Jill Scott (25:15):
And I felt like there was little bit of pressure
to still... I still want that test on a weekend,
so I do my training in the week, and then gameday
was do a feel, do a win, and then how do I
go about it the next week? So, it's like now
I'll do a bit of punditry and I'm going to
the producer, " Did I do well? Is there anything I

(25:35):
need to do better in there?" Probably like, " Okay, nobody
really asks stuff like this." But I think it's that sports
mindset of I want to know if I was good, if I
was bad. And I don't mind either way, but I want
to improve, I want to get better. So, that attention
to detail, I never thought I was a logical detail
person, but even stepping away from the sport, I've realized

(25:55):
that's just inside of you.

You touched on the punditry, I mean how different has
that been and how much pressure does that put on you because it's
such a different world?

Jill Scott (26:03):
Yeah, it does put a lot of pressure on you
because it's not something that I've trained for.

No.

Jill Scott (26:09):
Well, not specifically trained for, but I think without realizing
because of playing football, your knowledge of the game, your
natural knowledge. But you do doubt yourself because you're not
doing it every single week.

Yeah, and it's such a different skill.

Jill Scott (26:23):
Yeah, so it probably has been a lot of pressure
I've put myself under. But this is what I love
about this place, whether it be the groundsmen, whether it
be... You're seeing Jane Ludlow come out too. Jane Ludlow
actually, so she's a coach now at Manchester City, but
when I was 18, 19 at Everton, she was a little bit
older than me, and I used to have to play

(26:44):
center midfield against her. Now she's one of the best
players Arsenal have ever had ever. I think she's top
goalscorer, and she was the midfielder that I wanted to be like.
So, if you look at moments like that, 18- year- old
Jill was so scared of her.

Really?

Jill Scott (27:00):
And now we're sitting having a chat. Hopefully, we're going
to be doing some coaching together in the future, and
it's just moments like that. Football unites you forever, forever, so-

Do you still feel like you're learning?

Jill Scott (27:13):
Yeah, definitely, definitely, and you know what? In this time
now where I've retired, I could probably just do the
jobs that maybe put you under less pressure and stuff
like that, but I'm still wanting to push myself. Like
the punditry and the commentary, it does push us, but
I think if you're not being pushed, you're not going

(27:34):
to grow. If I just live in my little comfort
zone, I'm not going to get better, I'm not going
to gain new skills, so I'm constantly trying to push
myself all the time.

How do you cope with the feedback from the trolls
in the world of-

Jill Scott (27:49):
You know what? I've got really good at that probably
through... I think I was quite lucky that when I was 18,
19 that wasn't really the world that existed.

No.

Jill Scott (27:59):
So, I didn't grow up with it. It's a lot
different for younger players, younger people now. And you know
what, even older people have got into that world where
they want validation from people who don't even know them.
So, in terms of mindset- wise, I don't read a
lot of things. My mum still doesn't know actually now

(28:20):
I've retired, but I used to finish playing football, and
I used to always just have this one text off
my mum. And it'd be like, "You did well today, Jill,"
because she was either watching on the telly or she
was at the game. And some days I hadn't even
done well, but she would always say it. And as long
as I read that text message, she probably doesn't even
know this, I'd be like, "All right, it's fine." I didn't have

(28:42):
to check Twitter or anything like that, and that was
all that mattered really. And you know what, I still
do it now. I finished on Match of the Day
the other day and she'd sent us a message saying, "I thought
you did really well." She'd never be negative in the
moment, but it's like I don't have to look outside
for validation. I think if you can get to know

(29:04):
who your people are, who means the most to you, I
think that's the main thing really.

You obviously have a strong relationship with your family.

Jill Scott (29:12):
Yeah, family means everything to us really. I think it's
important, isn't it? They've been there from the beginning, and
it's nice now my nephews, my niece'll come to games that
I've played, and obviously, Wembley was such a magical moment.
But speaking of Wembley, here's Etihad as well, another fantastic

(29:33):
stadium. So, if you look to the left, we used
to play on that. That's the pitch with the academy
with the running track around it. So, that was where
the women's games first were.

Oh, right.

Jill Scott (29:44):
And I remember in our first couple of years we got a
chance to play at the Etihad against Everton actually, which was
special for me because it was both of my clubs. And yeah,
stepping into that arena, it's really, really special. But that day
we probably didn't have that many fans. I had say
about a thousand, and then fast forward seven years of

(30:06):
being at Manchester City, we played Manchester City v. United,
and I think we had 35,000 there. So, I feel like
I've lived through the growth of the game, but yeah,
playing at the Etihad was always special, always special.

Well, you've also been extremely pivotal in the growth of it.

Jill Scott (30:26):
Yeah, I'd like to think so. I think there's a
generation of players before me who obviously worked very hard
and got the game into a place where I was
fortunate enough to be a full- time professional and to
kind of experience that. But then I'd like to think
that the likes of me, Steph Houghton, Ellen White, that

(30:46):
next generation have left the game in a better place
for the next ones. And I think that's how women's
football works, just passing on that baton, but making sure
it's in a better place each time.

Do you notice a difference in that because you're women
as well? Do you think that there's a different almost a
nurturing of the sport almost because of the feminine energy?

Jill Scott (31:09):
Yeah, I think we're just... I'm not saying the men
don't care because, of course, they do, but we've had
to go through an era where we've had to care
a lot about the development. Whereas the men's game is
at a point where a lot of them players now
probably haven't had to have as big a input in
getting the game to there. So, I think, as females,

(31:31):
we're very conscious of trusting the process, making sure that we
don't cut corners because in order for the game to be
where it is now, there's been a lot of hard
work gone into it beforehand. So, we're very, very protective of I
suppose the status of the game and the legacy that's
being left behind because we'd like to think that we've had an

(31:54):
input into it. It took a lot of graft, a lot
of hard work, a lot of tears, and you don't
want all of that to be wasted. So, I don't
know if it's about being a female in that sense.
I think it's just the journey that female game's been on.

How is the journey going to continue?

Jill Scott (32:11):
Yeah, it's going to be positive, it has to be,
I think. Especially on the back of the win of the
Euros. We've finally won something as a national team, and
still gives us this warm feeling inside. Maybe it's the
heated seats I've on in the car, but it still gives us
that warm feeling that along with them successes, it's just

(32:34):
left the game in a better place.

What do you think you'd have done if football wasn't an option?

Jill Scott (32:41):
Probably being a barista, I think.

Do you think so? You were a keen athlete, weren't
you? A keen runner.

Jill Scott (32:47):
Yeah, I got into running just through my love of football,
so you know what it's like. You go to senior school, you
do one sport, you suddenly do every sport. And yeah,
I remember taking part in my first race. It was
a cross- country race and I won by 30 seconds,
and everybody was just like, " Wow, how did you win
by that much?" And I was like, " I don't know, I just ran." I hadn't done

(33:09):
any specific running training, so again, probably going back to
them natural genetics. But the fact that when I was
younger, I didn't stop as a kid. If Wimbledon was
on, I got a tennis racket and played tennis. If
it was the ashes, I was playing cricket. I just
loved being outside and loved sports, or I think-

And are you naturally gifted? Can you play any sport to
a certain level?

Jill Scott (33:34):
Naturally gifted in the sense that I could, but probably not at a
great level. I think I was a good runner. I won the
Mini London Marathon when I was 14, but I also
picked up glandular fever around that time because I was
doing too much. I was racing on a Saturday morning and
then I had a game on Saturday night, and it was

(33:55):
just too much. And I think that was my body's
way of saying, " Look, Jill, you need to stop a
little bit. What are you going to do?" And it was
always going to be football. I think winning with a
team rather than winning on your own, it's just such
a special feeling. So, football was always my first love, and
it was always going to be my last love as
well. See I'm getting excited now because I know we're

(34:23):
going where the coffee is, and I'm hoping we've got 10
minutes where I can run out and get a flat white.

I think we should insist on it.

Jill Scott (34:30):
Yeah, I think we should, I think we should. Yeah,
heading into town, you know what? Manchester's such a quirky
place and the fact that I used to stay in...
So, when I first went to Man City, they were sorting out
my accommodation of where I was going to live, and I
got put in an apartment in the center of Manchester
and they were lovely apartments. It was me and Betsy Hassett,

(34:53):
and then Steph Houghton and Karen Bardsley lived next door.
And I remember we'd go to the cinema, and I
remember we went to see Wolf of Wall Street, and we
went in on a Saturday and came out on a Sunday.
The film was so long that I think it went
on for three hours. It started at 10 o'clock on
the Saturday night and it didn't finish until the Sunday.

(35:14):
And then I think after we'd done cinema a few
times we went to the theater. So, I think we're coming up
to one of the theaters now on the left- hand side, so-

That's right, we are.

Jill Scott (35:22):
Yeah, so I've got a big love for the theater,
I think-

Do you?

Jill Scott (35:27):
Yeah.

Where did that come from?

Jill Scott (35:28):
I don't know, to be honest. I think Eniola Aluko,
who played for England, she was my roommate. I think
she got us into the theater. I think we went
to see Bodyguard, and I've actually seen that production about
four or five times now, but... Here's the Palace Theatre as
well, but there's something about seeing how much hard work
goes into a production, and I just think how in unison

(35:52):
everybody is. How much they must have rehearsed everything to
get that perfect performance. And I think it reminds us
of sport and-

I was going to say there are such parallels in that.

Jill Scott (36:01):
There is, there certainly is, and I remember going to see
Matilda once, and halfway through the show Matilda had to go
off and a new Matilda came on. And there was
a break in the show, and I remember likening it
to football in my head like that Matilda had to
be ready. She had to know her role, she had to know everything, and
even though she didn't maybe get the limelight every single

(36:24):
night, she was ready to slot in. And it reminded
us of how many times I had to be a substitute and you had to be ready
if needed. So, yeah, there were so many parallels to that
about always being ready, always being prepared. So, yeah, it's
great to go past the theater definitely.

So, I guess if we're at Theatreland of Manchester, we're in
quite a hub area.

Jill Scott (36:51):
Yeah, it's a lovely area down here actually. Not far
from here, you have Spinningfields, which I must admit actually
I'm trying to make out that I'm this perfect athlete,
theater, and coffee. We did have a couple of nights
out in Spinning Field, especially in them early days just...
But I think it was good for team bonding as

(37:12):
well. I remember actually one night, and this was after...
So, when I first joined Manchester City, we had a three-
year plan, and in that three- year plan it was like
we're going to win the league, the FA Cup. And
it seemed like so far out of our reach at
the time. We were just a bunch of girls being
thrown together, and it was like can we really be champions of

(37:34):
England? But we did, we did it. We trusted the
process, they built the team each season, and I remember
that night out when we did that trouble, and oh
God, it didn't end well, to be honest. But I remember
the girls because we'd been so disciplined all season, we
probably only had a couple of drinks. Someone was like, "
Yeah, we'll get some shots." Obviously, we were allowed, we'd

(37:56):
won the league, the season was over.

I think it's justified.

Jill Scott (37:58):
Yeah, I think it's justified, and honestly, I remember me,
Steph Houghton, a couple of the others, and we were
home by 10 o'clock because our bodies just weren't used
to the alcohol. So, it was special, or it was good
just being like, " Look, we had this process for three

(38:18):
years, everybody gave it their all," and eventually being able to celebrate
it as a team. You have to celebrate them wins,
so I think in life in general whether it's work
and you get a promotion, go out, have a meal.
Give yourself a pat on the back, else you can just
go through life looking to the next achievement, but for

(38:39):
what? So, I think I definitely learnt over the years to
praise people and make sure that you do enjoy them moments.

Do you feel proud of yourself?

Jill Scott (38:49):
Yeah, I think when we're driving now when we're reflecting on the
journey and the tough times, the good times, I've just
got a big smile on my face, to be honest.
I'm proud not of myself, I think just of the teams
that I was part of really. I'm proud of them
teammates when I think about people like Steph Houghton who
still play now. Girls like Demi Stokes who's one of

(39:11):
my best friends, and I actually coached Demi when we
were both up in Sunderland. And now, to see the
journey we've been on together, I think I'm more proud
of Manchester City as a club, and it's just been such
an honor to be part of such a great team.
And even the staff now, there's Mark Rees who worked
there for years, and I've got a few charity games

(39:33):
coming up and me and him's been going and playing football. It's just
them connections, maybe the club put you together, but it's
friendships that'll last far past playing for Manchester City, and I
think that's the main thing really.

I feel like you should all be put in an old people's home at
the very end of the days as a team. Just continue that team reflection.

Jill Scott (39:56):
Yeah, maybe the pressures we've put ourselves under we might end up
in there a little bit earlier. A little bit earlier maybe.

You were, of course, awarded an MBE. What was it
like to get that call- up?

Jill Scott (40:10):
Yeah, I got that call whilst I was shopping in Marks &
Spencer's. Apparently, they couldn't get hold of us and I
was shopping for Christmas decorations with my partner Shelly, and
I think I nearly dropped the decorations all over the
floor. She was like, " What is it? What is it?" And I was like, "
I think I'm getting an MBE." She was like, " You
think, or you are?" And I was like, " Well, I
am." So, yeah, getting that call, it was just such

(40:32):
an honor really. Obviously, it was for services to football,
and people that had got them previously, Casey Stoney, Kelly Smith, Fara
Williams, my idols, Rachel Yankey, and it was just great
to think that I was going to be on that list.

Yeah, how was Will?

Jill Scott (40:50):
Well, I didn't actually get to meet him at that
point because the day that I was meant to be
going to pick up the MBE, COVID hit. So, basically,
I think I was meant to be going to collect
it on the Thursday and we went into lockdown on the
Wednesday. Yeah, so I've told this story before, but my

(41:11):
MBE, I got a letter from just the Royal Mail
sorting office, and it was like, "Your parcel's at the Royal Mail sorting
office." So, I went to collect it and it was my
MBE just literally in a box. So, yeah, but I've
had some special moments since Prince William. Our paths crossed
a few times through football. The first one being we

(41:35):
were opening a pet shop in Sunderland, and I accidentally
slipped and wiped him out. So, he always remembered us
for that girl that took him out whilst playing football.
And then through tournaments, he would always come and greet
the England team. So, when I retired, he actually wrote us a
lovely letter, it was handwritten as well, just saying, " Well

(41:56):
done on your career." So, I would love for him to present
my MBE maybe in the future, but I feel like I'm
being greedy. I've got this letter and it's one of
my most prized possessions really.

You must have met some interesting people through your journey.

Jill Scott (42:10):
Yeah, really interesting people actually.

Has anybody surprised you or shocked you?

Jill Scott (42:16):
You know what? In a good way, I've met my heroes really.
Frank Lampard, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard. I did the England
game with Steven Gerrard recently, and just lovely down- to-
earth people. Sometimes they say don't meet your heroes, don't let...
But they definitely haven't disappointed us in any way. But
them are the players that I grew up watching, and

(42:38):
to think that I'm standing next to them talking about football,
it's kind of... I've definitely had a lot of pinch-
me moments, a lot of pinch- me moments. Being on Ant and Dec and
obviously doing the Jungle. The Jungle was a lot of pinch-
me moments in general. Just sitting next to Boy George
washing dishes and he's singing Karma Chameleon, I'm like-

So surreal.

Jill Scott (43:01):
... what is going on? What is going on? But you know
what, through the Jungle I've made so many good friends
like Owen will be a friend for life. And again, when I
talk about this journey and memories, I think what you'll
find that I keep saying is, " Yeah, they're a friend for
life." So, yeah, I think them are the most special
things that come from this journey 100%. The people that I've met

(43:24):
and the friends that I've made really.

Was there anyone in the Jungle that surprised you?

Jill Scott (43:29):
Yeah, lots of them really. I think I didn't... I
knew Sue, who's Eileen in Coronation Street, and I was
a bit starstruck when I seen her because I'm a
massive Coronation Street fan, I really am. So, I didn't
want to be like, "Oh my God, it's Eileen." I got
to know her for Sue, and she was a very different person. But yeah,

(43:50):
Sue, Charlene, we got on really well. Chris Moyles as
well, I got on really well with Chris, and I don't
think they actually showed a lot of mine and Chris's
relationship, but he was so caring and so kind. Babatunde, just
the most chilled- out guy ever, but yeah, we got
on really well as well. So, yeah, I think probably

(44:11):
everybody surprised us to a certain point because I think
we had a really good group that just seemed to
get on, and that's what made it really nice as well. It
definitely had that home away from home feeling.

Was it better or worse the experience than you expected?

Jill Scott (44:27):
It was better upon reflection for the experience that I had,
but it was more difficult in there than I thought. You don't
want to whinge about being hungry because there's a lot
of people in the world a lot less fortunate than
we are, but you didn't get a lot of food,
so you are depleted of energy a lot of the

(44:49):
time. So, that was difficult. Missing home as well, that
was difficult. Not necessarily not seeing people because I was
used to being on England camp where I wouldn't see
people for four, five weeks. But you had your mobile
phone, and I could check in with Shelly and say, "
Are you okay?" I could check in with my family,
my grandma. I'd ring them most days. So, that was

(45:13):
difficult, just the element of not knowing how people were
at all. And also, you think if I'm coming across
as a bad person, then are they getting grief back
home? But I think you just lived in this bubble. I
forgot about the cameras. You forget that 10 million people
are watching the show until you get out and you're
walking down the street, and some people will just come

(45:36):
and give you a hug because I feel like they
got to know you whilst you were in the Jungle. And it's lovely,
it really is. I love having conversations with people, but
when you're in there, you just forget about that really.

Are there any other reality shows that you would do?

Jill Scott (45:50):
Well, I turned down Love Island six times, obviously. I
don't know really. I don't know if it's a bit
of a one- off thing, is it? I'm quite good
at ice skating, so people keep saying, " You should do
Dancing on Ice," but I don't know. I'm not somebody
that plans for that next step. Did I ever think
if you'd asked this, this time last year, that I

(46:12):
was going to... Or told us I was going to
be retired in July, I was going to be living
in a jungle in November, I would have said, " You're
lying." So, I don't know. I don't know what this year's going to
hold, but I think if I can just keep being true to
myself, keep doing things that I enjoy, then I'm sure
it should turn out to be a good journey, so

(46:33):
we'll see. But at the minute, if you asked truthfully,
I'd probably say, " Is a reality show a one- off?" I don't know,
I wouldn't go in the Jungle again, definitely not.

I noticed that you have some really lovely tattoos, and
I wondered what-

Jill Scott (46:47):
Yeah, a lot of tattoos.

What they meant to you.

Jill Scott (46:50):
It's a very good question, so my tattoos, I once
read something, and they were like your body should be your
journal and you should decorate it with memories throughout your
life. And I always thought that was a good way
of looking at tattoos. So, my first one I got
was actually my first call- up in 2007 to a
World Cup in China. So, I've actually got a Chinese

(47:12):
symbol on my ankle that means success. And my older
sister's also got a Chinese symbol on her ankle, so it had
a bit of a double meaning. I wanted to be
like her. I was going to my first tournament. And then,
yeah, all my tattoos reflect sport and life. Then the
one on my wrist actually means a lot, so it's

(47:33):
Whitney Houston lyrics, so it's step by step, day by
day, mile by mile. And that was before I went to the
2009 European Championships, and I think that quote has actually
defined my life without realizing it. I don't long- term
plan as I said, so it's like everything step by
step, day by day. And then the mile by mile

(47:54):
is I feel like I've run a lot of miles across
the journey. So, even though this tattoo it's not great
in terms of the quality now, but it does mean
a lot. I've got the Olympic rings on my side. I've
been fortunate enough to represent Team GB 2012 and 2021.
And then I've got my nephew's and my niece's name

(48:17):
on my foot. Obviously, they mean the world to us.
When they were born, I got the names, and then
someone said to us, "What about if you have kids and then your brother and your
sister have more kids?" And I was like, " God, I'm
just going to have all these random names over my
body," but that symbolizes family. And then, yeah, my most
recent one. I do have others but my most recent
one is a lioness on my arm, and it's got

(48:39):
the date that we won the Euros and also 1- 6-
1, which is the amount of cups that I got for
England. So, yeah, I never thought I was cool enough to
have a big tattoo on my arm, but I was going to get it
on my side and Shelly was like, " Jill, it's such
an important moment, you need people to see it." So, yeah,
that one means a lot and sometimes if I just

(49:00):
glance down and I see this lioness looking at us, it's just
a proud moment of what it represents really.

We're just on the motorway at the moment. You must
have had a lot of long old journeys that you've taken
in your life.

Jill Scott (49:21):
Yeah, this is why now if I ever go in
the car people class a three- hour journey as a long
journey. For me, that's just a normal journey because it
was just so... I remember getting that first car and
signing for Everton, and I literally set off from Sunderland
to Liverpool with a road map. Remember road maps?

Yeah.

Jill Scott (49:40):
And I was like, right, I'm going down the A19, then
the A1, then the M62, and I just remembered these three roads. So, it's mad
that a lot of my life has been spent on
the motorways.

What do you do to pass the time?

Jill Scott (49:55):
You know what I used to do? This is quite embarrassing,
but when I was 18 and 19, I hadn't played for England
at this point, but I used to practice getting interviewed,
so I'd be like... And I could do any interview I wanted,
so I'd be like, " Jill, you had a good game today..."
My cassette player was always broke, so it was just three hours
of just me and my thoughts. And I used to

(50:16):
be like, " Jill, you had a good game today, what
did you think of the game?" And I'd be like, " Yeah,
yeah, I thought my team played really well," and I used to
just interview myself, which is so sad to admit

Wow, that's great.

Jill Scott (50:25):
... isn't it really?

That's like a... Is there a manifestation there as well, isn't it?

Jill Scott (50:31):
Maybe, I think I'd just started doing interviews at Everton,
and I thought, " Jill, you need to get a little bit better."
So, obviously, well, I think I'm okay at talking now. I don't have a lot
of long words, but I'm very comfortable talking because us doing
this now is probably me just talking to myself when
I was 18 year old. But you're better company. Yeah, so

(50:55):
this road, this brings back a lot of memories. A lot of memories.

Does it?

Jill Scott (50:59):
Yeah, so when I talk about when I first signed
for City, and we got put in this posh apartment
for about a month because they were trying to sort out
our accommodation. So, basically, along here we'll hit where my
first proper, I suppose place that I could call home really. Because

(51:20):
the apartment I was in was more like living in
a hotel really. So, Betsy Hassett, she was from New
Zealand, and we just got put together in this little apartment.
And when I say little apartment, it's like a little
flat, and I don't want to sound like I'm not
grateful, but it was the smallest place ever. It literally had

(51:41):
a really small living room, two bedrooms, one for her,
one for me, a bathroom, and a tiny, tiny kitchen.

This all feels a lot leafier around here. Where are we in the grand scheme of things?

Jill Scott (51:51):
Yeah, so we're in Sale. God, this is bringing back so many
memories. Yeah, basically, if you turn left here, we'll go
into where I lived. Oh no, it might be further
up. Sorry, I'm getting the directions wrong. It's been a
long time since I lived here. Yeah, sorry that was
my bad. Yeah, so if you just go further up
here, we're in Sale and it's got lovely canals. And

(52:13):
basically, there's just this little turning off the main road,
which takes you into the flats where I was. And
opposite it was an old people's home. I loved the
area, people were really friendly, and as I said we
could just go to the canal and go for walks. Again,
used to go for a walk along the canal for my

(52:33):
coffee. So, this is a little petrol station opposite and if
I forgot to get my meals and stuff like that,
I would quickly run over and get some veg and
just a little bit of greenery here to the right.
And when the sun was out, I used to just
go and take a blanket or something and just sit
in the sun.

Nice.

Jill Scott (52:51):
So, yeah. Wow, this is crazy looking at this.

Brooklyn's Crescent.

Jill Scott (52:57):
You know what is mad though is I pull up
here, it doesn't remind us of having to go and
do training because now if I was to pull up
at my house in Warrington, it would remind us for
going for runs and stuff. But because we were so well looked
after at Man City, I didn't have to do any
extra training. So, when I came back here, you see this is it on
the right. If you look at that, I always think

(53:19):
it looks like where old people would live, doesn't it?

Yeah, it does a bit.

Jill Scott (53:22):
It does. So, I'm guessing this is still the old
people's home on the left.

Yeah.

Jill Scott (53:29):
Yeah, this is still it, so yeah.

So, we're outside a big block of flats, East View.

Jill Scott (53:35):
Yeah, and on that middle floor, that was mine now
on the middle floor.

Literally there where the bird boxes are now?

Jill Scott (53:42):
Yeah, it's got bird boxes. It definitely didn't have that when
I was there.

We're now on our way to Boxx2Boxx.

Jill Scott (53:54):
Yes, Boxx2Boxx.

Tell us how this came about.

Jill Scott (53:58):
You know what? It's actually mad that the shop is so close
to where I first started living in Manchester because this
isn't Central Manchester by any means, so it's like my
journey's done another full circle. It's mad actually because Manchester
is a big circle board on that M60, and I
feel like that's what my life's done in Manchester. But

(54:19):
yeah, the coffee shop, obviously, I've spoken about my love
for coffee naturally. And then my partner moved from Birmingham
area up to Manchester and COVID hit pretty soon after
that. So, she didn't have a job at the time,
but I remember thinking just let her get settled in.
Obviously, it's a big thing, isn't it to move house,

(54:40):
but she's a bit of a workaholic like me, which I
don't think it's a good combination to have sometimes because
you can both be so fixated just on your jobs.
And she wanted to get back to work, and at
the time of COVID, the only thing you could really
do once the rules, guidelines started to loosen up a
little bit was you could walk and have a coffee.

(55:02):
So, we found a local coffee shop and they said, "
Oh, well, do you want to do some hours here?" And she enjoyed it
to be honest. She really did, and I remember her
coming back on the first day. She didn't really know
that much about coffee, but she'd been making the coffees,
and I was like, that's a really big thing. I think
she probably wouldn't admit it, but she was pretty good
at it. And then they were looking to open up

(55:26):
a second shop, franchise their shop out because it was
doing well, and she was going to run it. And then
I was like, "Why don't we just do ours?" But very, very naïve
to that, to be honest. We were very naïve to
the fact that you lease the property, but you have
to buy the business. So, a lot of businesses to

(55:46):
buy are very expensive, and then randomly, I feel like it
was just meant to be. About five minutes from here,
we met a lovely lady who was looking to do...
She'd had a coffee shop and she was looking to
go to university, go back to university, and she was
looking for a quick sale. And it was a lovely

(56:07):
little coffee shop and as soon as we walked in,
we fell in love with it, and we were like, " Right, we'll buy
it." So, it did all happen very quickly. I think
I nicked off to football, and Shelly ended up working
93 days in a row, so yeah.

I don't imagine that was in the plans.

Jill Scott (56:24):
No, it definitely wasn't. I think she still holds that
against us now, to be honest, but you know what?
We've built up a lovely little shop. You'll see the
community when we go by it. But again, it's all about
that sense of community and people just being able to
come and have a coffee and chat. We have a

(56:45):
lot of elderly customers as well, and it's just nice to
be able to pour them a coffee, and you see
a lot of people catching up with old friends, catching
up with family. We've had babies that have just been
born coming into the coffee shop and now they're two year
old and you've seen them grow. And eventually, they can
have a little babyccino and stuff like that. So, yeah, it sounds

(57:06):
dead cheesy, but there are so many good stories just within that coffee shop.

You've had some quite interesting guests as well, haven't you?

Jill Scott (57:13):
Yeah, so I had to be that annoying person at the beginning where you
go on Instagram, look at the celebrities that live in Manchester,
and try and get them to pop down for a coffee.
So, to be honest, the Manchester City football players were
really supportive. We've had Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden just
pop in and have a coffee. And to them, it

(57:36):
might seem such a little thing, but if they then
put a little post on their Instagram and just say, "I've been to Boxx2Boxx
for a coffee," then you get a lot of people like, "
Oh, if Kevin De Bruyne can have a coffee there
then I will." So, I'll be forever grateful to them
players for giving us the opportunity to serve them a
coffee, and then for them to promote the shop as well

(57:58):
because it's hard starting up a business, and we realized that
in the first year as well.

Yeah, I imagine there are things that you came up
against that there was just no way of knowing them
before you actually do it.

Jill Scott (58:09):
Yeah, there's loads of things and there's still people now that don't want
to make it easy for you. And I suppose that's
just like anything with business, isn't it? As you grow,
there's still some people who want to make things difficult,
and I still don't understand that because it goes back
to the point of wanting to help. Wanting to help

(58:30):
small businesses. I've always been someone that would help people
in general, but you also have to realize that not
everybody thinks like you in the world, and I think
you've got to still try and bring the best version
of yourself. And sometimes when you meet them people who,
in my opinion, maybe aren't very nice, you've got to
try and kill them with kindness. And again, that's probably

(58:52):
something I've learned through sport. But at the same time,
on the flip side, we've had so many people that
want to support the shop that have introduced us to
other people. We do a walk- in group on a Wednesday,
and when we first started it, the local council would buy
these five, six people a coffee. And then they'd go
for a walk and come back have the coffee. And

(59:14):
now that group must have about 20, 25 people, and they've
joined the local choir. They come in, they've made their own friends, so it's nice
just to see how the shop's grown, but also, people
have grown within the shop. We've had people who've been
going through really tough times have opened up over a coffee
and now we class them as friends. So, yeah, the

(59:36):
coffee shop, it's like a big bowl of happiness. There's
a lot of hard work goes on behind it, but
when you can sit there, have a coffee, and call
your customers friends, it's very special.

And there's a real... I mean you work in there,
so as an observer, it's an eye- opening, ear- opening
thing to hear that as an ex- England footballer, you
work in the coffee shop. But that's so grounding and humbling.

Jill Scott (01:00:08):
Yeah, I wanted to call the coffee shop Grounded actually. Would
have been a good name that, wouldn't it?

Alex Legouix (01:00:12):
It would have been a great name.

Grounded coffee.

What did inspire the name?

The name Boxx2Boxx came from because I played midfield, so I
did a lot of box- to- box running. And again,
that was just me and Shelly sitting in the front
room of the house scribbling down ideas. I actually wanted
to call it Jillattes and Shelly was like, " Well, that's
all about you." And I was like, " Yeah, it is."
But I suppose Boxx2Boxx still refers to my football career,

(01:00:38):
but it's not in- your- face football. So, when you
go in... I sound like I'm being big- headed here,
but somebody has actually painted a mural of me on
the wall, and it's a really nice image actually. But yeah, I
think we need to get one of Shelly in there as well.

Is Shelly as passionate about football as you are?

Not about football. So, I met Shelly because her sister was
my roommate at England. So, Rachel Unitt, absolute legend of
the game, and I think Shelly got dragged to a
lot of football as a kid. So, she grew up
being a bit sick of the sport, and then she
probably thought, " Oh, I don't have to go to football again." And
then met me and then had to do it all over again.

(01:01:20):
So, yeah, she's been very supportive, she really has, but
I'd be totally lying to you if I said that
she loves football. So, yeah, there's the shop on the
right, Boxx2Boxx.

Wow.

Yeah, if you look in the center of the name,
that's a little center circle, but people don't realize that.
As I say, it's not in- your- face football, which
is good.

It's a nice sign.

Yeah, it is a good sign actually. Paid a lot
of money for that sign.

How has it been to go to the old haunts?

You know what, it's been really good because I've done
a few podcasts recently, but I feel like this has brought
out different stories. Because when you do on podcasts, you're
sat in a room and you're just going from your memory. But as
we're driving round, I'm like, "Oh my God, I just think
of traffic when I hit here. Oh my God, I think
of Betsy doing yoga when we're there." As soon as

(01:02:15):
I met John, I was like, " Why am I just
thinking of the butchers?" But it's because we used to
get our chicken and stuff like that, and then we
all used to go home and cook our dinner. So,
it's been nice just to drive round and it does
really jog your memory, doesn't it? So, I think that's
why Manchester will always be a very special place to
me because there's so many memories here, and so many

(01:02:36):
more to make as well.

It's been such a privilege to go through that experience
with you.

Oh, thank you. Thanks. Well, you made it very easy.
I've lost my voice too much talking, so I do apologize.

It's time for a coffee.

Yeah, shall we go for brunch?

Yes, let's.

Yes, brunch. Sounds good to me.

Thanks so much to Jill Scott for giving me such
a great insight into her life in Manchester. You can
see exclusive footage of the drive by heading to the
Autotrader socials. Look at the episode page for links. You'll
also be able to see the Mercedes G- Class that
Jill loved so much. And if you're looking for a
new vehicle, you can find your perfect match at autotrader. co.

(01:03:21):
uk. This is a new show and I'd love you to
follow on your favorite podcast platform. Like what you hear?
Rate and review and make sure you tell your friends,
so you don't miss an episode. Show on the Road
is a Fresh Air production for Autotrader. The executive producer
is Annie Day, and the producer is Oli Seymour.

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Jill Scott’s road to becoming a Lioness, life outside football & running a business

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