Millie Bright's greatness obvious as a Doncaster Rovers Belles youngster, says Sue Smith
Right from the start at Doncaster Rovers Belles, Millie Bright was an unflappable character and a born winner, and ex- team-mate Sue Smith says the defender retires as one of the all-time greats of English football.
The 32-year-old from Killamarsh came up through Sheffield United's youth system but broke into senior football at Doncaster, with 94-capped England winger Smith as a team-mate.
Even then she could see the qualities which led to Bright winning 88 caps herself, England's first European Championship, 20 domestic honours with Chelsea including eight Women's Super League titles, and a World Cup runners-up medal.
Bright, who retired from international football last year, called time on her club career on Wednesday.
"I played with her at Donny and she was just such a good kid,” recalls Smith. "I knew she would get to the top. She was the ultimate professional, even at that age.
"Sometimes with youngsters you've got to guide them, and say, ‘We need some extra training or extra bits in the gym.' She was always there.
"She played with no fear. There was no, 'Oh my God, we're playing against Arsenal this week.' It didn't faze her.
"I feel like she took that into her England career. To be at the very top for so long you have to have that belief.
"She would absolutely smash you in training to win the ball.
"She's quite outgoing and she'll have a laugh but she's got an aura about her. It probably helps that she's so physically strong and imposing but she also leads by example and she's unflappable in a massive game.
"If you see your captain shaking or even just tapping their feet you start to worry too but when you see them so calm, it makes you think, 'They're okay so we're okay.'
"I think her love of horses helped, because it allowed her to get out of her football bubble.
"And she'd always have good support from her family in the stands."
Bright, who had a loan at Leeds United in 2012 before permanently leaving the Belles for Chelsea two years later, put her name into English football history with her as stand-in captain the Lionesses won Euro 2022.
"Anyone who was part of that team just has to be considered one of this country's all-time great English women's footballers," says Smith. "Sometimes us attacking players get all the credit, but a solid centre-half like Millie is the foundation and the players that played her will know that."