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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Lisa McLoughlin

‘I fell madly and deeply in love’: Alex Scott reveals she was in a relationship with teammate Kelly Smith

Former England international Alex Scott

(Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Archive)

Former Lioness Alex Scott has opened up about her past relationship with teammate Kelly Smith for the first time.

The footballer, 37, who played alongside Smith for both England and Arsenal, revealed that the 43-year-old was her “first love” as she spoke of the “heartbreak” that followed when they split.

Scott is set to discuss their romance for the first time in her upcoming memoir, How (Not) To Be Strong.

Speaking during a FANE talk in East London, the broadcaster admitted that it would be “cheating” to not include their time together which proved to be pivotal for both their lives.

As reported by the Mirror, Scott shared: “I’m writing this book and I want to tell everything. I thought I’d be cheating you all if I didn’t put that in there.

“For me, it’s like that first love story, I fell madly and deeply in love. And yes, there’s that heartbreak and those things, but it’s a huge part of my life and I wouldn’t go back and change that.

Alex Scott discussed her relationship with former teammate Kelly Smith (R). Pictured in 2016 with Arsenal manager Pedro Martinez Losa (PA)

“Because that feeling of love and that excitement and what it gives you, it needed to be in there.”

The TV star also recalled how Smith helped her deal with her traumatic childhood while battling alcoholism.

A source for Alex added: “Alex dates both men and women and doesn’t label herself as anything.

“This isn’t her big coming-out story but it was a chapter in her life that she wanted to include in her book because it had such an impact on her.”

The footballer-turned-broadcaster will discuss their romance in her new memoir, How (Not) To Be Strong (James Manning/PA)

The pair first met when they both played for Arsenal in 2005, and then moved across the pond together after signing with the Boston Breakers in 2009.

After three years Stateside, the sports stars returned to the UK to join the Women’s GB football team at the Olympics in London.

Following their split, Smith found love with wife DeAnna Dobosz, with whom she has two children.

While Scott has kept her love life private, she was reported to be dating Coronation Street’s Sam Robertson in 2020.

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