Former Lioness Alex Scott details her ‘romance and heartbreak’ with teammate Kelly Smith

Former Lioness Alex Scott has confirmed her past relationship with her teammate Kelly Smith as she opened up about their romance for the first time in her memoir. 

The footballer, 37, who played alongside Kelly, 43, for both England and Arsenal, candidly admitted that she was her ‘first love’ as she spoke of the ‘heartbreak’ that followed when they split. 

In the book, titled How (Not) To Be Strong, Alex lifts the lid on her past and added that it would be ‘cheating’ to not include their time together as they helped each other face their demons. 

Honest: Former Lioness Alex Scott, 37, has detailed her relationship with her teammate Kelly Smith as she opened up about their romance in her new memoir

Speaking to The Mirror at the launch, she explained: ‘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.

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

Upset: The footballer candidly admitted that she was her 'first love' as she spoke of the 'heartbreak' that followed (pictured in 2017)

Upset: The footballer candidly admitted that she was her ‘first love’ as she spoke of the ‘heartbreak’ that followed (pictured in 2017)

Tough time: Alex (pictured with Kelly in 2009) also admitted it would be 'cheating' to not include their time together in her new book

Tough time: Alex (pictured with Kelly in 2009) also admitted it would be ‘cheating’ to not include their time together in her new book

Alex recalled how Kelly helped her helped her to deal with her traumatic childhood whilst she battled 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 was a chapter in her life that she wanted to include in her book because it had such an impact on her.’

Candid: In the book, Alex lifts the lid on her past, adding she and Kelly helped each other face their demons (Pictured in 2012)

Candid: In the book, Alex lifts the lid on her past, adding she and Kelly helped each other face their demons (Pictured in 2012)

Support: Alex recalled how Kelly helped her helped her to deal with her traumatic childhood whilst she battled alcoholism

 Support: Alex recalled how Kelly helped her helped her to deal with her traumatic childhood whilst she battled alcoholism

Memories: She said: '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' (Pictured in 2011 at FIFA Women's World Cup)

Memories: She said: ‘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’ (Pictured in 2011 at FIFA Women’s World Cup)

Current partner: Following their split from Alex, Kelly went on to marry DeAnna Dobosz in 2016, with whom she has two children (pictured in December 2021)

Current partner: Following their split from Alex, Kelly went on to marry DeAnna Dobosz in 2016, with whom she has two children (pictured in December 2021)

Following their split, Kelly went on to marry DeAnna Dobosz in 2016, with whom she has two children. 

Alex largely remained tight-lipped about her relationships in the past, though she was rumoured to be in relationship with Coronation Street’s Sam Robertson in 2020.

In a recent interview with The Times, Alex hinted that she was currently single as she admitted she is ready to ‘let her walls down’ and find love again.

Important: Alex continued: 'Because that feeling of love and that excitement and what it gives you, it needed to be in there' (Playing with England at UEFA WEURO in 2017)

Important: Alex continued: ‘Because that feeling of love and that excitement and what it gives you, it needed to be in there’ (Playing with England at UEFA WEURO in 2017)

Flame? Alex largely remained tight-lipped about her relationships in the past, though she was rumoured to be in relationship with Coronation Street's Sam Robertson in 2020

Flame? Alex largely remained tight-lipped about her relationships in the past, though she was rumoured to be in relationship with Coronation Street’s Sam Robertson in 2020

She said: ‘I’ve been single for a while now, and I think that’s because I needed to be. There were patterns in my relationships that I knew were not healthy.

‘I understand myself more now. Before I always had these walls up because I was trying to protect myself and protect people around me

“Now I’m ready to let them all down. I’m ready to be loved.’

It comes after the footballer revealed how racist and sexist abuse from online trolls left her scared for her life as she turned to drink.

Team: Both Alex and Kelly also and represented GB in the summer 2012 Olympics (L-R Kelly, Faye White, Ellen White and Alex outside Wembley)

Team: Both Alex and Kelly also and represented GB in the summer 2012 Olympics (L-R Kelly, Faye White, Ellen White and Alex outside Wembley)

The former Lioness, who fronted the coverage of the Women’s Euros this summer with Gabby Logan and Ian Wright, revealed she has the tendency to slip into ‘dark places’ sometimes.

She said she received a barrage of abusive messages after she was inaccurately named the new host of BBC sports quiz show, A Question of Sport.

Although comedian Paddy McGuinness was actually lined up to take over from Sue Barker, people took to social media to express their discontent when they thought Alex was the new host – and according to the presenter, the messages quickly became nasty.

A source for Alex added: 'Alex dates both men and women and doesn't label herself as anything' (Kelly and Alex pictured together in 2012)

A source for Alex added: ‘Alex dates both men and women and doesn’t label herself as anything’ (Kelly and Alex pictured together in 2012)

History: Alex largely remained tight-lipped about her relationships in the past, however was rumoured to be in relationship with Coronation Street's Sam Robertson in 2020

History: Alex largely remained tight-lipped about her relationships in the past, however was rumoured to be in relationship with Coronation Street’s Sam Robertson in 2020

Moving on: Following their split, Kelly went on to marry DeAnna Dobosz in 2016, with whom she has two children

Moving on: Following their split, Kelly went on to marry DeAnna Dobosz in 2016, with whom she has two children

Speaking to The Times, she said the vitriol was so bad she was worried for her own safety, as death threats flooded her inbox.

She said: ‘I was scared to leave my house to even go to the shop. That’s the stage that we’d got to – that, oh my gosh, someone black might be replacing a national treasure could cause such hatred.’

Alex added she briefly turned to alcohol to try and drown out the level of abuse she was receiving.

The former Lioness, who is still good friends with current England players including captain Leah Williamson, revealed she has also been targeted for her background, as a working-class girl who grew up in a tower block in Poplar, east London.

Awful: It comes after the footballer revealed how racist and sexist abuse from online trolls left her scared for her life as she turned to drink (pictured in 2021)

Awful: It comes after the footballer revealed how racist and sexist abuse from online trolls left her scared for her life as she turned to drink (pictured in 2021) 

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk