Five things you may have missed from episode four of That Lionesses Podcast

The latest episode of That Lionesses Podcast connected by EE is out and available to listen to now across all major podcast providers as Niamh Charles and Maya Le Tissier joined Harriet Rose on the sofa.

And here are five things you may have missed from the episode.

A juggling act

In the latest instalment, the pair discussed navigating their hectic schedules and the challenges of making plans too far in advance as footballers. In particular, Chelsea defender Charles recalled a time when she was unable to celebrate a milestone birthday while balancing her playing career and her social life.

“Well, I missed my own 21st birthday party – that’s how bad it gets,” said Charles. “My whole family planned it and we all went to this big house and we all went and stayed together. I was the only person that wasn’t there!

“Of course, they still went and had a great time and showed me all the pictures and took a cardboard cut out of me. That literally sums football up.”

The cardboard cut out 😂

Episode four of #ThatLionessesPodcast connected by @EE with @niamhcharles7 and @MayaLeTissier is ready for your ears! 👂

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 13, 2025

Role models

Conversation turned to which current and former Lionesses both Charles and Le Tissier looked up to while growing up.

While Le Tissier cited England veteran Lucy Bronze, who is about to embark on her seventh major tournament, and former captain Steph Houghton as some of her inspirations, Charles spoke of Fara Williams and of course, Jill Scott.

“I remember meeting Jill when I was playing in my grassroots team and she was playing for Everton,” recounted Charles. “I just remember I just want to ask her a question because I thought that would make or break my football career that I steal this question.”

Board game lovers

There are many ways to spend downtime during camp but for Charles and Le Tissier, they spoke of their enthusiasm for board games. In particular, a four-player strategy game called ‘Partners’.

“There’s only allowed to be four people – you can’t have any less or any more as well,” explained Maya, talking through the rules. “You just have to get around the board but you have your own partner but you’re not allowed to speak to them but you have to swap a card with them at the start.”

A game which the defensive duo stressed takes a lot of concentration and which is taken ‘really, really seriously’ among their team-mates, they explained that there is even an ongoing scoreboard at camp to keep track of who is currently on top.

The morning walk club

Alternatively, Le Tissier explained that she often likes to get out about to explore and see the sights, as do some of her team-mates. And so, the morning walk club was born.

“Basically, I love to go on walks,” said Le Tissier. “There are just a few other people that come on the walks and we have a morning walk club. Anyway, this one time everyone wanted to join the walk.

“I was just like, ‘oh my god – I don’t know if I could deal with this many people on the walk’. All of them came and I was trying not to be stressed but I was at the front just walking but in the end, it was actually one of my favourite walks in Belgium.”

Young Lionesses

And discussions also centred on the Young Lionesses and both Charles and Le Tissier’s experiences of working their way through the age groups.

“It was pretty scary when you were at the youth age groups,” said Le Tissier. “I didn’t really know anyone, so it was a bit nerve-wracking.

“Obviously, you want to get to this level but there’s so many girls in the squads, you think, ‘oh, I wonder who’s going to make it out of this group’. I’d hoped but you never really know. You need a bit of luck as well, so I’d hoped.”