Leah Williamson with Theo Walcott of Arsenal before the Carling Cup 3rd round match between West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal on March 10, 2006
Lifelong Arsenal fan Leah Williamson interrupted a family holiday to be a mascot and meet Theo Walcott at a League Cup match in 2006
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The face of England women's football has become someone who doesn't like it.

She feels like an impostor since she went from being a fan and mascot for her beloved team to a key player.

Her appointment as England captain for this summer's European Championship could have raised eyebrows since she's been to major tournaments before.

She had only six minutes as a substitute in the World Cup before she became England's head coach.

The 25-year-old's standing within the game is shown by the lack of detractors.

When she made her senior international debut in the last Euros, she was yet to make a single appearance for the Lionesses, but now has 29 appearances to her name.

If I start that first game, it will be my first start in a major tournament. As captain, I'm doing it.

I have not had many opportunities in the past but I have been preparing for this now. I see it as the next part of the journey.

Leah Williamson as a mascot before the Womens UEFA Cup Final 2nd leg Between Arsenal Women and Umea on April 29, 2007
Ten-year-old Leah Williamson (sixth from left) was a mascot for Arsenal's match in the Women's Uefa Cup final in 2007

During 60 minutes in her company strolling the streets of north London, nothing is off limits for a player England manager SarinaWiegman called a great leader.

The future of the women's game in this country and the world is the subject of a documentary being made by the British Broadcasting Corporation.

She told Scott that she was the girl that had her role models in football. I feel like I'm an impostor because I don't see myself as similar to you guys.

Someone is looking at me. I'm a bit like, "tough shoes to fill", because they come to watch me week in, week out.

  • Watch Alex Scott: The Future of Women's Football on BBC iPlayer

The England team-mates welcomed her as their new captain.

On and off the pitch, she is a very mature individual who leads by example. A key trait of a good England captain is their consistent personality, and that's what Williamson has, according to the players.

'We don't have to graft'

In her time in the game, the landscape has changed a lot.

She didn't know if it was possible to make a living as a footballer as a child, but now top players can expect to earn £500,000 a year in wages and commercial deals, and a home Euros will increase the earning power of the Lionesses.

"My dad always told me that he wanted me to be a footballer so that I could make a living," says the young man.

The game has ended." The opportunities that now come with it, obviously we benefit from them, but it's never been what I had in mind when I was younger.

We don't have another job and we don't have to work hard. I didn't expect it, but it wasn't this. It was not people who recognised you on the street.

Two girls hold a banner asking for Leah Williamson's shirt
Arsenal fans hold a banner asking for Leah Williamson's shirt

During the break between the end of the domestic season and joining up with England, she will be heading to Italy for a Gucci fashion show that she never anticipated. She says that people will invite you because of your influence in society.

The England players are aware of the increased scrutiny that comes with the growing opportunities.

The Lionesses camp has had discussions on how to approach social media during the Euros.

She said that she was fine at the World Cup. I was on all of the social media platforms.

It's a nice time of my life and I want to celebrate with my people and share my story, so I will be much more careful this time.

A lot of the girls have been hit hard by the use of social media in the game.

They had to pull themselves out of it. I don't know a lot of people that are involved on their socials.

A lot of female football players face a lot of messages from people who want them to stop playing football. Women footballers take the patronising personally because it's my game, I'm here to protect it.

I don't like watching fencing, but I don't like saying I don't like it on social media.

You don't want rugby to disappear if you are a football fan. You just think that football is better. We need to remove it if it is women.

She says that they are not going anywhere.

Leah Williamson drinks from a bottle alongside Casey Stoney
Leah Williamson has won the FA Cup twice with Arsenal, as well as one league title and two League Cup crowns

The England head coach pointed out the calmness when she announced her appointment as captain.

But the 25-year-old becomes like a wide-eyed child when she talks about the world record crowds of more than 90,000 that watched Barcelona's Women's Champs League quarter-finals and semi-finals at the Nou Camp.

She doesn't think she'll see that in her lifetime. I'm not happy. It would have been amazing to play in.

England's three group matches and the final at Wembley have all sold out, and that excitement spills over again.

There has always been a correlation between success in a tournament and the league's future. I'm looking forward to seeing where we go and how much it will benefit the game in this country.

If you had told me when I was a kid that I'd be playing for England in a home Euros, I wouldn't have believed you. I just think that it is amazing.

The man is off. She is going to catch a flight to Italy to start her summer and become the first England football captain to lift a major trophy in 50 years.

Those are difficult shoes to replace.

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