Leading From The Back, Steph Houghton
Leading From The Back, Steph Houghton
List: $31.99 | Sale: $22.40
Club: $15.99

Leading From The Back
My journey to the top of women's football

Author: Steph Houghton

Narrator: Steph Houghton

Unabridged: 5 hr 48 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/07/2024


Synopsis

SHORTLISTED FOR *AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR* AT THE CHARLES TYRWHITT SPORTS BOOK AWARDS

*One of Waterstones' Best Sport Books of the Year 2024*

'Steph is truly one of the all-time greats of the women's game' Jill Scott

'Documents [Steph's] crucial role in helping to change perceptions of women's football' The Guardian

The inspiring memoir of one of football's greatest players - Steph Houghton - in which she recounts the highs and lows of making it to the top of her game as England Captain, star of the London Olympics, and Man City stalwart, via Sunderland, Leeds and Arsenal.

With 121 caps for the Lionesses, Steph has been at the heart of the women's football revolution, inspiring girls and young women around the world but in her own understated way.

Leading from the Back is Steph's incredibly honest account of what it takes to make it to the pinnacle of women's football when the odds are well and truly stacked against you.

Inside, she shares her dreams of becoming professional as a young girl in Sunderland and how reaching that status has been a long and often difficult path, both on and off the pitch, especially her husband Steph Darby's devastating Motor Neurone Disease (MND) diagnosis. In between, she recounts the amazing highs of playing for her country, making history at the Olympics, lifting cups for her team, and the awe-inspiring people she has encountered along the way.

This is not only Steph's personal story, but also the story of women's football in England and internationally. Steph is credited as being one of the greatest influences in growing the women's game to the biggest it has ever been.

A remarkable journey of unwavering determination that reveals the grit needed to stay true to yourself, and what it really takes to be a leader; this is the full and incredible story of a sports pioneer, 'Super Steph'.

About Steph Houghton

Steph Houghton MBE is a former professional footballer who is credited as a pioneer of the women's game having played a huge role in the growth of the sport. A former captain for both the women's England team, the Lionesses, and Manchester City, Steph has won 121 caps for her country and represented Great Britain twice. She made history for Team GB in the London 2012 Olympics by scoring their first goal in women's football, and later competed at the Tokyo 2020 games. Starting out at Sunderland, she has also played for Leeds United and Arsenal. Steph retired after a decade at Manchester City in 2024 and soon afterwards was inducted into the Football Museum's Hall of Fame.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Stephen on January 07, 2025

informative and frank autobiography discussing her football career from origins in the north east to Manchester city......more

Goodreads review by Tara on December 18, 2024

2.5 Very clunky, but amazing to see how far the women's game has come & how much Steph has dealt with over her career!......more

Goodreads review by Miriam on November 14, 2024

Steph is a champion and hearing the barriers she was part of breaking down is impressive and important to anyone who cares about equality. I love how much she cares about her family, kindness, and bettering the experiences for all involved in football. As for the storytelling, I enjoyed the swearing......more

Goodreads review by Emily on February 07, 2025

4.0/5 Before reading this autobiography, I didn't knew much about Steph. I just knew her from football and her podcast. This book gave a really good insight into who Steph is on a personal level. The writing wasn't the best and the first 100 pages didn't hook me in. However, the pace picked up and es......more

Goodreads review by MRS on December 30, 2024

Without a shadow of doubt this woman is a legend. She inspires me every day.......more