Extra: Lucy Staniforth on retirement, pride and a love-hate relationship with football

Aston Villa midfielder Lucy Staniforth has announced her retirement from football at the end of the season and sits down with Em Sanders to discuss her decision at why she is 'at ease' with her career. The 33-year-old began her career at Sunderland in 2008 and has gone on to represent seven clubs, the most of any player in the Women's Super League. Staniforth also earned 17 caps for England and was an FA Cup runner-up in 2009 and 2013. Lucy chats to Em about the start of her journey, breaking into Sunderland's first team at the age of 16, her love-hate relationship with football over the years and shaking the 'Lucy the footballer' label as she starts a new life away from the pitch. Live commentary of Lucy's final WSL home game for Aston Villa, against Arsenal, is on Sports Extra on Saturday 9th at midday.

You can listen to Extra: Lucy Staniforth on retirement, pride and a love-hate relationship with football online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Extra: Lucy Staniforth on retirement, pride and a love-hate relationship with football is an episode from Jill Scott’s Coffee Club by BBC.

This episode is 18:12 long.

This episode was published on May 7, 2026.

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