JILL SCOTT x MONSTER KICKABOUT 

Published: 09/03/2026 | Written by: Dylan Jones 

Jill Scott has experienced football at every level. From the streets of Sunderland to the 2022 UEFA Euros Final at Wembley, she’s seen it all. The trophies. The stadiums. The crowds. The goals. The highs. The lows. Those moments are all part of her incredible story, but they are not where it began. The school playground, with boys and girls playing side by side, feels just as important to her. We sat down with her to discuss her role as the new face of the Monster Kickabout initiative, as well as the importance of grassroots football, not just in her journey, but for the future of the beautiful game.

Long before the caps, medals, and major honours, Jill Scott was simply a kid from Sunderland who loved football. And it was in places like school playgrounds and shared spaces, where everything started. Jill never set out with a plan to become a professional footballer. Football was simply something she loved. Something that felt right from the moment she was given the chance to play. 

Her journey didn’t start through set pathways or carefully designed development plans. It came through a schoolteacher who believed she belonged on the pitch. “There was a teacher called Mr Burns,” Jill recalls. “I think I was about seven or eight years old, and I remember asking, ‘Am I allowed to do this?’ because it was just all boys.” The answer changed everything. “He just said, ‘You’re allowed to do anything you want.’”  

It was a simple moment, but one Jill still thinks about today. She is still in touch with him now, something she says makes it even more special. “I never thought I’d go on to play for England over 150 times,” she said. “But if he hadn’t have said it was okay, that would never have happened.” 

This proves how crucial it is to encourage participation as such a young age. Without people like Mr Burns, we wouldn’t have the legends of the game like Jill Scott. And we wouldn’t have had influential stories to tell like hers that go on to inspire kids to create their own football journeys. Because changing the mindset of just one young player, can influence the mindset of the next generation. Monster Kickabout was founded on this purpose. To create a motivation and drive for kids to get involved in football. Breaking down the preconceived barriers and inspiring them to go on to make amazing achievements in the game we all love.  

“When I think back to being young, which was a long time ago now,” she says, smiling, “I fell in love with football at school because I got that opportunity. And with Monster Kickabout, you can see that same opportunity is there for girls and boys. It gives everyone the chance to fall in love with the game, just like I did. And the fact that we’re here today and you can see an equal number of boys and girls playing football is brilliant.” It might sound like a small thing, but it represents a huge shift in grassroots football. It is one of the many reasons why the Monster Kickabout initiative was started. The aim was to give girls the same opportunity as boys when it comes to grassroots football.

When conversations turn to the future of women’s football, the focus often lands on elite teams and major tournaments. But Jill is clear about where the real foundation of the game sits. 

“We always look at the England team or the top clubs,” she says. “But the future of football isn’t looking at the top of the pyramid; it’s looking at grassroots.” That belief sits at the heart of Monster Kickabout. A central drive for Monster Kickabout is to encourage children to get involved with football from an early age. Aiming to lower the entry barrier and make football feel welcoming, whether it’s someone’s first ever kick or something they already love. By bringing football directly into schools and community spaces, it ensures children are not just watching the game but actively taking part. 

Visiting schools and meeting young players still means a lot to Jill, particularly when she sees the excitement on young girls’ faces. 

“You get girls asking, ‘Did you play for England?’” she says. “And sometimes kids need to see someone doing something before they can believe it’s possible.” That visibility wasn’t something Jill had growing up. Her football heroes were all men, simply because that was all she could see. “I only had male role models like Frank Lampard or David Beckham,” she explains. “Now, if you ask the girls here, they’ll talk about players like Lucy Bronze.” That shift matters more than people sometimes realise. Being able to see your heroes achieve what you never thought would be possible, not only inspires kids, but makes them truly believe that they can be next. “If you can’t see women doing something, it’s really hard to dream it,” Jill says.

But inspiration alone isn’t enough. Jill is clear that access, safety and the right equipment all play a huge role in helping young players enjoy football and stick with it. 

“Safe spaces and equipment are the most important thing,” she says. “As the game grows, we have to make sure that if we’re encouraging girls to play, they have places where they feel safe.” Looking back at her own journey, Jill remembers how different things were. “There were times when I was getting buses on my own or walking through parks late at night,” she says. “That was just what you had to do to ensure your dream.” 

That contrast is part of why she values initiatives like Monster Kickabout so highly. “I love that times have changed,” she says. “You see sessions happening in schools, sports halls and safe spaces, and you can tell how much better the environment is now.” We used to have to fight with the boys just to get one football,” she laughs. “So, there's so much more you can do with the sessions if you have more equipment” 

Even something as simple as equipment can change the experience completely. Which is why one of the key goals of this initiative is to provide kits and equipment to school to help with training sessions and making sure kids enjoy football to a much higher degree. 

For Jill and Monster Kickabout, grassroots football is not just about producing future professionals. It is about giving young people confidence, enjoyment and a sense of belonging. If there is one thing to take away from Jill’s story, it is that people’s footballing journey doesn’t need to look a certain way. It can start in a playground. With a teacher. With a school session. With someone simply saying yes and giving kids an opportunity. For Jill, that moment came from a teacher who believed she belonged. For others, it might come through Monster Kickabout and the opportunities it creates. And maybe that is the most important reminder of all. The game does not begin with trophies or big stages. It begins with access, encouragement, and the freedom to play. 

Somewhere right now, another young player is discovering football for the first time. Thanks to initiatives like Monster Kickabout, and role models like Jill Scott, the path into the game has never felt more open.