CLECKHEATON-raised Mel Garside-Wight watched England's superb 2015 Women's World Cup campaign with great interest and, as a former international herself, was delighted to see some of her former team-mates achieve success.

"I played alongside Casey Stoney, Katy Chapman and Fara Williams with England, and both with and against many of the other players and studio pundits in my time in the Women's Premier League", said one-time Whitcliffe Mount pupil Mel.

"The win over Germany was particularly pleasing as I had played in one of those 20 previously unsuccessful attempts to beat them.

"We were desperately unlucky against Japan but you have to praise Mark Sampson for his work as coach.

"He had 23 players out in Canada and there was complete togetherness in the squad.

"Tactically he was brave in the way he changed the team to suit the situation – different systems for different matches.

"I played three times for England, and always felt part of the team, but under the previous manager (Hope Powell) I found that there was not the same level of unity right across the squad.

"There was more emphasis on the 11 in the team and not the same flexibility. Once the team had been selected there weren't ever many changes."

Mel, 35 and a mini-bus driver with Kirklees Social Services, was born in Halifax but brought up on the Foldings estate in Scholes.

She played her first senior game for Bradford City when she was only 12, which wouldn't be allowed now women's football is better structured with under-age competitions, but she went on to play for Doncaster Belles and Manchester City before returning to Bradford.

Today she is still the only Bradford City player to win an England cap during her time at the club – although others have gone on to play for England after leaving them.

Mel finished playing regularly two years ago but she will have one last run-out when she turns out for an England Legends side against Sheffield FC on Sunday, August 9 in a game to commemorate 20 years of England's Women's World Cup campaigning and to raise money for a Breast Cancer Charity.

The game is at Stratford Town FC in Stratford on Avon, but let's hope it won't be much ado about nothing and, like bronze-medal winners England, that all's well that ends well.