Leah Williamson interview: I was mascot in 2007 – 18 years later I'm playing in the final
The year was 2007, Williamson was 10 years old and Arsenal had never won what was then called the Uefa Cup, now known as the Women's Champions League.
Most of the day went to plan. Having won the first leg in Sweden 1-0, Arsenal held on for a 0-0 draw in the second to win the trophy and complete a historic quadruple. Williamson, a lifelong Arsenal fan, was understandably delighted – but she did have one gripe.
'I was actually really annoyed because I had to walk out with the Swedish team,' Williamson tells Telegraph Sport. 'I didn't even get to stand with Marta [the famous Brazil player in the Umea team] and I was thinking: 'This is not what I signed up for.''
Eighteen years on and Arsenal have finally reached a second European final, this time with Williamson on the pitch.
'I knew at the time in 2007 that it was a big thing but being a kid I didn't really get it and also being a kid supporting Arsenal, I just thought, 'Well, this is going to happen every year',' she says.
'To me, they were heroes and they just won everything. I didn't realise at the time it would be 18 years until the next one and that I would then be on the pitch; it's a bit crazy when you think about it.'
Arsenal produced a stunning performance in Lyon, overturning their 2-1 defeat from the first leg to win the second leg of the semi-final 4-1. It was the first time the French side had lost a European semi-final since 2009.
'What an amazing thing to have achieved,' Williamson says of her emotions at the full-time whistle. 'I had a few tears behind my eyes that didn't really come out because obviously you're thinking ahead. The best bit for me, I got my phone and rang my family straight away.
'They were sat with everyone, my grandma, my cousins were all in the room. It was lovely for them because I'll never be able to give back for what they did to help me, but those are the moments we can all share.'
Williamson is speaking to Telegraph Sport at the launch of Cadbury Game Changers, a nationwide search to celebrate those who go above and beyond to support others.
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The defender and her grandmother feature in the campaign, with Williamson explaining the important role she played during her early years. She says: 'Football turned out to be the thing that brought us together. It always felt like she had my back. She was always there to support me.
'When I look back I'm so grateful for that. She has an authority over me because I know how invested she is in my journey and I never want to disappoint her even though I don't think I could. She took me to games when my mum and dad couldn't, and she used to let me not wear my gumshield that my mum made me wear!
'I know how proud she is regardless of results but winning and winning for her team, Arsenal, is special for her.'
Few expected Arsenal to beat Lyon in the semi-finals and they will undoubtedly be the underdogs when they face three-time winners Barcelona in the final in Lisbon on Saturday.
'I think being an underdog is a privileged position,' Williamson says. 'I've been on both sides of that my whole career. I think it's fair that we're the underdog, this team has never been in a final before.
'Against Lyon in the semi-finals, history suggests that we shouldn't win that game. We're in a position where internally we know who we are and we know what we can do, it doesn't really matter about outside noise.
'It's never really come into our environment since Renée [Slegers, the manager] has been there. The narrative around the game is irrelevant, it's about whoever turns up and is the best on the night.'
Williamson will be taking the same approach when she leads England in their European Championship title defence this summer in Switzerland.
The Lionesses have enjoyed mixed fortunes since their 2022 triumph, reaching the World Cup final a year later but then failing to qualify for the Olympics, but Williamson is excited by how competitive the Euros should be.
'Everybody is going there to win. I think that makes it, as a footballing product, a fantastic opportunity for fans and players.
'I think results of all the teams in the last couple of years... there's been some shocks, it's kind of been all over. It probably is the most open and I think it's a testament to how far the game has come because the standard of every team is just so high.'
Williamson was ruled out of the World Cup because of an anterior cruciate ligament injury so that is providing extra motivation.
'I missed the last tournament, I'm not going to pretend the prospect of being able to go to one this year... of course that's my focus. It's something that lives in the back of my mind. If it arrives and if I'm there I plan to enjoy it to my fullest potential.'
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