I kept willing myself to perform - Reading star opens up on heartbreaking personal loss
The Mirror On the final day of the WSL season, nowhere played host to a more distinct exhibition of footballs contrasting emotions than Readings Select Car Leasing Stadium.
On the pitchs right side, Emma Hayes reigning champions romped through another trophy-lift, the novelty of the occasion incredibly not wearing off on the club or its voracious 6,000-plus faithful - even after 13 previous iterations.
Some 20 metres to the left stood the remains of Kelly Chambers Reading. Most were motionless, taking in the Blues raucous celebrations as they attempted to reconcile their own sentencing to the Championship after their eight-year tenure in the top-flight came to a withering halt.
We didnt have to stand there, concedes Reading centre-back Gemma Evans. No, but the 26-year-old Welsh international did. It was hard, but it was our choice. Sophie [Ingle] is a Welshie. And Chelsea deserved to win the title, so on a personal level I wanted to be respectful to that. I also wanted to support Soph in achieving that amazing title win.
