Sportswomen spend a day with England netballer Eboni Beckford-Chambers

There's more to England international Eboni Beckford-Chambers than just netball. I was lucky enough to spend a day in her very busy life for Sportswomen as she manages a professional career in a law firm alongside the demands of being an elite athlete. Here's the story of an average day in her life.

The alarm first sounds at 5:50am in the morning, when the England and Bath defender allows herself another precious 10 minutes of rest. She's out of bed at six and quickly prepares for her first of two training sessions that day.  

Half-an-hour later we arrive at Bath University, where Beckford-Chambers spends an hour in the weights room.

I grab a word with her strength and conditioning coach, Peter Gascoigne, who tells me it's all about improving her power, speed and strength.

"At this time of year there's a lot of games, so we're looking to maintain her strength while realising the power she's got naturally," he tells me.

It's approaching 8am and I'm already exhausted (and I'm only a spectator), as an energised Beckford-Chambers almost skips to the showers to get ready to begin her day as a legal assistant.

After a bus trip and a short six-minute walk through Bath's city centre, we arrive at her law firm - Mogers Drewett Solicitors.

We're greeted by her boss, the firm's partner, Maeve England. England immediately apologises for missing her employee's match against Australia the day before.

Beckford-Chambers, who played in all three matches in England's Test series with Australia in January, says: "Well, we didn't get the result we wanted, but the team played well, so I'm happy with that."

England explained how Mogers Drewett Solicitors supports and even encourages athletes like Beckford-Chambers to excel in both of her chosen careers. "Eboni's skills on the court translate very well into a legal career, in that she's a very determined person, she's driven and quite tenacious," she explains.

Beckford-Chambers, who joined the firm in November, is a legal assistant in the commercial litigation department and hopes to qualify as a solicitor in the next few years. Her day-to-day tasks involve drafting court forms, correspondence and client meetings.

It's clear Beckford-Chambers loves her job. She says: "It's varied. One minute you might be going to court for a trial or hearing, the next minute you might be at your desk drafting court forms or talking to clients."   

It's approaching 1pm when Beckford-Chambers says she's off to meet some friends for lunch. We walk less than 200 metres to a pizzeria, where five of her Bath team-mates are waiting. Team Bath vice-captain Asha Francis is among them.

We all sit down and I ask Beckford-Chambers about her diet. "You are what you eat and I feel much healthier and more energised when I'm eating the right foods." She laughs and admits: "Every once in a while, I'll come to lunch with the girls, and we'll have a treat like a pizza."

I ask Francis about Beckford-Chambers and what she brings to the team. The vice-captain is full of praise for her team-mate: "She inspires us all to constantly be better at training and all the things we have to do outside of training as well."

After lunch we head back to the firm, where Beckford-Chambers doesn't stop until 4:45pm.

We head back through the city centre, past the historic Pump Rooms and Bath Abbey. The walk is timed perfectly, because as we get to her stop, the bus is just pulling up.

After a 15-minute journey we're back at the university, where Beckford-Chambers changes her attire for the third time that day.

She comes out wearing her England jumper and matching navy three-quarter leggings. We arrive in time for a massage at 6pm on the dot. Beckford-Chambers tells me she visits either the physio or masseuse most evenings before her on-court session.

Just over half an hour later she's on the court with her team-mates, warming up and getting ready to train. "It's actually quite good to have a run around after a long day at work," she says. I watch on as Bath coach Anna Stembridge puts her team through their paces.

When the session finally comes to an end, I'm surprised to see Beckford-Chambers still smiling. More than 15 hours have passed since I arrived at her house that morning. I'm pleased when she tells me that it's time to head home. She then adds: "And get ready to do it all again tomorrow."

Before we say our goodbyes, I shake my head in disbelief and ask her how she maintains such a busy schedule. Her response is quick: "I guess I lead a double life, and I wouldn't have it any other way."