Chelsea winger Karen Carney is gobsmacked at MBE award
Tuesday 3 January 2017 16:55, UK
Chelsea winger Karen Carney was gobsmacked when she heard the news she had received an award in the New Year's Honours list.
The 29-year-old, who has been awarded 122 international caps for England and won the 2015 FA WSL 1 title with Chelsea, can now add an MBE to her achievements.
Carney spoke of her delight in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News HQ.
She said: "I'm just overwhelmed and it's an amazing honour - truly blessed. I mean there are thousands of people in women's football who don't get on the map and to receive that for services to women's football is a massive honour.
"But there are loads of other people that could have got it as well, but I'm just really, really thankful for everyone who has always supported me and helped me on my journey."
Looking at her career, Carney considers the highlight as reaching a century of caps for her country at Wembley, shortly after Wayne Rooney achieved a similar feat.
Carney said: Obviously getting you debut is massive, bit I think it really dawned on me when I got my 100th cap at Wembley, had the privilege to lead the team out and then received it.
"Receive my 100th cap actually a week after Wayne Rooney, which was amazing as well to see him and then see myself collect it, was a massive achievement.
"Every little girls dream, every little boys dream is to play at Wembley, so for a girl to do it and collect he 100th cap there was just a massive achievement. So, I think that's when it really hit me.
Carney has also been open about her battle with depression, and she hopes her award will inspire others with similar issues.
She said: "It affected my performance for probably a few years and I probably did it for a long time, and that's why I'm grateful to the people around me, my friends, my family, who helped me through that period.
"I think it's important to mention it to people because everyone goes through it at some point in their life unfortunately
"It's nothing to be ashamed of, it's nothing to be afraid of, and everyone struggles. It's just sometimes people don't say how they are struggling.
"It's OK when you are struggling to reach out for help."
