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Jill Scott has established herself as a respected football pundit since retiring - Getty Images/Paul Ellis
When Jill Scott first met Roy Keane she was overawed, nervous and talked so much she claims she did little more than “chew the ears off” one of football’s prickliest characters for more than two hours.
Keane, notoriously, does not suffer fools or time-wasters and Scott was not sure what the former Manchester United captain would make of her badgering him for stories about his time as Sunderland manager with relentless enthusiasm. What has followed, though, is one of the game’s more unlikely friendships.
Indeed, Scott and Keane’s relationship is a heart-warming subplot of the Stick to Football podcast.
As regular guests, the pair tease each other like brother and sister. If you watch on YouTube, you will often see them smirking in each other’s direction, as they gently goad their fellow guests.
“I’m not sure Roy would describe us as friends,” Scott replies with a laugh when the subject is raised. “The first time I met him was in Qatar at the World Cup. I was sat next to him and he was telling me stories about when he was Sunderland manager. As a Sunderland fan, oh my God, I think I chewed his ear off for two hours. That was our initial communication…
“I think we get on. I respect him so much, his values, his morals and the way he looks at life. I loved him as a footballer. Maybe we are friends, I enjoy getting a coffee with him. He makes you laugh all the time. I actually think he could be a comedian, you know. He’s a great guy, I feel very lucky to work with him. He’s not as grumpy as people think, he’s not… he is just passionate about football.
“In fact, he’s passionate about life. If he sees something that he doesn’t like, you know a dog having a poo and the owner not picking it up, he is going to tell you. He wants to put everything right in the world, but he has got good values and morals and I think that’s great.”
One of the funniest moments on the podcast came last year when Scott told a story about being tackled by former West Ham and Newcastle striker Marlon Harewood in a charity game, telling the panel he had “absolutely smashed” her. His eyes sparkling with mischief, Keane, with impeccable comedy timing, replied: “And what was the game like?” The clip, with Keane’s smile afterwards, the raised eyebrow, the protest that it was merely an innocent question, as everyone burst into laughter, inevitably went viral. It was indicative of their relationship that he could say something like that to her.
They may make each other laugh, but Scott, like most people who have spent any time with Keane, has incurred his wrath, annoying the former Republic of Ireland international with her poor time-keeping. It has led to a big change in her life. “He’s definitely changed my time-keeping,” she adds. “I’m always early now. He is a bit scary in those moments, if you’re late.
“Throughout my career, that was something I was known for, I’d always be a little bit late for training and stuff like that. That is something he has definitely remedied. I’m not late anymore.”
Scott’s rise to national prominence after her retirement in the wake of England’s European Championship triumph of 2022 has been remarkable, but she is never too far away from the women’s game.
The conversation moves on to the Lionesses’ hopes of defending their Euros crown in Switzerland in July.
England’s form suffered after they were beaten in the World Cup final by Spain. Sarina Wiegman’s side failed to qualify for the Olympics and struggled in Euros qualification, but there are encouraging signs as they look to peak for another tournament.
“I wasn’t worried about the post-World Cup dip,” says Scott, who was capped 161 caps for England. “I think they are coming out of that. I don’t think people realise how much a tournament takes out of you mentally and physically. But England have a tournament on the horizon and they will be at it again.”
She adds: “When you are led by someone like Sarina, who is used to tournaments, is used to pressure, the one thing you can guarantee is that we will be the best-prepared team heading into Switzerland. They will thrive on the situation, there will be a lot of hype around the games and that will bring out the best in them.
“England are a tournament team. They have been walking around with this big target on their backs for years, they can handle that. I’m confident they are going to do well.”
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Sarina Wiegman and England will look to defend their Euro 2022 title this summer - Reuters/Denis Balibouse
As a former midfielder, Scott is also taking a keen interest in the rise of Manchester United’s Grace Clinton after she emerged from the recent run of friendlies as one of the most exciting prospects in the country.
“You can’t take your attention away from Grace Clinton at the minute,” she added. “That box-to-box midfielder role is going from the game a little bit. You have your holding midfielder like Keira Walsh and your attacking midfielder like Ella Toone, but Grace adds that link in midfield.
“I played with her at Everton when I went back there on loan and she was one of the young players coming through and she asked so many questions. She wanted to learn, seeing her thrive now for England, she is definitely going to be one to watch in the summer. You need young players coming through between tournaments to freshen things up.”
As part of The Greater Game initiative, a partnership between the Football Association and M&S, Jill Scott is trying to educate and inspire 12-16-year-olds to use nutrition to improve their health and wellbeing.
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