Louise Marshall could have been forgiven for being beset with nerves when Lioness Chloe Kelly stepped up to take her by-now famous penalty kick to decide the outcome of Sunday’s Euro 25 final between England and Spain at Basel in Switzerland.
But Ms Marshall – who watched the unfolding drama at The Bell sports bar in Cardigan’s High Street – never had any doubt that the player, a first cousin of her late husband Scott, would deliver the goods for England once again.
“I suppose you could say we made enough noise!” Ms Marshall – who is remembered as one of the White twins in her home village of St Dogmaels – told the Tivyside, reliving the euphoric moment Ms Kelly's shot went in.
“The atmosphere in The Bell was lovely – and I never had any doubt that Chloe would stick that ball in the back of the net. She had proved she could do it in the games beforehand, hadn’t she?”
Ms Marshall and twin sister Denise grew up in St Dogmaels before moving to Cardigan at 16. Later on, they moved to west London, where she would meet the Kelly family through her late husband.
One of seven siblings, Chloe Kelly grew up in Southall and developed her football skills in the football cages of west London from an early age – a true street footballer.
“Chloe is lovely,” said Ms Marshall, currently enjoying a break back in Cardigan. “Just a really nice person. She keeps in touch with the family back in Cardigan.
“Her mum and dad came down here to attend my wedding to Scott many years ago.”
