Chloe Kelly would have found it hard to avoid football growing up. The youngest of seven children embraced the sport from the moment she followed her five brothers to a caged gravel pitch on the Windmill Park Estate.

Kelly was football-mad. As a youngster she even took the 92 bus from Ealing to go to Wembley on FA Cup Final day. Was she there to watch the match? No. She was there to collect a programme.

That yearly pilgrimage helped form the Lioness with the location taking on a whole new meaning yesterday: as she scored the goal at Wembley against Germany to bring England its first piece of footballing silverware since 1966.

'I don't think there are many who came up playing in a cage,' says the 24-year-old. 'I was always around the cage with the boys as soon as I was allowed, about the age of seven. 

'My brothers included me even though they were older and playing with their friends.

Chloe Kelly, centre, celebrates with Lauren Hemp, left, and Jill Scott after scoring the winner in the Euro 2022 final for England

'The whole summer we would get out in the cage early mornings, go back for some food and be straight back there. 

'A few years later, someone melted a bin in the middle. It wasn't the best, but we had to make do with what we had!

'Playing cage football really made me the player I am. It added a bit more creativity to my game and the physicality as well.'

Were the brothers protective? 'Definitely not. They were probably the ones telling everyone to hit me harder. Get used to it. If I was on the floor, they would tell me to get up.

'They never really felt sorry for me if I was getting knocked about. I think that was the way to go. If they made it easy, you would always think everything is going to come easy in life and that's not the case. That's how I've got so far today.

'I was one of them. Looking back, I really appreciate that but less so at the time. I was a bit gutted going home and crying to my mum sometimes.'

Kelly watches elder brother Jack and triplets Ryan, Jamie and Martin play local league football when she is back in west London.

'Jack still says now that he's better than me,' says Kelly who has another brother, Daniel, and sister, Paris. 'He says, "I've taught you everything you know, but not everything I know". 

'They don't let me get too carried away. They always keep me grounded and that's a great thing.'

After being scouted by QPR at a schools tournament - 'it was my first real game because I was used to playing in the cages' - Kelly turned professional with Arsenal.

While at the north London club she was regularly backed at matches by her supportive parents, father, Noel and mother, Jane, who attended her games. 

And for the last three years she has had the additional support of her partner, Scott. The pair celebrated three years together in June. 

After growing up in London, she took the bold decision to move to Everton, initially on loan, in 2016 even though it led to homesickness and regular calls to her mother and father.

'If I hadn't gone to Everton, I don't know if I would be in the position I'm in now at City and pushing on in my career,' she says. 

'I could have been satisfied with sitting on the bench at a top club but I needed minutes under my belt. I needed to show what I was capable of on the pitch, not just the training pitch. 

'I don't think a lot of people would make that leap of moving to a city I'd never been to before at such a young age.

'It was very daunting. Because I was such a family girl, I got homesick and every opportunity I got I would be back, but I knew it was the best for my career.'

Kelly was fourth in the Women's Super League scoring charts with nine goals for Everton when the season was ended. 

City, who were top at the time but saw Chelsea crowned champions on a points-per-game basis, signed Kelly in July 2020 and she scored an impressive 10 goals and made 11 assists in her first season in Manchester.

'Once I found out City were interested in me it was a case of, "OK, when can we get it done?". I can't wait to get going,' says Kelly. 

'There are a lot of England internationals here and that was massive for me. If I get another call-up, it's easier going into that environment by playing with those players day in, day out.

'I looked at playing with the likes of Steph Houghton and Jill Scott, learning, adding to my game. I'm ambitious and I want to be the best version of myself.'

She only made one appearance in the WSL last season after suffering a heartbreaking ACL injury which jeopardised her ability to compete in this summer's Euros.

But she roared back and made Sarina Wiegman's squad for the home tournament.

It was the latest rally back from injury that Kelly had to endure. She made her England debut in November 2018 as a substitute against Austria in a friendly but suffered an ankle injury that required surgery the following February.

It kept her out for six months and out of contention for a place at the 2019 World Cup, where new team-mate Ellen White scored six goals as England reached the semi-finals.

But the demons of missing out on that run have been banished by her heroics in the Euros final yesterday, following up on a spilled ball in the 20th minute of extra time to send England into dreamland.

As celebrations erupted, Kelly, wrapped up in the immense jubilation, ran off midway through a post-match press conference to sing Sweet Caroline with the record-breaking crowd at Wembley.

Asked how she felt, she said: 'Oh my God, look at them, it's amazing honestly. Thank you every single person who have come to support us.

She added: 'This is unreal,' before bursting into song with the crowd.

Fans salute Chloe Kelly after the substitute whipped off her shirt and ran deliriously around the pitch - echoing American legend Brandi Chastain - after scoring the WINNER for England in the Euro 2022 final!

By Michael Rudling for MailOnline

Chloe Kelly made history with an extra-time winner in Sunday's Euro final, giving England their first major trophy in women's football.

The substitute took her shirt off after poking the ball home from close range and ran around the pitch with her euphoric teammates.

It would have been an emotional moment for the 24-year-old who returned from an ACL injury earlier this year. The winner was her first competitive international goal.

She gave English football its Brandi Chastain moment in her celebration, whirling her shirt around her head in a moment of glorious abandon, as she raced away pursued by ecstatic team-mates.

It drew comparisons with former USA international Chastain, who shot to fame in 1999 after she celebrated scoring her country's winning penalty in the World Cup final by ripping off her shirt, waving it around her head and dropping to her knees.

And fans lauded Man City star after her goal, saying: 'Chloe Kelly is top class. How she hasn't been starting games is beyond me,' tweeted one fan after the late goal.

Another commented: 'Chloe Kelly deserves that goal. Been excellent whenever she's come off the bench, ran the line, got the crowd going and now instinctive play. Love it. Its coming home!'

Others offered simpler messages of support such as 'Chloe Kelly. You legend!' and 'Yes Chloe Kelly!! Its got to be coming home now.'

The win gives England their first ever major trophy in women's football, and the first Euros win for any England side. 

Speaking after the game, Kelly said: ' It's amazing, this is unreal. Honestly, it's amazing. Thank you everyone who came out to support us. It's unbelievable.

'Thank you to everyone who played a part in my rehab. To be here and score a winner, it's special. All my family are here, my sister, my nephews, everyone. I just want to celebrate now.'

The 24-year-old's winner came after Ella Toone's delicate chip was cancelled out by a goal from Lina Magull.

It was Germany's first loss in a women's Euros final after eight wins.