Everything but the Football: Everton

WSL Football sat down with Everton’s Hannah Blundell, Melissa Lawley, and Ruby Mace for a conversation about everything except the game they play.

For far too long it was unfairly assumed that you could not manage motherhood alongside a successful professional football career. But when Hannah Blundell, then playing at Manchester United, announced her pregnancy in 2024, she proved just how false that narrative is. “Obviously, it's completely different,” says Blundell of her new purpose as ‘mum’. The 31-year-old’s life had been consumed by her passion and career, which happened to be one and the same. “Before having Romi, life was just football, football, football.” However, having her daughter has since opened a whole new way to live away from the training ground. “Now when I go home, I switch off,” she says. “I put the ‘mum’ hat on, which is so weird, but I love it.”

Blundell’s husband, who is a professional footballer currently playing for Oldham Athletic, is also having to balance this major change in their lives. “When he's at football he focuses on that,” Blundell shares, adding, “but when he's at home, it's dad mode and all energy goes into Romi.” For some couples, having the same career as your life partner could cause friction, but Blundell and her husband instinctually know when, and more importantly when not, to discuss the day job around the house. She explains a recent example: “we’d both lost at the weekend, so we were both just like, ‘don’t talk about football.'”

“Hannah's got Romi, I've got my fur babies,” Melissa Lawley declares of her beloved cockapoo and cavapoo. “I go on a lot of dog walks just to switch off and obviously get fresh air.” They may not be human children but, as Lawley jokes, “they are like my babies to be fair!”

Unlike Blundell and Lawley, Ruby Mace does not yet have responsibility for the wellbeing of other living organisms. In her precious time away from the pitch, “I scroll on TikTok and chill at home.” She also enjoys going into Liverpool’s city centre to shop, usually for new clothes, and to grab a coffee. While they may be in different stages of life, Blundell, Lawley, and Mace unite as a team, and not just on the grass. “We went to do karaoke at Christmas,” Mace spills. “I remember Rosa van Gool being good,” says the 22-year-old of the trio's Dutch teammate. “She was funny.” As for what songs were sung, her lips are totally sealed.

Not long before her pregnancy, Blundell embarked on a course in Esports gaming, continuing throughout her pregnancy as her football schedule adapted. “Obviously I was still training,” she says, “but it gave me a different kind of avenue because I wasn't playing games.” At home, Blundell has a dedicated games room kitted out with gaming specific chairs and monitors. Her and her husband’s favourite video games? “Call of Duty is the main one, but we also play F1.” Since the arrival of Romi in March 2025, Blundell has struggled to find time to resume her Esports training. “I’m sort of taking a bit of a break with that.” Although she adds, “hopefully I can go back at a later date.” She’s also looking forward to playing the long awaited sixth edition of Grand Theft Auto when it is finally released.

Like Blundell, Lawley has also recently undertaken a perhaps unexpected avenue of study away from the pitch. “I've literally done a dog grooming course last year,” she proudly states. “Obviously, I want to save money getting my dogs done,” she laughs, explaining why she chose to acquire the skill. Over one year, Lawley’s studies were largely based in writing, however, “I also had to do thirty days practical going into a salon and cutting the dogs’ hair.” By her own proclamation, she’s pretty good. “It’s totally different from football!”

When it comes to learning, Mace’s main priority is sharing her knowledge with younger football players. The defensive midfielder, who had her first senior England call up in 2024, has often spent her off-seasons hosting one-on-one training sessions.

“The younger girls look up to me,” she explains. “Not in the sense that I've done so much with my career, but in the sense that I'm still young in my career as well.” Passing on her wisdom in a relatable manner is something that Mace has a lot of respect for, understanding the importance of being a role model to the future generation of ballers, “they actually find it interesting coming to learn from me.” Down the line, Mace would like to build upon this work. “It’s something I’ll definitely look into after football.”