Lioness hero and SPOTY winner Beth Mead opens up about heartbreak after her mother dies of ovarian cancer

Lioness the hero Beth Mead revealed the heartbreaking news that her mother had died after a ‘long and courageous battle’ with an ovary cancer.

June Mead was diagnosed with the disease in 2021 and died at 1am on January 7th.

Sports Personality of the Year winner Mead, 27, confirmed the tragedy of her mother’s death this afternoon.

In an Instagram post with several family pictures, she said: “I thought for a long time about what to write but there will never be words that do it justice.

The Arsenal striker won the Sports Personality of the Year award in December ahead of Ben Stokes and Eve Muirhead.

‘7. At 1:00 a.m. in January, our beautiful, kind, funny mother and wife passed away after a long and courageous battle with ovarian cancer.

“She was surrounded by me, my brother and my father when she died peacefully.

“Our hearts are broken, a piece will be missing forever, but heaven now has a special angel.

‘If love could save you, you’d live forever. I’m sad that you’re gone, but I’m more grateful for the time we spent together.

“Our family would appreciate some privacy during this difficult time. We love you so much, always and always. RIP Mom.’

In an Instagram post, Mead spoke about her mother with several family pictures: “I’ve thought long and hard about what to write, but there will never be words that do it justice.”

Responding to the post, Aston Villa midfielder Lucy Staniforth said: “Sending you all love Meado.”

Meanwhile, Southampton defender Laura Rafferty responded with a selection of heart emojis.

Mead won the Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament awards for her incredible performances.

The Arsenal striker won the Sports Personality of the Year award in December ahead of Ben Stokes and Eve Muirhead.

After receiving the award, Mead said: “I am incredibly honored to receive this award. I couldn’t have done it without these girls who supported me.

“Yes, I did my job and scored a few goals, but I couldn’t have done it without them, my mum, dad and all my family.

This is for women’s sport and for it to go in the right direction. So, let’s keep encouraging girls and doing the right things.

“The girls are like family away from home and when things weren’t good at home they supported me so well.”

Mead’s daughter, described as a lively six-year-old, was encouraged by her parents to take up football to burn off excess energy, where she played alongside “rough” boys and “knocked them out”.

While Mead said her parents “may have struggled” when she first told them she was gay, they couldn’t have been more supportive of her football career with her mum June, a senior teaching assistant, and dad Richard working extra shifts to pay for petrol and drive her to training.