England defender Casey Stoney is set to play in the women’s World Cup in Canada

The England defender, who was born in Basildon, is set to play in the women’s World Cup in Canada, which starts on Saturday.

It is her third World Cup and the Arsenal player expects it to be her last and she wants to go out on a high.

Casey and her partner, former Lincoln Ladies player Megan Harris, are caring for their six-month-old twins, Teddy and Tilly, and are settled into life in Harlow.

Casey said: “The way I felt when I held them for the first time is actually indescribable, because you fall in love in a completely newway.

“Every time I hold them, I just feel like the proudest person in the world, but I’m sure every parent feels like that.

“The miracle of being pregnant and giving birth is such an amazing thing that I would love to do one day when I’m not playing… and when the twins are a bit older–we’re not that stupid as to have three under two!”

Things are looking good for the role model who has been recognised for her achievements with an honorary degree from Essex University, which will be presented to her in July.

She is looking forward to being able to kick a ball around with Teddy and Tilly when they are older.

“I want to give my girl and boy as many opportunities to be physically active as they can, in any sport they like,” says Casey, 33.

“If they happen to like football, fantastic. I think it’s so good now that my little girl can grow up and see football as a career if she wants to. That wasn’t possible when I was younger, so it just shows you how progressive the game is now.”

The path to parenthood was not an easy one for Casey and Megan.

The couple went through three rounds of IVF before former Lincoln Ladies player Harris, 29, became pregnant.

“No one can quite prepare you for the journey you go on when you’re trying to conceive,” says Stoney. “It’s an absolute emotional rollercoaster.”

Megan went on to suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition the Duchess of Cambridge also suffered from during both her pregnancies.

It causes prolonged and repeated nausea and vomiting, fatigue and low blood pressure.

“Megs isn’tamoaner, she didn’t moan once, but she was so ill she lost two stone when she was 16weeks pregnant,” says Casey.

“I was so worried about her I said enough is enough and took her to the walk-in centre. They sent her straight to A&E and she sat there and cried her eyes out.

I just felt so sorry for her.”

Stoney spoke publicly about being gay for the first time in February 2014.

“When I was initially asked to do a piece, I sat down with my family and my partner and I have to be honest, I was absolutely petrified,” she said.

“I didn’t know what the response would be. I thought it would be negative and it was completely the opposite.

“Yes, I’ve had a few negatives, and yes, I’ve had a few things sent that were not very nice through the post, but that’s a rarity. It’s been 98-99 per cent positive.”

ON THE UP...

ANOTHER team who are on the up are C&K Basildon ladies.

They have done exceptionally well over the last few years gaining promotion every year.

Now the team, pictured celebrating promotion to the Premier League South division this month, are one step away from the Super League thanks to investment from their manager Peter King.