Alex Scott: Here's everyone the footballer-turned-pundit dated before Jess Glynne

Though people mostly now see Alex Scott on the side of the pitch commenting on games for the BBC, TV is not where her career started.

In 1992, at just eight years old, Scott was scouted while she was playing on her brother’s team. As she explains in a video made for the England team's Youtube Channel, she got lucky that day: the rep who noticed her was ‘friends with the Arsenal ladies manager at the time’. And just like that, after a trial, she joined the iconic club.

Throughout her career Scott has played for two English clubs, Arsenal and Birmingham City, as well as an American one, the Boston Breakers. On top of that, when she ended her international career in 2017, she had been capped 140 times.

With the Lionesses, she won silver at the 2009 Euros and bronze at the 2015 World Cup. A pretty impressive career which, since her retirement from football, has continued to impress.

Continuing the work with the BBC she had started while still playing football, she has now become a household pundit. In 2024, she received an award at the Royal Television Society Awards for her coverage of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

In more recent years, Alex Scott has started being more open about her personal life. In 2022 she published her memoir titled How (Not) To Be Strong which included some major revelations. One of them about a relationship she had been in. Let’s have a look at her dating history.

Alex Scott and Sam Robertson

OK! reports one of Alex Scott’s rare confessions about her dating life – the footballer once dated Coronation Street actor Sam Robertson.

In 2021, while talking to The Sun’s Fabulous Magazine she reminisced on the failure that was this date. She explained:

My one date in ages was going out with Sam [Robertson], who is lovely.

However, the date had to remain the only one because of something that they had no control over. Alex Scott continued:

The next morning, our pictures were all over the press because someone in the restaurant had taken a photo. It wasn't exactly a great start!

In the same conversation, Alex Scott also addressed her thoughts on her own love life up until that point. In her own words, she always felt like she ‘never had a lot of luck’ in finding love.

Who is Sam Robertson?

Sam Robertson, best known for his role as Adam Barlow on ITV's Coronation Street, has had a dynamic career both on and off-screen. Born in Dundee, Scotland, Sam moved to England at the age of 18 to pursue his acting career. His debut on the soap in 2004 marked the beginning of a significant presence on the show, where he played the tearaway son of Mike Baldwin. Robertson's character was notably involved in several dramatic storylines, especially after returning to the show following a nine-year hiatus due to his character's grandfather, Ken Barlow, suffering a stroke.

Off-screen, Robertson's life contrasts with his soap opera dramas. He retains a strong connection to his Scottish roots, underscored by his genuine Scottish accent—a trait he shares with his character, who was brought up in a Scottish boarding school. Sam is also a devoted fan of Dundee Football Club.

Robertson's personal life has seen its share of media attention, particularly regarding his relationships. He was briefly linked to former Dancing on Ice contestant and Corrie co-star Faye Brookes in 2018. Additionally, he revealed some colorful experiences with fans during his early years on Coronation Street, where he admitted to engaging with soap groupies.

He detailed:

I'd go to nightclubs and there were always loads of dolly birds hanging around looking for fun and I had lots of fun. But girls still called me Adam half the time. It's weird when the girl shouts out your character's name in bed.

Adding,

It's also an easy excuse to kick them out on the street and not have to pay for dinner though!

Alex Scott and teammate Kelly Smith

In her memoir released in September 2022 Alex Scott revealed many things about herself. One of them was the confirmation of her relationship with Arsenal teammate Kelly Smith between 2005 and 2013.

According to Scott herself this was a very important part of her life. At her book launch she explained that she didn’t know whether to include the relationship in her book but that, in the end, it was too significant to leave out.

I went back and forth on whether I'd actually be writing the chapter. But then it was one of those moments, I'm writing this book and I want to tell everything. I thought I'd be cheating you all if I didn't put that in there. And for me, it's like that first love story, I fell madly and deeply in love.

At the same event, she added:

And yes, there's that heartbreak and those things, but it's a huge part of my life and I wouldn't go back and change that. Because that feeling of love and that excitement and what it gives you, it needed to be in there.

In the book, Alex Scott didn’t hold back and wrote candidly about the challenges of that first relationship. This included Kelly Smith’s alcoholism.

Here I was, madly in love for the first time in my life, with an alcoholic. It didn't bode well

Both women have now moved on with their lives and respective relationships.

Who is Kelly Smith?

A standout player for Arsenal and the England national team, Smith’s career began at Wembley Ladies in 1996 before she moved to Arsenal two years later. Her journey took her to the United States, where she played for teams like the New Jersey Lady Stallions and the Boston Breakers, experiencing both the highs of professional sports and the lows of personal struggles.

Smith's achievements in football are remarkable. Over three spells at Arsenal, she won a total of 20 trophies, including four Premier League titles and a UEFA Women's Cup. She also had a notable impact internationally, earning 117 caps for England and participating in the London 2012 Olympics. Smith’s prowess on the field led to her being shortlisted four times for the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award and twice winning the FA Player of the Year award. Her significant contributions to women's football were recognized with an MBE awarded in 2008.

Beyond her accolades, Smith faced challenges with alcohol dependency, a struggle she began to confront following a leg injury in 2004. Her recovery journey included time at the Sporting Chance addiction clinic, highlighting the pressures athletes often face. Smith openly discussed her battles with addiction, stating in The Independent:

I was drinking quite heavily to numb everything, but I didn't know back then that alcohol was a depressant, and I was already depressed about my injury

Smith’s transition to coaching and media work, joining Arsenal Women’s first-team coaching setup in 2023 and working as a presenter for Sky Sports, reflects her ongoing influence in the sport.

Alex Scott and Jess Glynne make it official

Alex and Jess, two figures known for their respective careers in sports broadcasting and music, have gradually emerged as a couple in the public eye, capturing the interest of fans and media alike. Their journey from discrete interactions to openly acknowledging their relationship reflects both their personal growth and their professional lives intersecting in the spotlight.

The couple's timeline began at Advertising Week Europe in May 2023, where they participated in a panel, discussing their careers and creative passions. By July, they were spotted together at Wimbledon, dressed in coordinated outfits, signaling a closer association. In August, their appearance at a public event and a Coco Der Mer party in matching all-black attire further hinted at a burgeoning relationship.

By October 2023, their relationship was publicly confirmed, and a friend of the couple highlighted their mutual respect and support for each other's careers. According to Daily Mail the source said:

They are both strong, independent women with a shared passion and respect of their respective careers, supporting one another from the sidelines

This sentiment was echoed by Jess during her interview on Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast, where she expressed how personal growth helped her feel comfortable in this new relationship. She explained:

The work that I’ve done on myself has actually settled me inside and it’s allowed me to enter a relationship where I feel very comfortable and I’m just me. I’m unapologetically me

As their relationship became more public, they continued to be seen together at various high-profile events, from David and Victoria Beckham's Netflix documentary afterparty to the Adobe Women's FA Cup match and the BRIT Awards after-party. Despite the increased public scrutiny, Jess emphasized the importance of maintaining privacy within their relationship, asserting the value of keeping personal matters personal, especially when navigating a relationship in the public eye. She remarked:

It’s so important. Even though we’re both in this public space, what we have, that’s ours. I feel like that’s something I will always do

Alex won’t label her sexuality

The BBC presenter, whose approach to her public and private life has garnered attention and respect, recently shared her perspectives on personal identity and the public's curiosity about her private life. In a candid interview with Attitude for their Awards issue, she discussed her refusal to conform to traditional labels regarding her sexuality, emphasizing her desire to focus on love.

Her revelation came after making headlines for her bold choice to wear the One Love armband during the BBC World Cup coverage, a move that occurred just hours after FIFA threatened sanctions against players who would do the same. This act of defiance not only highlighted her support for the LGBTQ+ community but also her willingness to stand up for what she believes in, regardless of potential consequences.

In her 2022 book, where she opened up about a previous eight-year relationship with her ex-girlfriend Kelly Smith, a chapter dedicated to her personal life elicited surprise from both readers and acquaintances, leading to varied reactions. She recounts:

Everyone that read it has come up to me and said, ‘What a beautiful chapter’.

When pressed by editors to define her sexuality, she chose to maintain her stance against being boxed into a specific identity, stating,

I was being asked questions, ‘You need to label what you are; you need to come out.’ But I was like, ‘No, actually, I don’t need to — I’m writing a story about love.’

Her acceptance of an award on 11 October was a significant moment, during which she acknowledged her role and influence within the community, saying:

I know my value and the community I represent.

She also expressed her gratitude and joy at being part of a community that has historically included many sporting icons, adding,

To know I follow other sporting icons on that cover is a pinch-me moment.

This article has been created with the help of AI.

Read more:

⋙ Alex Scott: The footballer opens up about her journey 'I got consumed by the hatred

⋙ Lauren James: The Chelsea player could be England's 'cheat code' to winning the Women's World Cup

⋙ Keira Walsh: Fans left worried after the footballer's painful exit, 'the worst moment of the World Cup'

Sources:

England on Youtube – Alex Scott Tells Her Football Story | How I Started

Mirror: ITV Coronation Street's Sam Robertson slept with soap fans who called him by character name

Daily Record: Inside Coronation Street's Sam Robertson's life off screen from surprising roles to famous exes

OK!: Inside Alex Scott's love life – from dating Corrie star to addressing Jess Glynne romance

Women’s Health: 'Training makes me feel empowered' Alex Scott is our May cover star

The Standard: Alex Scott makes rare comment about relationship with girlfriend Jess Glynne

Daily Mail: 'I never have a lot of luck with love': Alex Scott detailed her disastrous first date with Corrie's Sam Robertson in resurfaced interview - after confirming her secret romance with Kelly Smith

Hello!: Everything Alex Scott has said about relationship with ex-girlfriend Kelly Smith

The Sun: KELL OF A PLAYER Who is former Arsenal and England player Kelly Smith and when did she retire from football?

The Independent: Kelly Smith: 'I would drink every day, on my own, until I passed out'

Cosmopolitan: Alex Scott and Jess Glynne's relationship timeline

Daily Mail: Jess Glynne opens up about her relationship with Alex Scott for the first time as she says 'love is a scary subject'

Attitude: Alex Scott on why she won’t be forced into labelling her sexuality for anyone