‘I fell madly and deeply in love’: Alex Scott reveals she was in a relationship with teammate Kelly Smith

The footballer, 37, who played alongside Smith for both England and Arsenalrevealed the 43-year-old was her “first love” when she spoke of the “heartbreak” that followed when they broke up.

Scott will first discuss their romance in her upcoming memoir, How (Not) To Be Strong.

During a FANE lecture in East London, the broadcaster admitted it would be “cheating” not to include their time together, which turned out to be crucial to both of their lives.

As reported by the Mirror, Scott said: “I am writing this book and I want to tell everything. I thought I’d be cheating all of you if I didn’t include that.

“For me it’s like that first love story, I fell madly and deeply in love. And yes, there’s that heartbreak and those things, but it’s a big part of my life and I wouldn’t go back to change that.

“Because that feeling of love and that excitement and what it gives you, it had to be there.”

The TV star also recalled how Smith helped her cope with her traumatic childhood while battling alcoholism.

A source for Alex added: “Alex dates both men and women and doesn’t label himself as anything.

“This isn’t her big coming out story, but it was a chapter in her life that she wanted to include in her book because it had such an impact on her.”

The pair first met when they both played for Arsenal in 2005, then crossed the pond together after signing with the Boston Breakers in 2009.

After three years on the US side, the sports stars returned to the UK to join the Women’s GB football team at the London Olympics.

After their breakup, Smith found love with wife DeAnna Dobosz, with whom she has two children.

Though Scott has kept her love life private, she is set to be in a relationship with Coronation Street’s Sam Robertson in 2020.