Aylesbury-born footballer Ellen White has revealed that a punctured lung ‘accelerated’ her decision to retire from the game, just weeks after the Lionesses won their first-ever European Championships.

The 33-year-old, who attended the Grange School within the town and was part of the Aylesbury United youth team, is the England women’s all-time record goal scorer with 52 strikes.

Bucks Free Press: White is the England women's all-time scorer with 52 goals (PA)White is the England women's all-time scorer with 52 goals (PA)

However, just 22 days after the host nation defeated Germany 2-1 in the final at Wembley Stadium on July 31, the former Chelsea, Leeds United, Arsenal, Notts County, Birmingham City, and Manchester City player hang up her boots.

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Speaking to BBC Sport, she confirmed that a punctured lung from an acupuncture procedure during last year's Olympic Games in Japan fast-forwarded her decision.

The striker, who received the treatment due to an ongoing back issue, said: “It [the acupuncture] punctured my lung, which isn’t something that happens normally, obviously.

“It was a lot for me to have to go through and a big reason that accelerated my want to retire.

“It was a really traumatic time for me and something that I’m still figuring out now, still working through.

Bucks Free Press: She scored twice at the tournament, with both her goals coming in the 8-0 win over Norway (PA)She scored twice at the tournament, with both her goals coming in the 8-0 win over Norway (PA)

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“I had to wait for the lung to basically inflate again. I had a needle put into my chest to drag all the air out then hopefully the lung would inflate again – which it has.

“At the time, I think for me, I just got into a zone of: ‘I need to get back playing. We’ve got these games – I want to be back playing for my club; I want to be back playing for England.”

Bucks Free Press: She scored at 10 separate tournaments for England (PA)She scored at 10 separate tournaments for England (PA)

White received the treatment from a specialist sourced by Manchester City, but following the incident, the club confirmed that she would be absent from the team due to a ‘medical issue’.

Since making her professional debut for Chelsea in the 2005/06 season, White scored 198 career goals in 415 career appearances.