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'Seeing old coach made record special'

Rachel Yankey in action for England

Rachel Yankey says becoming England’s most-capped player of all time was made even more special by meeting up with her first coach.

Yankey made her 126th international appearance for the national team in Wednesday's 1-1 draw against Japan at Pirelli Stadium to move clear of Peter Shilton.

The 33-year-old admits she has been overwhelmed by the sheer number of congratulatory messages she has received since breaking the record.

"I'm really proud and the support of everyone has been brilliant. It's been really nice"

Rachel Yankey

“It's extremely weird but it's really good,” Yankey told Arsenal.com. “I'm really proud and the support of everyone has been brilliant. It's been really nice.

“I was alright before the game. People were asking if I was nervous but it didn't feel different to any other game really.

“They brought on Tony Chelsea, the first coach that ever taught me. I didn't know they were going to do that.

“The BBC are doing documentaries on all the players for the Euros and I'd spoken about him. They said they were trying to track him down but I'd totally forgotten about it. I could hear him calling me and I hadn't seen him since I was about 11 so that got me. My team-mates have abused me because I was a bit teary eyed.”

Yankey was named captain for the occasion and she says she thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

"It was a nice touch," she said. "I've captained England once before, on my 100th cap where it's kind of tradition for that game. I did it once in a behind-closed-doors game against a boys team but other than that I've never done it. That was pretty special."

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