England star Lucy Staniforth playing at World Cup to represent memory and ambitions of her late brother who died aged 20 while in Sheffield Wednesday's first-team Lucy Staniforth has had to overcome a great deal personally and professionally England midfielder's brother Thomas died from cerebral oedema on night out He was a 20-year-old defender in Sheffield Wednesday's first-team squad Staniforth previously suffered two ligament injuries but has fought back By Adam Crafton for the Daily Mail Published: 22:30 BST, 4 June 2019 | Updated: 22:41 BST, 4 June 2019 Viewcomments For Lucy Staniforth and her family, this summer's World Cup has huge significance. Midfielder Staniforth, 26, is not only representing her country but also the memory of her late brother. Thomas Staniforth was a 20-year-old defender in Sheffield Wednesday's first team in 2001 when he collapsed and died in York on a night out. A postmortem found traces of ecstasy in his bloodstream and the coroner said this triggered the cerebral edema that was the main cause of death. Few have overcome more on a personal and professional level than Lucy Staniforth His father Gordon, who played for Carlisle and York, said: 'He didn't have an enemy in the world. He just made a tragic mistake.' Now, a Staniforth is at the summit of football: Lucy. For Birmingham City she wears No 37, the same as Thomas wore for Wednesday. She says: 'I pay homage to his career. When it was my birthday, the FA got me a cake with 'Staniforth 37' on it. It's at moments like that you realise you're in a privileged position and you want to make the most of it. 'My mum, Sandra, she's always crying in the stands. I played against Brazil, I looked up and all I could see was her bright red face!' Few in the England squad have overcome more than Staniforth. She says: 'As a kid, I always hoped girls would go to the men's World Cup. I didn't even realise there was a girls' team! I've had a few setbacks in my time, two cruciate ligament injuries. The midfielder has returned from two ligament injuries to thrive on the international stage I did them back-to-back so I was out for three years. I've had so many moments along the way when I thought, 'This just isn't going to work out'.' Staniforth has also played for Sunderland, Lincoln, Bristol and Liverpool and her strike for England against Japan in the SheBelieves Cup in March won rave reviews from Alan Shearer. 'It was a pinch-me moment,' she says. 'Amazing he knew anything about me, to be honest. My step-dad and step-brother are huge Newcastle fans, they were well jealous.' Staniforth is part of Philip Neville's side preparing for the Women's World Cup Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility