Women’s football is now taken far more seriously than it ever was and, if you have need inspiration or have been looking for role models, just look at the success of the Lionesses, England’s women’s national football team. They won the respect and the hearts of the nation after their superb win in last year’s Euro final, inspiring young women all over the world to get involved and consider seriously a career in the ‘beautiful game’.
Many of us witnessed, on July 31 last year, England’s Lionesses defeat Germany 2–1 in extra time in the Women’s Euro 2022 final at Wembley. It was the team’s first-ever major trophy and the first major international championship won by an England team (men’s or women’s) since that famous victory in 1966.The final was watched by a crowd of 87,192, a record for either the men’s or women’s European Championship.
Such was the sense of passion and feeling that the England players wrote an open letter to the prime minister declaring their “legacy and goal was to inspire a nation”. They saw their victory “as only the beginning”. The letter pointed out that only 63% of British girls could play football in school PE lessons and concluded: “We – the 23 members of the England Senior Women’s Euro Squad – ask you to make it a priority to invest in girls’ football in schools, so that every girl has the choice.”
The team went on with more wins and draws including a friendly win against the United States played at Wembley and qualifying for the 2023 Women’s World Cup; the team ended 2022 having gone unbeaten for the calendar year. In December 2022 Beth Mead became the first female footballer to win the Sports Personality of the Year award, with the team as a whole winning the Team of the Year award and Sarina Wiegman winning the Sports Personality of the Year coach award. Later at the Best FIFA Football Awards, Mary Earps won the Best Women’s Goalkeeper award; Sarina Wiegman won the Best Women’s Coach award and Beth Mead, Leah Williamson (captain), Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh were named to the World XI.
As European champions, England contested the 2023 Women’s final against South American champions Brazil in April 2023, which they won on penalties. The team then suffered their first defeat under Wiegman days later, losing to Australia, to end a 30-match unbeaten run.
Feel inspired? The good news is that if you are aged between 5-11 you now have the chance to follow in the Lionesses’ footsteps by joining the free weekly training sessions on Monday evenings at Masons Field, Tilling Green, initiated by Active Rother.
As a footnote, do come along and tell your friends about it: it’s fun, it’s free and it’s a great opportunity to realise your goals.
Image Credits: James Boyes , Active Rother .