🗣 All countries should learn from England how, through great strategy and investment, they can transform the future of women’s football.
The Lionesses’ win at UEFA EURO 2022, and their journey to the final of the FIFA World Cup 2023, helped ignite unprecedented interest in the women’s game. For the first time ever, the women’s game has taken centre stage and begun to command the same respect as the men’s game.
📌 To celebrate the Lionesses latest successes, £25m from the Government and £5m from The FA was committed to supporting the improvement of at least 30 facilities across the country. The grants will help to provide women and girls across the country with gold standard facilities and experiences, with priority access for women and girls through reserved peak-time slots and welcoming changing rooms.
✅ Since the Lionesses lifted the EURO trophy in 2022, 68,000 more girls are playing football compared to before the tournament. However, too often, badly lit pitches, unsuitable changing facilities and late-night kick-off times put women and girls off taking to the pitch.
⚽ Yesterday, Arsenal defender and Lionesses captain Leah Williamson returned to her home-town to celebrate the opening of The Leah Williamson Pitch at Newport Pagnell Town FC, one of the half of sites to receive Lionesses Futures Fund grants.
🗣 "It’s a safe space and space where they’re the priority, that’s abnormal so to speak, it’s not a competition, just the facilities to play. If we take that option away from them before they even begin - what are we doing? One day it will be normal and we won't have prioritisation, we’ll have boys and girls on that pitch all the time," said Leah Williamson.
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1wCongratulations Chris, Arlene and I signed up to serve on your foundation, but I never received a meeting invitation. As you know, the National Civil War Museum and Christian Churches United would love to partner with your foundation. I serve on Board of both.