The faces say it all: despite the heartbreak of an agonising 2015 World Cup semi-final defeat, the Lionesses grip their bronze medals after the third-place play-off win over Germany jubilantly. That team had overachieved, surprised and captured the hearts of a nation: 2.4 million stayed up for the midnight kick-off to watch the semi-final on the BBC and the big guns at the Football Association were starting to take note.
They had missed the opportunity to capitalise on the interest because they hadn’t expected it but in January 2016 Sue Campbell was announced as the organisation’s new head of women’s football. Just over a year later and the FA apologised for the almost 50-year ban on women’s football and unveiled its Gameplan for Growth.
