The final whistle blew, the nation started singing Sweet Caroline and then here in Kent the heavens opened. The drought is over. OK, the water companies might not agree but let’s just bask in the poetry for a second while someone is off hunting for the key to the football trophy cabinet. But what a journey it has been.
This squad, a mix of young guns and wise heads, is phenomenal. A proper team operating under an incredible manager, with the support behind the scenes that an England team deserves. Yet it hasn’t always been like this. I am delighted that hosting a home tournament has excited a new audience for women’s football. Records for crowds and viewing figures have been smashed to pieces, and it has been fabulous seeing mainstream media dedicate space to coverage; now it’s time to translate that into legacy.
The seeds are already there. On a recent primary school visit I mentioned I was banned from playing football at their age. There were gasps from both girls and boys, clearly unable to comprehend why a girl would be not allowed to play football. I did a silent dance inside. Hurrah.
Years of effort from many people you will never have heard of have got us to this place. Yes, there are still not-spots when it comes to accessibility to football, and maybe there are some schools where provision for girls to play football is not there, but the mindset has changed significantly. This is because of those who believed in women’s football long before it was trendy and packed out Wembley — the team in the FA, the broadcasters, the sports journalists, the pioneering clubs, the players and the grassroot coaches who smile politely as their u-12s girls get last dibs on the pitches but carry on. These, like the pioneers of the game before it was banned by the FA, are the unsung heroes of women’s football.
I cried when the final whistle went last night. The last time I cried at a game was when Gary Mabbutt’s knee gifted Coventry City the FA Cup. I wept with relief for every woman who has ever faced a snidey remark for daring to kick a ball into the back of the net but I sobbed with happiness for the team who played with passion, pride, left everything on the pitch and were the England team that brought it home.
