There was an uneasy tension as an excitable crowd clutched morning pints to watch the Women’s World Cup semi-final, erupting into joyful chanting as the first goal was scored. It did not take long before suspenseful silence returned.
England conceded to Australia early in the second half – only for Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo to take the team back on top, and for the east London pub to burst into relieved but rapturous cheering and dancing.
“What a rollercoaster,” said Caterina Maiolini, one of those attending a raucous viewing party hosted by women’s football collective Baller FC.
She feels the result cements England’s status as a truly exceptional team. “This game has proven once more and will show the world that England isn’t just lucky to get to where they are, but they always have a gameplan and they come together as a team,” she said, citing the careful marking of Australia’s star player and decision to make Millie Bright team captain as smart moves.
Since watching the Euros last year, Maiolini’s life has changed unimaginably. After years of dreaming of a career in the sport – but feeling like there wasn’t a space for women – she has enrolled in a Uefa football management course.
With England’s women ascending to the World Cup final, she is confident that the game’s popularity will keep on soaring.
Despite being lunchtime on a Wednesday, jubilant England supporters spilled pints as they swayed to 90s Eurodance hits and Sweet Caroline, the same song the Lionesses sung to celebrate their victory on the pitch.
Maiolini has come to several Baller FC parties and enjoys the collegial atmosphere, with less “shouting and swearing” than in many pubs that show men’s matches. “As England have progressed, there’s been more people and a better atmosphere.”
Michelle Valderama agreed: “The atmosphere was wonderful, everyone was in such high spirits – even the bar staff, they were cheering on with us, it was really great.
“I thought everyone was in such a lovely mood. There was no animosity – we’re still encouraging to the other teams, we want to be encouraging to women’s football.”
Rachel Gould, who founded the football collective, was delighted by the “electric, wild and euphoric” atmosphere that Baller FC had fostered in Signature Brew, a pub under railway arches.
There were 200 at the party with a further 300 on a waitlist. For Sunday’s final, Baller FC is moving to the pub’s brewery outside central London, a 450-capacity site the team estimate they could fill four times over.
“It’s been a very surreal month,” Gould said. “I’m shellshocked but positive. It was such a positive performance, [England] looked so strong, to open with a goal like that from Toone showed the class they have, and they just persevered.
“They really took the chances they had and that was the difference between the two teams.”
Emma Franklin-Wright, another Baller FC organiser, had been on the edge of her seat in the first 10 minutes. “I thought this could end up anything scoreline-wise,” she said.
She was worried that, although the Lionesses won the Euros, the contrast between a home crowd and a stadium with 95% Australians could leave the team wrong-footed.
The pair are delighted to see the growth in interest in the game, but they say there is further to go.
“The Lionesses are great but we need to see increased audiences not only at the Women’s Super League but at our viewing parties [during the season] and getting people engaged in away games – that’s been slower,” said Gould.
“It’s about playing at big stadiums that are more traditionally for men. Arsenal have shown if you do it, people will come.”
A sizeable contingent of Australia fans were also at the viewing party, booing for the first goal but offering gracious support by the end of the match.
Wing Chong, an Australian living in London, said her England-supporting friends turned around to acknowledge moments of good play from their opponents. “It was very welcoming, very inclusive,” she said.
Despite disappointment, she felt it was “the best game I’ve seen all tournament, 90 minutes of intensity and skill, both teams were hungry, it didn’t lean to one side”.
Chong said she has found it cheering to watch friends and family back in her home town of Melbourne who knew nothing about women’s football develop an interest in the game, messaging her about the Matildas’ performance.
She feels she has benefited from the rapid growth in popularity of women’s football after moving to London shortly after England won the Euros.
“I got to ride the wave and that’s how I found football, it’s been really easy to find my community through that.”
