Ex-England player to join Lionesses' celebrations
Julia Brunton, 73, helped to pave the way for England's modern-day success when she was selected for the first FA-affiliated women's team since the 1921 ban on women's football was rescinded.
Ms Brunton, from Hove, East Sussex, said she had been invited along with her teammates as VIPs to celebrate the Lionesses defending their Euros title in a penalty shootout victory over Spain on Sunday.
She said: "I will be very proud – I can't believe it has come this far since I played."
Ms Brunton added: "We saw what happened to women's football after 2022, so I hope it will take off even more.
"It's so nice when I go to Hove Park and see so many girls in football kits these days. It's a lovely thing to be a part of."
Ms Brunton, nee Manning, was selected for England to play against Scotland in 1972 while playing in her home town of Lowestoft.
She won her first official cap the following year, against France.
Ms Brunton moved to Brighton and Hove when she got married, later playing for the Brighton and Hove Supporters Club, Brighton GPO and C&C Sports – all precursors to the official Brighton & Hove Albion women's team.
In 2022, 50 years on from the first game, Ms Brunton reconnected with her former teammates when she received an official England cap from the FA.
Despite England conceding in the first half, Ms Brunton said she "always had a feeling we would win" as Alessia Russo headed home England's equaliser and the Lionesses beat Spain 3-1 on penalties.
Following a reception at Downing Street on Monday, the Lionesses will mark their success with an open-top bus parade and celebration outside Buckingham Palace today.
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'We never could have dreamed of Lionesses' success'
London to celebrate Lionesses with open-top bus parade
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