Michelle Agyemang's youth team hails Lioness as girls' football enjoys boost
Roy Enright, 45, who manages the girls' team, said her legacy has led to a surge of new recruits.
He said: 'It's great for the girls to see someone like Michelle who's played at the same club, from the same area, and from her hard work made it to the highest level.
'When I set the girls' team up in 2022, I started with zero players.
'When Michelle was here, she even had to play on the boys' team.
'Now I've got a squad of 20 girls at my age group and that has all come from the Lionesses – especially their success at the last Euros.
'Given that Michelle is from the area, played for the club, and is doing so well, we're getting even more girls joining up.
'That's the legacy she has left for us.'
Terry Tisdall, 40, who manages the boys' under-11s, said: 'The girls are so proud of her – she's the star of the show.
'They used to wear shirts with men's players' names on and now they've all got Agyemang on the back.'
Agyemang left Brandon Groves for Arsenal's academy when she was around 10 years old before becoming one of the most highly rated youngsters at the Gunners.
She recently invited the Brandon Groves players to St George's Park, the home of the England team, so they could watch the Lionesses train.
Mr Enright said: 'It meant the world to them – it just goes to show how Michelle cares.
'She was fantastic – she took the time out to speak to all the girls, take selfies and sign autographs.'
Agyemang has become one of the Lionesses' stand-out players this summer after netting in the quarter-final and semi-final.
England's Michelle Agyemang (centre) and team-mates celebrate after the Women's Euro 2025 semi-final at the Stade de Geneve, Switzerland (Nick Potts/PA)
Mr Enright, who works as a tech consultant, said: 'The impact is fantastic – there's so much excitement with the girls.'
Mr Tisdall added: 'The WhatsApp group chat was going crazy when she scored those goals.'
Agyemang, who only made her senior England debut in April, is now expected to feature in Sunday's final against Spain in Basel.
And the girls from Brandon Groves will be watching the final together at a local social club.
Mr Enright said: 'Everyone's so excited – we're all behind Michelle and it's going to be a fantastic day.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
13 minutes ago
- Metro
Rodrygo looks a Real steal after Madrid lower his transfer fee
Brazil's very best forwards, the real cream of the crop, have never ventured into English football to ply their trade amid the upper echelons of the Premier League but Rodrygo could be ready to break the mould. Neymar, the Samba Kings' all-time leading international scorer with 79 goals, has played with distinction for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain and is now back with Santos having avoided moves to Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal or any of the other big-hitters in this country. The same can be said of Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Rivellino, Ronaldinho, Romario or the legendary Pele who never came to these shores. Roberto Firmino was superb at Liverpool before heading to Saudi, Gabriel Jesus has been more than decent at Manchester City and Arsenal while Richarlison has played well for Everton and Tottenham when he has been fit. Robinho? Not so much. And Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton are adored at Newcastle United, who were among the first English clubs to sign South American players when they took Mirandinha to Tyneside, while Raphinha has shone at Barcelona since joining them from Leeds United. Few of them hold a candle to the CV compiled by Rodrygo at Real Madrid but it appears he is not part of the plans laid out by new Bernabeu boss Xabi Alonso and is heading for the exit. A price tag of around £80million looked a bit rich for potential Premier League purchasers but reports from media in the Spanish capital suggest the 24-year-old may be allowed to leave for a cut-price £50m, which has alerted the Reds and Gunners, among others, to his sudden availability. Liverpool have yet to get their blockbuster bid for Magpies marksman Alexander Isak over the line and, even if they do, they are likely to be in the market for another forward with the lower asking price making Rodrygo attractive at 11/4 with William Hill to join the Premier League champions. Mikel Arteta seems to have his focus set on Eberechi Eze at Crystal Palace if he is going to bring in another attacker so the 8/1 Rodrygo goes to Arsenal with BetMGM and Unibet doesn't appeal and neither does 7/1 with bet365 that he joins Tottenham. The transfer fee won't put off Spurs if the player wants to move to N17, but wage demands believed to be nearly £300,000-a-week almost certainly will. Manchester City are more likely suitors at 20/1 with Hills as are PSG at 28/1 with bet365. There's a High Degree of probability trainer William Haggas and jockey Tom Marquand will enjoy success in the Kincsem Handicap, which opens Ladies' Day at Glorious Goodwood, after two second places followed by a victory last time out at Ffos Las. More Trending High Degree is 9/1 with bet365 while Havana Hurricane appeals in the Richmond Stakes at 4/1 with the same firm, William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral and many others. Windlord looks good in the Gordon Stakes and the Andrew Balding runner is 8/1 with Coral and Bet Victor with Oisin Murphy in the saddle while the wonderful Cercene, a 33/1 winner for us when claiming the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, is 8/1 with Paddy Power, Sky Bet and Betfair for the Nassau. The gloves will be off in the Buccellati Handicap and course and distance winner Getreadytorumble can deliver a knockout blow to the opposition at 7/1 with several firms including Hills, Betfred and bet365. Italy's Lorenzo Musetti can make progress at the Canadian Open in Toronto by beating Alex Michelsen in straight sets at 6/4 with bet365 while Marta Kostyuk is 10/3 with Ladbrokes and Coral to defeat Daria Kasatkina in a deciding set in the tournament's women's singles in Montreal. MORE: Roberto Di Matteo tips £80m Chelsea star to complete Man Utd transfer MORE: Join the waitlist for Cult Beauty's 2025 advent calendar worth over £1,100 – but yours for £240 MORE: From boxy blazers, to laidback barrel leg trousers – shop the Lioness look from £30
The Independent
13 minutes ago
- The Independent
Serie A club release ‘It's Coming Home' kit with St George's Cross
Serie A club Genoa have released a kit inspired by the St George's Cross - marketing it with the slogan 'it's coming home'. In a cinematic announcement video posted on the club's social media, an English narrator detailed the history of the cross now synonymous with the England flag. It highlights that the St George's Cross was associated with Genoa long before it was adopted by England. Genoa saw St George as its patron saint during the Crusades, with the once powerful Italian maritime city having embraced his symbol on its flag ever since. England, meanwhile, adopted the cross the cross towards the end of the religious wars in the 13th century, with English ships flying the flag of Genoa as a deterrent to enemies. Genoa have now reiterated their status as the original holder of the iconic flag by slapping it on their football team's away kit for the 2025/26 season. 'With St George watching our backs day and night, the cross stood strong long before football, and before England claimed it as their own,' the announcement video said. 'This cross stays with us, never moving never breaking. One club, one love. No walls between us, voices rise together like the tide. 'This chant don't stop mate. Same cross, same rhythm. It's coming home, innit.' The utilisation of 'it's coming home', the unofficial motto of England international football, comes just eight days after the Lionesses knocked out Italy on their way to the Euro 2025 title, with their finale victory in Basel ensuring that the European Championship 'stayed home'. Genoa finished 13th in the Italian top flight last season and kick the new campaign off against Lecce on 23 August.
Scottish Sun
14 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
‘A hell of a lot tougher than I am' – Lucy Bronze given ultimate praise by Stuart Pearce after playing with broken leg
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT'S official: Lucy Bronze is even tougher than England's hardest full-back Stuart Pearce. So says the man himself, who was blown away by Bronze's revelation after winning Euro 2025 that she had played the entire tournament with a fractured tibia. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Lucy Bronze played the whole of Euro 2025 with a fractured tibia Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 4 Bronze lifts the Euros trophy alongside her triumphant England team-mates Credit: EPA 4 Stuart Pearce was famed for his passion for England in his playing days Three Lions legend Pearce famously tried to 'run off' a broken leg for ten minutes while playing for West Ham against Watford in 1999. Yet Bronze living up to her middle name of 'Tough' and ignoring the pain to help the Lionesses get over the line left the 63-year-old in awe. The man affectionately nicknamed 'Psycho' told SunSport: 'It's obviously proved she's a hell of a lot tougher than I am, that is for sure! 'She's got incredible determination. On occasion she went down injured and you thought that was her done and she's coming off the pitch. She went back on again. 'Subsequently it appears she's had this problem with her tibia which is a real problem. To get through that shows great guts, great courage and says a hell of a lot about her.' Chelsea defender Bronze, 33, was an integral part of England's squad, which achieved a second successive Euros title as they beat Spain on penalties on Sunday. Pearce, synonymous with pride in playing for the Three Lions badge, saw kindred spirits all over Sarina Wiegman's determined squad for their passion to represent their nation. And he was impressed with their resilience when withstanding heavy pressure against the Spanish, and in the dramatic comeback win over Italy in the semi-final. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK The Euro 96 star added: 'They were magnificent. Every interview that any of them gave and all their performances echoed a group that were passionate to represent their country. 'It filled me with pride to see, to be honest with you. Lionesses' Beatlemania-like homecoming shows women footballers are FINALLY getting the honour and respect they deserve 'The ability to stay in games is a real quality in football, when you're being outplayed and the opposition are on top, to maintain your focus and wrestle momentum back. 'We talk about the quality and the technique of players all the time, but to have the courage and the togetherness to do that, I think was their ace card over this summer.' Pearce hailed Wiegman's coaching acumen throughout the tournament, particularly her substitutions and handling of Bronze's fitness. He said that if the Dutchwoman were ever interested in managing in the men's game, her CV proves she would be more than capable of making the transition. The former Nottingham Forest boss added: 'Football management is football management. 'I don't see it as outlandish that a woman could come into the men's game at the highest level, I really don't. Not with her CV because it stands alongside anybody else's. 'Whether that's a career path that she's looked at at any given time (is unclear). What I see at the moment is somebody who really enjoys the job she's in at present. 'The FA would be stupid to let her walk out at any time soon. When you've got someone of that high quality that is delivering trophies, you've got to say credit to them. 'The recruitment was wonderful in the first place. But somewhere down the line, if she went into the men's game, I think she would be successful.' After the Lionesses' triumph, as well as the men's Under-21s' own Euros glory earlier this summer, it is now over to the men's senior team to keep the good times rolling at the World Cup in a year's time. 4 Pearce added: 'All of a sudden as a men's senior player, you're thinking 'I've got to emulate that'. 'This is the standard that the FA and England have set now and we've got to be part of it.' Stuart Pearce was speaking on behalf of next-gen Fantasy Football mobile game CLUB. Download for Apple and Android in the app store now.
