Latest news with #JuliaBrunton
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ex-England player to join Lionesses' celebrations
A woman who was part of England's first official squad after a 50-year ban on women's football will join up with her teammates to celebrate the Lionesses' Euro 2025 victory. 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success when she was selected for the first FA-affiliated women's team since the 1921 ban on women's football was rescinded.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. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. More on this story 'We never could have dreamed of Lionesses' success' London to celebrate Lionesses with open-top bus parade
BBC News
29-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Hove woman to join ex-England players for Euro 2025 parade
A woman who was part of England's first official squad after a 50-year ban on women's football will join up with her teammates to celebrate the Lionesses' Euro 2025 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 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 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 won her first official cap the following year, against 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 2022, 50 years on from the first game, Ms Brunton reconnected with her former teammates when she received an official England cap from the 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 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.
BBC News
27-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Hove woman remembers playing football for England in 1972
A former England women's footballer who paved the way for the Lionesses says her team could never have dreamed of the current team's success and the changes to the game more than 50 years Brunton played for England in 1972, becoming part of the first officially affiliated team to play for their country after a 50-year ban on women's football was lifted the year Julia, who lives in Hove, East Sussex, says seeing the game grow in England with the success of the Lionesses has shone a light on the changes from just half a century 73, said: "It was so different in those days." 'I just loved playing football' She added: "About 400 people watched us, and some games there wasn't a changing room and you would get changed in your car."It's really taken off into something we never dreamed of. I just loved playing football, but now they can do it as a living which is something we would never have even thought of."Julia, neé Manning, said she began playing as a forward in her home town of Lowestoft, where the ladies team grew, having started as a team for the It's a Knockout game show. The team came after women's football, having been banned in 1921 by the FA who said it was "quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged", was finally re-affiliated in later took part in rounds of trials before being selected for England to play as a substitute in the first game, a 3-2 win against Scotland in November won her first full cap in April 1973, playing against total, Julia played four times for England, scoring after, Julia moved to Brighton to get married, and played 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, Julia reconnected with her former teammates when she received an official England cap from the said: "That was the first time I felt like a Lioness."We went to training to meet some of the players and at the end of the training session they clapped us on to the pitch. They saw us as the pioneers."Ahead of the Lionesses looking to defend their Euro 2022 crown, Julia says she still keeps in touch with her former teammates in a WhatsApp group to chat about the women's football continues to grow in the professional era, it is Julia and her teammates who still remember laying the foundations for the Lionesses' success purely through their love of the game.
Fashion Network
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fashion Network
White Stuff hails 'trailblazing' former England players in women's football campaign
As England's current crop of elite women's footballers prepare to step out in Zurich, Switzerland, for their Euro 2025 group opener, fashion retailer White Stuff has launched an ad campaign to celebrate their trailblazing 'foremothers' - the 1972 England women's team. Fifty-three years on, White Stuff has thrown the stoplight on those who shared their 'groundbreaking journey to inspire the next generation' with a 'heartfelt' campaign that gives the pioneers of women's football the limelight. It takes the form of a 'bold' ad campaign and a 60-second video promoted on the brand's YouTube and social channels. It includes portraits of the first England women's football team from 1972 featured on billboards and adverts in central London throughout July while the tournament proceeds. Former players (dressed head to toe in White Stuff's summer collection) include Julia Brunton, Sue Wyhatt, Jeannie Allott, Lynda Hale, Maggie Pearce and Pat Davies who share the inspiring stories of their first England match. They'll appear across out-of-home advertising, Youtube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X and via a feature on the brand's website. 'While women's football has made huge strides in recent years, this campaign acknowledges those who came before. On a mission to champion independent spirits, White Stuff is known for putting real people of all ages and backgrounds at the heart of their brand', the retailer said. White Stuff brand director Julia Monro said: 'It's a privilege for us to meet these inspiring women, to share their stories, and to give them a fraction of the recognition they deserve while women's football is in the spotlight this summer.' The campaign was shot by Serena Brown with video by Ollie Craig, in partnership with White Stuff's in-house creative team and agency Weirdo.
Fashion Network
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fashion Network
White Stuff hails 'trailblazing' former England players in women's football campaign
As England's current crop of elite women's footballers prepare to step out in Zurich, Switzerland, for their Euro 2025 group opener, fashion retailer White Stuff has launched an ad campaign to celebrate their trailblazing 'foremothers' - the 1972 England women's team. Fifty-three years on, White Stuff has thrown the stoplight on those who shared their 'groundbreaking journey to inspire the next generation' with a 'heartfelt' campaign that gives the pioneers of women's football the limelight. It takes the form of a 'bold' ad campaign and a 60-second video promoted on the brand's YouTube and social channels. It includes portraits of the first England women's football team from 1972 featured on billboards and adverts in central London throughout July while the tournament proceeds. Former players (dressed head to toe in White Stuff's summer collection) include Julia Brunton, Sue Wyhatt, Jeannie Allott, Lynda Hale, Maggie Pearce and Pat Davies who share the inspiring stories of their first England match. They'll appear across out-of-home advertising, Youtube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X and via a feature on the brand's website. 'While women's football has made huge strides in recent years, this campaign acknowledges those who came before. On a mission to champion independent spirits, White Stuff is known for putting real people of all ages and backgrounds at the heart of their brand', the retailer said. White Stuff brand director Julia Monro said: 'It's a privilege for us to meet these inspiring women, to share their stories, and to give them a fraction of the recognition they deserve while women's football is in the spotlight this summer.' The campaign was shot by Serena Brown with video by Ollie Craig, in partnership with White Stuff's in-house creative team and agency Weirdo.
