Latest news with #historymakers
BBC News
28-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Devon and Cornwall celebrate Lionesses' Euro 2025 win
England retaining their European title at Euro 2025 "opens up opportunities" and "allows us to have a seat at the table and put ourselves on the map", Exeter City Women's manager, Abbie Britton, is the first time an England team has won a major trophy on foreign Britton said when the Lionesses won in 2022 the "incredible" rise of women's football really said "they are history-makers, they are trend-setters, they have done everything that people have asked of them for women's football, they have really put us on the map". Chloe Kelly, who scored the iconic winner at Wembley in the final of Euro 2022, was the hero again as she converted the decisive spot-kick to seal victory after Spain had missed three in a row, with Hannah Hampton saving two of Britton said women's football was "packing stadiums out" and it had a "direct impact on what football clubs can then reinvest into those teams". "The opportunity now for young boys and girls to watch their first ever game, being at a football stadium, being in front of thousands of people, is now accessible to them and that's through women's football because it's affordable, it's a friendly atmosphere and you know it's fantastic football that these girls are putting on." Laura-Beth Medcalf, who plays for Goonhavern Ladies, said: "Everyone is so in tune with it now, it's given us a long-lasting loving legacy."It's just great that we can celebrate something as a nation all together." 'Really motivated everybody' She said her match highlight was the nail-biting success of the Lionesses has "really motivated everybody" and brought more women and girls into the game, she said she had seen the number of players competing in tournaments soar from six teams to 30 teams in the last 10 years."I think the Lionesses are such role models now for children, boys and girls, it's just lovely to see." Lisa Marley, who manages Truro City Youth which has 18 teams and accommodates them on three pitches, said there was a shortage of facilities in Cornwall."We're trying to increase the number of female teams this year."There's just simply not enough pitches available," she said. "There's work to be done in getting coaches involved, getting more female coaches available and also in making more facilities available, because that is a challenge for all teams around the area."Charlotte Whitmore, women's football player with Plymouth Argyle, was with fans at Home Park and watched the said: "We always knew the women had it in them and to watch it with all our fans... was really good."
Reuters
27-07-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Reactions to England winning Women's Euros
July 27 (Reuters) - Reaction to England winning the Women's European Championship final on Sunday. I am so proud of this team. So grateful to wear this badge. So proud to be English. This team is unbelievable. Incredible. We can show we can come back from 1-0. I lost track of what was going on in that shootout, as soon as I saw her run off I knew we had won. UK PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER: Champions! Congratulations Lionesses — what a team. What a game. What drama. You dug deep when it mattered most and you've made the nation proud. History makers. You've made London, and the entire nation, incredibly proud. It's coming home. An amazing team, an amazing tournament! So proud of the Lionesses for another history-making performance on the world stage. Their heart, grit and determination has inspired a new generation. Champions, always. Our Women's Spanish Football team, an example and pride of Spain.
