They think it’s all over. It is now.
See? It’s easy. What’s all the fuss about? None of that penalty nonsense.
The clock was ticking inexorably towards the inevitable penalty shoot-out – it was Germany after all – when up popped Chloe Kelly’s right boot to put right the wrongs of fifty-six years.
And it was so fitting to see Lionesses triumph in this way.
Germany are a very good team. They are well drilled and their game plan was working. After their late equaliser, there was a very real danger that all the positive energy surrounding the tournament and England especially was going to be sapped away by some cynical and, at times, quite nasty tackling.
It would have been such a shame if those tactics had prevailed.
It’s impossible to overestimate the good that has come from these last three weeks . Even the most intransigent, misogynist football fans have sat up and taken notice.
I went into my local chippy last week and the bloke who fries the fish (Liverpool fan, traditional male supporter) said to me, ‘Hev you bin watching the wimmin?
‘Yes,’ I said.
He countered, ‘Can’t believe what I was seeyen. Five years ago, couldn’t string five passes together”.
Of course, he thought he was being nice, and indeed up to a point what he said was true.
But things have changed. Of course, money has everything to do with it – we’ll never get away from it. But also very slowly, in this part of the globe at least, society is changing and women’s sport with it.
I played both ladies cricket and ladies football – the latter in the mid to late seventies and things were very different then.
My team played in the East Anglian Ladies Football League. We were originally called The Norfolk Broads, but as you can imagine we had to change that. A sign of the times! We became Costessey Ladies FC instead.
For the most part, the quality wasn’t great. Scorelines were often in double figures, but having said that, this part of the country supplied several England internationals. Linda Curl, for example, who went on to feature at the highest level for many years started her career alongside me at Longwater Lane.
Because it was an unusual sport for girls to play, it was normal to have to travel long distances just to get a game. Away matches could see us starting off very early on a Sunday morning and driving to places like Colchester, Ipswich and Kings Lynn.
There just weren’t enough players in those days and if you weren’t prepared to travel then you didn’t get a game
The first season I played there wasn’t even another team in Norwich, although one formed soon after. We had to arrange our own funding, mark out our own pitches, put the goalposts up ourselves, and we often had trouble finding a referee and linesmen.
It was hard work but what was worse was the attitude of other people.
People thought us rather strange because girls just didn’t do that. I’m not even sure my mum was particularly impressed by her daughter’s choice of a hobby. There was also the whispered sneering we had to endure, we were mocked for poor standards, some of us called fatties, and had our sexuality questioned, often loudly from the touchline.
But we stuck with it because it was great fun and we had an inkling it was the way forward.
I haven’t been involved with women’s football for many years now, but things have changed beyond all recognition. Professional players are the norm these days. Most Premier League and Football League clubs have ladies’ teams.
Norwich City have recently taken NCWFC under their wing, and the integration can only benefit the ladies’ team. They play at The Nest so have access to the best facilities (why not go up and see them?).
I suspect they don’t have to put the goalposts up themselves!
Of course, all of this has come far too late for the likes of me and my teammates. The truth is, I was never good enough anyway, but that’s not really the point is it?
It shouldn’t matter how good you are. What does matter is if you enjoy playing a sport you should be able to, irrespective of sex, creed or colour.
My granddaughter is eight months old. She will grow up thinking girls playing football is absolutely normal in the same way they play tennis and hockey. And that makes me very happy.
Thank you, Lionesses.
Nice one Kathy, I remember Pam Bassham telling us about those days.
My granddaughter has been playing for her local girls team for the past 4 years (she will become a teenager next month) and plays in the local girls: league against the likes of Bloefield, Sprowston. Taverham, North Walsham etc and you can see how much the girls all love playing.
It’s really noticeable how much the standard of play has improved – no longer do you witness all the outfield players clustered around the ball, but rather the players generally stay in their own area, whether that is defence, on the wings or as a striker.
Only good can come from this success and it’s long overdue!! ⚽
Great article Kathy, which of course fully resonates. I was also thinking last night about driving to Cambridge for League meetings on foggy November weekday evenings! Delighted for the Lionesses and what it will mean for the future of the womens game.
Great read, matches a great match, had a bit of everything. admit I enjoyed watching the Lionesses over this tournament more than struggling with the men’s efforts.
Ella Toone’s opener was pure class, I lost count of the times I have seen that type blasted, Magull’s leveller was also a classy finish, but Kelly’s was pure determination being in the right place at right time. a typical poachers goal.
Being new to ladies football a friend whose been following for years got me to tune in and I am mighty glad he did. I sincerely hope that this opens the door even wider for the progression of the woman’s game. They are so deserving of more. It proved the country will get behind them, the money sponsorship must be forthcoming, and clubs must step up and help more. Ian Wright mentioned the Premier League stepping in, to be honest, I would not want too much of their involvement, they have sold the soul of football for lucre of TV.
I can remember playing on Pilling Park in Norwich with Linda Curl, enjoyed it she left many lads in her wake. Lovely girl as well..
Still much to be done but the door has opened much more. all power and no end of praise for the girls
Great read, Kathy. I bet Pukki was wishing for a through ball like the one Walsh played for the first goal! Maybe we should get her to come and do some coaching of our midfield.
Jim, Finland scored 1 goal in the tournament. Finland striker Linda Sällström who scored that goal is quite similar player with Pukki and the goal was very Pukki type goal. She is 34 now, scored 51 goals in 119 national team games. 2006 she was selected as a most promising girl player and you know what, Teemu Pukki was selected the same year as the most promising boy player. There is a picture about them posing together with their prizes. Im sure she would still be a great asset to some WSL clubs.
Very enjoyable last night, and indeed the whole tournament. Keira Walsh should have been player of the tournament – wish we could find an equivalent.
The coolness of Toone’s finish was superb. Hemp still has a lot to learn to be really effective at that level, including working o her weaker foot, but at barely 22 she is one heck of a prospect.
You can’t get away from the fact that the women are not as strong as the men, especially in the tackle. You can tell because hardly any tackle forces the recipient to yelp with pain, or have sufficient momentum to make them roll over several times….
A great article that captures the feel and mood of both a great tournament and a thrilling final. I do remember Linda Curl from back in the day and the whole thing shows just how far, female football has come in this country, in such a short time. I really hope that this success helps move everything on to the next level.
It was absolutely brilliant Kathy.
I’ve seen many EPL forward miss Ella Toone’s fantastic finish.
And what a time to score Chloe Kelly’s goal. And wasn’t her game management brilliant in keeping the ball in that corner with the minutes ticking by.
The lasting legacy of this must be far more girls playing football at school. The more they play the better they will all get. I saw a statistic the other day that only 44% of schools offer girls the chance to play football.
I loved the fact there was hardly any lip given to the referee ( oh I am hypocrite 😂) and players got up after being fouled, not rolling around like a lot of their male counterparts.
I have got to admit I was both shocked and ecstatic that the Germans took off Lina Mugall, maybe she was injured ? But good news for us. What great revenge for 13 years ago when they beat us 6-2 in the Euros final.
Me and my wife have been watching the Women’s game for years, the days of Hope Powell and then Rachel Yankey and how it has improved is incredible.
Ian Wright has supported the women’s game for years and he has been brilliant, but I remember years ago when the male players were not as supportive as they could have been, Gavin Peacock ex QPR was there so many times as a pundit so a big shout out to him.
Now the Women have their own heroes to discuss games. Just look how good Alex Scott, Sue Smith, Eni Aluko and Karen Carney are.
Brilliant tournament! Every game was exciting and very entertaining. UEFA made 1 mistake, they didnt understand how large fanbase Iceland has. Thanks to that thousands of iceland fans didnt make a trip. They also had 1 of the most exciting player who besides her playing she also was able to very long throws. This is really rare stuff also in mens football.
When England was 0-1 losing to Spain, they turned it to 2-1 win which proved to at least to me that they deserve to win the tournament. England, Germany, France and Spain were the best teams. After those 4, there is some level gap. Next year world championships will be a great tournament.
A good read Kathy, to follow on from some really great games of footie!
A squad of very dedicated and talented England ladies played far better football than the Germans could manage, and the manager’s substitutions did the trick right through the tournament.
Been watching the Lionesses since the earlier ‘She Believes’ tournaments and it’s plain to see these girls do, indeed, believe.
More and more power to them!
The grassroots is increasing but it needs more youth football clubs to get involved setting up teams and training sessions and ideally needs more pitches and coaches to meet demand
Needs schools to have the resources to teach football and run female teams. As PE gets squeezed in the timetable lots of schools are struggling to deliver their existing female sports
county FA’s need to set up female school leagues and competition s – lots of boy leagues –
our school is ahead of the curve but can only get the odd friendly
Netball etc needs to run alongside girls football not instead of it at school