Girls inspired to play football by Lionesses’ success

Substitutes Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly scored – the winner coming in extra time - to secure the trophy and England's first victory in a major international football tournament since the men’s World Cup in 1966.

But it wasn't just success on the pitch that was cause for celebration, many connected with the sport declared it a major turning moment for the game.

Women's football has been steadily growing in popularity over recent years but the European Championships propelled it even further forward.

Up and down the country clubs were reporting a surge in interest from girls looking to join a club while existing players were given food for thought on pursuing a professional career.

Now all eyes are once again on the Lionesses and their manager Sarina Wiegman as they count down to the start of the World Cup, which is taking place in Australia and New Zealand.

Among those who will be cheering them on, when the tournament gets under way on Thursday, is Gee Thacker, who manages both the reserves side and the Under-14 girls team at Stourbridge FC Women.

Watching captain Leah Williamson lift the trophy at Wembley last summer was an emotional moment for the 28-year-old.

"I cried," she tells Weekend. "It was that instant realisation that people would start to respect the women's game now. As a manager of an under-15s team, I knew they wouldn't have to suffer the sexism that some of us have had in the past."

Gee started playing football when she was just four years old. “I’m not from a football family, I just came home one day and I said I wanted to play football and that was that," she recalls.

As there wasn't a girls league in the area, she ended up playing for a girl's team in a boy's league until she found one in Shrewsbury.

By time she turned 13, there will a lot more girls playing football, says Gee, who joined Stourbridge FC Women as a defender in 2015 after stints at Dudley United, Dudley Sports, and Wolves.

She made 110 appearances and scored 16 goals during her seven years playing for the Glassgirls first team.

In October last year she became assistant manager of the Reserves before being appointed to the top role in January.

Gee, who works as a school learning support assistant, says she has seen massive changes in the women’s game in recent years.

"I've seen an increase in the number of girls' teams at all levels, it's really accessible now, and there is a healthier attitude towards the women's game.

"There are a lot more male coaches within women's football now. They don't feel embarrassed to manage a girls' or women's team," she tells Weekend.

Football is a huge part of Gee's life and she says she enjoys coaching just as much as playing. "It's very rewarding and I enjoy the bond with the players - it's really like a family.

"I don't know where I would be without football. It's given me far more than I've given to it," she says.

England will take on Haiti in their first match at Brisbane Stadium on Saturday, July 22 and Gee is feeling "excited but nervous" about the tournament.

"We're missing some big names like Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby who are both injured but we are going in as Champions so I think other teams may be a bit intimidated to play us. I think we will give it everything," she says.

Newport Girls Football Club is among the clubs that has experienced a huge surge in interest on the back of the Lionesses' success last summer.

"It's been phenomenal," says chair Helen Bourton. "We've never seen anything like it. It was moving this way but the Lionesses have accelerated it.

"All of our squads are full. We've gone from nine teams to 10 teams. Every team has been 13 to 16 players in their squad as well as training buddies.

"We were full at the end of June, normally we wouldn't name our squads until the end of August/start of September because we would still be recruiting. This is before the World Cup has even started," she tells Weekend.

Helen, who was a batonbearer in the English leg of the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay, is determined to provide as many opportunities as possible for girls who want to play the game to fulfil their dreams.

"We're going to make sure that girls' football goes all the way, from grassroots, right to the top. I want more female referees, we've got some but I want lots more."

She is also pleased to be able to help girls to reap the benefits of playing the beautiful game. "They love the social side, many will say they like seeing their friends, but they also get two hours of non-stop physical activity.

"It's fun, it's social and it's physical. After many years of Covid, at long last they can enjoying being physical and running around outside.

"When I see young girls and bigger girls in town, they say hello and when I see girls, who played for us who have gone to university and come home, they always say 'hi Helen'. It's that community, that's what I love."

Helen is looking for a shirt sponsor for the new under-8s team, the Owls and anyone who is able to help can contact her on 07769116680.