England’s inspirational Lionesses created history a year ago as they marched to success in the Women’s Euros 2022 – a victory that changed women’s football forever.
The famous 2-1 victory against Germany on July 31, 2022, massively inspired community participation in football and left a sustainable legacy of growth and development for the game both nationally and more locally in Trafford.
Trafford, which hosted the first game of the tournament at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium, has seen a huge upsurge in the numbers of women and girls playing football inspired by heroes like Ella Toone, Beth Mead and Alessia Russo.
UEFA and the English Football Association (The FA) recently unveiled the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Post-Tournament Report which outlines the key post-tournament impacts, including developments in participation and interest in women’s football, the opportunities created at the highest levels of the professional game, economic growth and the longer-term legacy of the tournament across football and wider society.
Trafford Council has also been instrumental in helping the growth of the women’s game in the borough by:
- Investing £5,400 to help bring a disused pitch back into use at Devisdale, enabling the girls section at Timperley FC to grow
- Enabling more opportunities for women to play football recreationally through Walking Football
- Working with Manchester FA to recruit more female volunteers and to provide more recreational football
- Ensuring the council investment in pitches and facilities increases opportunities for women and girls to play and be involved in football
Dr Kirk Malone, Chair of Timperley Sports Club, said: "Timperley FC were thrilled to receive funding from Trafford Council to help them redevelop a derelict football pitch to become the home ground for their expanding girls' teams. The funding, alongside that received from the Football Foundation, has been transformational and the pitch is now proudly considered by the club to be the best in the South Manchester Girls' League!
“On behalf of Timperley FC, and the wider Timperley Sports Club, I would like to thank Trafford Council for believing in girls' and women's football, and to thank the many volunteers and generous local supporters who enabled the dream of a new home pitch to become a reality."
Cllr Cath Hynes, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Leisure, Arts, Culture and Heritage, said: “The Women’s Euros clearly had a massively positive affect on the country and the development of the women’s game. It was simply fantastic and we in Trafford were honoured to host the opening game which attracted a huge crowd of 68,000 and fans from across the UK and beyond.
“I am absolutely delighted that the tournament has left such a fabulous legacy across Trafford by inspiring so many girls and women to play the beautiful game. We will never look back now and women’s football will continue to kick on in our borough.”
Posted on Friday 21st July 2023