Lionesses international tournaments sees more Northants girls taking up football
The England Women's team face France in their first UEFA Euros match this evening.
A Northamptonshire football coach tells us young girls interest in playing football has increased since the Lionesses successful performances at major international tournaments.
Tonight see's England's woman begin defence of their title in their first match in Switzerland at 8 against France in UEFA Euro 2025.
Matt Goude is the club secretary at Blisworth FC:
"Off the back of the Euros that were in England we only had one team, following their (Lionesses) success we quickly had enough interest for four and next season we will have eight."
Player Sophie is striker for Blisworth Under 10s and tell us what she loves about the sport:
"What I think most about football is scoring goals and spending time with my friends. I'm really excited for the Euros this week and obviously I'm supporting England. Ella Toone is my favourite player."
8 year old Grace also plays for Blisworth FC:
"My favourite players are Ella Toone, Lucy Bronze and Mary Earps and I think England are going to win the Euros 2025."
Matt says it's encouraging to see many of the young girls playing saying that their favourite player is a woman:
"A lot of the players now have females rather than males as their favourite players which is great."
Matt says it's not just the Euros that are feeding girls and women's intertest in the game.
"I think it's not just the Euros, it's the fact that the Women's Super League is on mainstream television. And the ladies are getting to play at the main grounds so it's more visible."
Despite the uptake Matt says despite demand for more players, they're still looking for more especially in school years 4 and year 7.
Meanwhile England right-back Lucy Bronze insists the tough task of facing France first at the Women's European Championship will ensure there are "no surprises" about what it will take for the Lionesses to defend their title in Switzerland.
Sarina Wiegman's side open their tournament against 2022 semi-finalists France in Zurich, then take on 2017 champions the Netherlands on Wednesday before their group stage concludes against newcomers Wales on July 13.
With France and the Netherlands also in the top 11 in FIFA's global rankings, it is a more difficult immediate ask than England's 2023 World Cup group, which included matches against Haiti and China, and arguably a far smaller margin for error in the event of a similarly uneven start this time.