Eight years after Bobby Zamora inspired Chloe Kelly at Wembley, the former QPR striker says England’s match-winner has become an “icon” and an inspiration for his three daughters.
A 16-year-old Kelly was at the national stadium in 2014 to see Zamora score a 90th-minute winner against Derby in the Championship Play-Off Final to send her beloved Rangers to the Premier League.
On Sunday, Kelly become a national treasure with the winning goal as England were crowned European champions.
After her own dramatic strike, Kelly revealed she had been inspired by Zamora’s exploits at Wembley and had told her family that she wanted to create “a Bobby Zamora moment”.
Zamora believes Kelly, who fulfilled her post-match media duties draped in a QPR flag, has now secured her place in English football folklore.
“I saw Chloe’s interview and it was very nice,” Zamora told Standard Sport. “I felt it had some similarities to my goal (for QPR) in terms of her being a substitute, coming on, making a difference and getting the winning goal.
“She would have been a budding footballer at Arsenal in 2014, watching her team get promoted dramatically. It is etched into her memory and her memories of Wembley.
“To think that she has gone on and created such an iconic goal in women’s football is amazing. It is nice that my goal is remembered and remembered by her.”
Zamora, 41, added: “She is now an icon. She is a household name. In terms of the younger generation coming through, she’ll be a name that all young girls around Europe will know. She will be inspiring the next generation.
“Chloe is pushing the women’s game to where it should be. I have got three young girls and hopefully, they can be inspired by these girls. It’s fantastic. Hats off to all the Lionesses.”
The women’s game is now seeking to capitalise on the success of the Lionesses, which has captured the attention of the nation. It is hoped the Euros victory can be a springboard for better conditions for players, bigger crowds and better access to facilities in grassroots football.
Zamora, who works as an ambassador for Brighton, hopes the nation can seize the opportunity to build on England’s success.
“If you didn’t take note of it five years ago or 10 years ago then you certainly do now,” he said. “It’s a credit to all those who have come before them like Kelly Smith, Alex Scott and Farah Williams. They’ve gone through the hard stages and not really had the recognition women’s football has now.
“This is huge for the women’s game. The more people that watch it, the more money and sponsorship that goes into the game. It makes it a bigger stage and it is only going one way. I take my hat off to all the players and people around it for their sacrifice over the last 10 years.”
