England’s Euro 2022 lifting Lionesses will scoop another gong tonight at the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, with TSB, as David Beckham applauds their success.
The former England captain will also praise the inspiration they have gifted the nation off the pitch, including his daughter Harper, 11.
Beckham, 47, will appear in a video tribute to the roarsome team who captured the country’s hearts this summer with their win.
They will receive a special Inspiration Award for both their victory, and for the impact they have had on women’s football, prompting aspiring girls across the country to kick a ball.
Praising their commitment, drive and talent, and recalling past struggles to fill stadiums for women’s games, Beckham said: “There was a real unity with the team, the excitement was building and these stadiums were full of families.”
And he expressed personal as well as national thanks for their achievements.
“Thank you very much, girls for inspiring my daughter and making her kick a ball around again with her dad,” he said.
Schoolgirls up and down the country will appear to thank the Lionesses, while ex-England player and commentator Ian Wright also praised the champion team’s “focus” and “quiet confidence”.
“We won on the biggest stage and in front of a home crowd,” he said. The tournament will forever be remembered for iconic moments including Alessia Russo’s back-heel and Georgia Stanway’s rocket.
In an extended interview, Beckham recalled enjoying the tournament while on a family holiday, describing how his youngest child, Harper, would regularly join him to watch the games.
He said: “For me personally, having a daughter, I want her to look up to inspiring people... They inspired a whole generation, a new generation.
“The amount of girls I was seeing in parks playing football, my daughter wanted to go out and play.
“That’s how inspiring it was for our nation.”
He also reflected on the women’s Euros success compared to the long-term adversity experienced by the men’s team. “It was an incredibly proud moment, especially as an ex-England captain, to see the girls bringing it home,” he said.
“It was an unbelievable moment. I was proud, we were all proud, because as you all know we tried many times to bring it home, and we couldn’t do it.
“But we knew what it would mean to the country, and to our fans, and to the game.
“To do it now, in our country, in front of our fans, I don’t think as a player there is any better moment to do it.”
Beckham added: “I just want to say congratulations to the girls for winning this Pride of Britain award, an amazing, amazing achievement.”
Lionesses Alessia Russo, Ella Toone, Ellie Roebuck, Fran Kirby, Hannah Hampton, Jill Scott, Leah Williamson, Millie Bright and Rachel Daly will all be walking the red carpet at London’s Grosvenor House tonight.
They will join an audience of celebrities, all gathered to hail the extraordinary achievements of ordinary people, before collecting their own award.
The Pride of Britain judges said: “This was a sporting moment that stood out for all the right reasons, brought to us by a team that encapsulates the very best of what it means to be British and at the top of their game.
“The Lionesses are a team we can all be proud of – on and off the pitch.”
THE GUEST LIST
Every year the stars turn out for The Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards –not to enjoy the spotlight but to help shine it on the UK’s unsung heroes.
And tonight, the biggest names from TV, film, politics, music and sport will be at London’s Grosvenor House to help give remarkable everyday people their special moments.
From the hills of Hollywood to the halls of Westminster, Dame Joan Collins , Michael Sheen and Idris Elba will mingle with Labour leader Keir Starmer and speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle .
From sport, England footballers – the victorious Lionesses and the men’s team – will run out alongside Team GB and Para GB stars with the big names present including Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson , Sir Mo Farah , Dame Kelly Holmes , Kadeena Cox , Nicola Adams and Frank Bruno .
Star journalists Mark Austen and Moira Stuart will chat with music stars Big Narstie and HRVY , and faces from Strictly , Love Island and Ru Paul’s Drag Race .
Celebrity couples Frank and Christine Lampard , who met at the event, Rochelle and Marvin Humes and Mollie King and Stuart Broad will enjoy rare date nights, while Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo co-host again.
TV faves turning out include This Morning’s Philip Schofield , Holly Willoughby and Alison Hammond , Loose Women’s Linda Robson and Nadia Sawalha , GMB’s Susanna Reid and Kate Garraway , and national treasures Dame Mary Berry and Gloria Hunniford MBE .
And former Pride of Britain winners who will be cheering this year’s heroes include Baroness Doreen Lawrence , commended for her relentless campaigning after the 1993 murder of her son Stephen, and TV presenter and former model Katie Piper , who rebuilt her life after a horrific acid attack in 2008.
