Grassroots football facilities will be named in honour of England's victorious Lionesses.
Government Ministers have pledged £230m worth of investment to build or improve 8,000 football and multi-sport facilities by 2025. New pitches and sporting centres in the programme will be named after the 23 players in the squad who reached the Euros final at Wembley.
They will choose facilities close to where each England player came from when choosing the names but sports chiefs want to build on the legacy from the Lionesses' incredible victory at Wembley in the European Championships and a successful tournament held on home turf.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has confirmed they want to build on the interest in the women’s game, make a special tribute but also encourage more youngsters into sport. Dorries said: "The Lionesses have enjoyed amazing success in a record breaking tournament - selling out all of their matches, with over half a million fans at games throughout the competition. Millions of women and girls have been inspired by the team’s success and honouring their achievements will mean they leave a lasting impression at grassroots facilities across England."
The Government has also listed several high profile women’s tournaments, including the Women’s FIFA World Cup, and the UEFA Women’s EUROs as events of national significance. This means they will now have greater opportunity as “crown jewels” to be shown on free-to-air television, increasing awareness of the women’s game, providing greater commercial opportunities and inspiring more young girls to take up the sport.
They have also announced a full review of the domestic women’s game will launch later this summer, to look at how to grow the game at elite and grassroots level. Manchester City and Liverpool have already confirmed they will play high-profile derby matches in the WSL at their main stadiums to drive greater interest and attendances as the domestic season kicks off next month.
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England captain Leah Williamson is hopeful the success of the tournament will have a broader impact on women throughout the country. She said: "What we've seen already is that this hasn't just been a change for women's football, but society in general and how we're looked upon. There will be a moment of reflection. It's my job to go out and win but I hope this is the start; this is a marker for the future.
"In most workplaces across the world women still have more battles to face and overcome.. For every success we make and change of judgement or opening the eyes of people who view women as someone who is equal - that changes society and that is a powerful message. These strides we take forward can impact everyone on that wider scale."
