In 1984 when we played Sweden in the UEFA European final, we only had two and half thousand people watching us represent our country. We had things said to us that men would be locked up for now.
There were lots of lewd jokes about us swapping shirts and how we shouldn’t be on any pitch. We had to drown out so many negative voices - yes, mainly all men. But we were always proud to be playing, to be representing our country, So we just got on with it.
It was very disappointing that for the UEFA final, we could not find any London clubs who would allow us to play in their stadium. We were more respected - and were made more welcome in Sweden than in our own country.
We played at the national Ullevi Stadium, Gothenburg - the largest stadium in Europe. When we came home for the second leg, Luton Town gave us their ground.
At the time, we were all juggling training and competitions with part-time jobs. I worked in the office of a big dairy in Hull, and I was lucky that they allowed me to have time off without losing money or having to use a holiday. Other girls were not so lucky.
Some of them would come to me and say I can’t afford to miss work to make training, or I can’t get the time off for this game - even if it was their chance to represent their country - something they had been working so hard towards.
Most of us were out of pocket every time we played but playing football made us happy. I started playing after seeing England’s victory in 1966. As a child, it never dawned on me that it wasn’t something I couldn’t do.
I was very emotional watching the girls walk onto the Wembley pitch. I never got that opportunity. The FA had forbidden us from ever playing there. Even if we were anywhere near the stadium, we couldn’t go on the grass.
I was at the final with my old teammate Gill Coulthard, and we remarked how packed the stadium was. The women’s final sold more tickets than any of the men’s games.
The current Lionesses remind me so much of our team - they are like a family, just like we were. We were not able to meet up and train very often, but when we did it was as if we had never been away from each other.
We had a good manager in Martin Reagan. Like Sarina Wiegman, he was cool, calm and collected and encouraged us to play as one big family - as Sarina does. But our biggest battles were always off the pitch.
That should no longer be the case for women’s football. All schools should offer football to girls. Any young girl who wants to play football and shows potential should be able to go to their local club and feel welcomed. And hopefully, getting the crowds at the top matches will filter down to the lower levels.
The Lionesses can build on this success and get more investment and new sponsorship deals as possible that should also filter down to grassroots level. I have two sons and two grandsons - William, 12 and Freddie, 10 - and they are so proud of me as their gran and have loved watching the lionesses.
I hope all the young boys watching the games can see what a positive family-friendly atmosphere this tournament has been and hopefully, as they grow older they can maybe help eradicate the hooliganism we sadly see at the men’s game.
My era of players faced a lot of criticism and ridicule from some men but look who’s laughing now? It’s very satisfying to answer those cynics who loved to try and bring us down when we were playing.
They sing about it coming home - well, the women fetched it home. The Lionesses can now go from strength to strength because their success is all our success.
