Football fans old and new have been left awe-stuck by England's newly-crowned European champions. Manchester erupted with joy as the Lionesses defeated Germany 2-1 on Sunday (July 31) while the whole country burst with pride.
Yet for one corner of Manchester, the win was even more special. Nestled along Northenden's bustling high street, Palatine Road, is Boxx2Boxx Coffee - a café owned by England star Jill Scott and her partner Shelly Unitt.
The business has only been open since last year but has already seen Jill become a hugely popular figure in the community. The 35-year-old, who grew up in Sunderland and played for Manchester City for nine years, earned her 161st England cap in the Euro 2022 final on Sunday (July 31).
READ MORE: The off-the-pitch lives and loves of England's amazing Lionesses
For locals in Northenden, there was delight to see Jill and the rest of the team succeed where no other England team has been able to for 56 years - male or female. "It's the greatest thing since sliced bread," announced a beaming Sandy Latham, 78.
"It's absolutely wonderful. I'm so proud to be part of Northenden. I didn't know one end of a football to the other before, but I do now."
Sandy and David Latham, also 78, are big fans of Jill and Boxx2Boxx Coffee. Sandy credits the arrival of the café for building up her interest in football, while the couple also have a friend whose daughter has begun a scholarship in the game in the USA.
"I thought [the Lionesses] were brilliant," said David. "When Jill Scott came on we couldn't believe it."
Along Palatine Road, almost all locals the Manchester Evening News spoke to had watched Sunday's final, and most knew about Jill's café. It's a regular meeting spot for other stars from both the women's and men's game.
"They all come in and have a coffee," a City fan called Jeff tells the M.E.N. as he catches a bus close to Boxx2Boxx. "I watched [the tournament] all the way through - it was absolutely fantastic."
The glory of Jill's Lionesses kept residents glued to their televisions - even if they weren't usually avid football fans. Joan O'Neill, 60, said: "I thought it was fabulous. I'm not really into football but I loved it.
"I think they will do well now. Probably more young girls will start playing football."
That is certainly the hope of footballers and the sport's governing bodies, on the back of a tournament which saw record-breaking attendances along the way - including at Old Trafford for England's opening fixture verses Austria. Yesterday's final at Wembley broke the record for any Euros fixture - male or female - with 87,192 watching in the stands, while more than 17 million watched the drama unfold on BBC One.
Ashley Parkin, 38, lives on a street close to Boxx2Boxx Coffee with Paul Bowden, 43, and 10-year-old son Taio. The family say they have seen stars of the sport pull up outside their home before on their way to Jill's café.
"If you see a Lamborghini parked outside our house, it's not ours," Ashley joked. As for the achievements of Jill and her teammates on the pitch, she said: "It's amazing, they've done so well.
"I don't usually watch football but I watched it because it was the ladies doing it. The men couldn't do it but the women could.
"It'll take off now - I think it will inspire young girls to get involved. There was never football in school when I was there. I think it shows just to chase your dreams as well."
Helena Edwards, 37, watched the tournament with her four-year-old daughter Alicia - while her sons Isaac, two, and three-month-old Noah could watch matches in future years. She is eager to see the same opportunities for all her children as they grow up following the shining example set by the Lionesses.
"I think it will make girls see that it's a valid option, that there's no sport that they shouldn't do," she said. When I was at school I don't really remember having the option to play football.
"There's no reason they can't play football, just being a boy or a girl, it doesn't really matter. Having a girl and boys myself it makes me very conscious of that, wanting to make sure she can play football if she wants to."
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