Making England fans’ dreams come true seems to be the mission objective for Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman.
In the latest instalment of the Dutch manager’s altruism, an under-12s girls’ football team were treated to a special coaching session by the England boss.
The Meerkats, a grassroots team hailing from Shrewsbury, relished the personal training session led by Wiegman and assistant coach Arjan Veurink at St. George’s Park, as well as a chance to sit down and pick the brains of the serial winner as part of the Nationwide Building Society and England Football’s Mutual Respect partnership.
The grassroots team had previously been awarded the Nationwide Mutual Respect Award for their contribution to the local community, after raising over £21,000 through various fundraising initiatives to support the family of a player whose father was diagnosed with Stage 4 terminal cancer.
And Wiegman hailed the squad for their commitment to their community as well as the important role grassroots women’s football plays in sustaining community engagement.
“It’s an amazing thing what they have done, coming together as a community and fundraising such a large amount to help one of the team’s family,” Wiegman said.
“Grassroots football is very important for local communities in England because it connects people and brings people together, so it’s a social thing too. It’s about moving, learning about themselves, learning about others, winning, losing. It’s about having fun and experiencing the joy that playing football brings. Not just on the pitch, but outside of it too.
"It’s great to see what Nationwide have done in their partnership with England Football to promote and protect this important community.”
Since England's triumphant Euro 2022 campaign, women's grassroots has been championed by the Lionesses. In the wake of lifting the Euro2022 trophy, Government Ministers pledged £230m worth of investment to build or improve 8,000 football and multi-sport facilities by 2025.
In March, the squad achieved their landmark legacy aim following their open letter to the UK government, signed by all 23 members of the squad, calling on the government “to make a huge difference” for football opportunities for young girls.
Subsequently, Wiegman’s European Champions have inspired an exhilarating wave of enthusiasm and support around women’s football in England, and Wiegman underlined the importance of having female role models within football to translate into everyday life.
“It’s very important for young girls to have role models, because that’s what we always say. What you see it, you can be it, and that’s really inspirational,” Wiegman said. “We want every girl to have access to football when they see players like Millie Bright and Leah Williamson play they think, ‘I can play too’.
“We saw that after the Euros and now it had a big impact on young girls, and boys and adults, but what we want is for little girls to get inspired and want to play football, or any sport and partnerships like this help make that happen.”
Meerkats coach Merridy James emphasised the knock-on effect the Lionesses' success has had on giving young girls' role models to aspire to be like.
“Sarina and the Lionesses are huge role models to the girls and inspire them on a daily basis," she said. "The success of the Lionesses over the last few years has been incredible for football. Not only has it encouraged and inspired girls and women to get involved in the game, but it has also broken down barriers and stereotypes where the nation now know that girls and women can play football, and given lots of girls like ours some amazing positive female role models to look up to.”
Paul Hibbs, Head of Advertising at Nationwide Building Society, added: “The importance of female role models for young developing athletes cannot be overstated, and the Meerkats were thrilled to have the opportunity to learn from such an inspirational woman and role model, Sarina Wiegman."
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