Enquiries to join girls’ footballs teams in the Harrogate district have surged following the Lionesses’ historic Euro 2022 victory.
The impact of the team’s success have been felt across the area, with coaches and players labelling England’s success as “inspiring”.
And it is hoped the win will now open doors for young girls in the future.
Rachel Daly’s pathway to the Lionesses began at Killinghall Nomads.
Rachel Daly (centre) with girls from Killinghall Nomads Junior Football Club and their manager David Terzza (right).
Ms Daly played and trained in a boys’ team, but the club now teams for both girls and boys.
The club also runs non-competitive weekly Wildcats sessions at Killinghall Moor. They allow girls, aged five to 11,to try out playing football before committing to a team.
David Terzza, Killinghall Nomads girls’ football manager, who was a coach when Rachel Daly played at the club, said:
“On Monday night I ran a session and there were six new girls who signed up straight away.
“We have up to about 32 girls who take part in the Wildcats sessions, which cost £3 and are run by qualified FA coaches. I give out information about clubs in the area. We hope they come to our club at Killinghall, but that’s not always the case.”
Chris Fahy, Boroughbridge Juniors Football Club’s chairman and coach, said England’s success was “massively important” for girls’ football.
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A year ago he applied for tickets to the Euro 2022 final — and it paid off as 70 members of the club got to see the Lionesses beat Germany 2-1 at Wembley on Sunday.
Boroughbridge girls at the Euro 2022 final at Wembley.
He said:
“I’ve been doing girls’ football for eight years and at the moment we’ve got three teams – a small group aged from five upwards. I’m hoping what happened on Sunday will have an impact. We had a couple of enquiries just on Monday from people wanting to join.
“It’s good for the future. The publicity has been absolutely fantastic. There has been so much build-up and media attention.”
Mike Collier, women and girls football lead at Scotton Scorchers Junior Football Club, said the club was “so proud and emotional” about what it means for the Lionesses to win the Euros.
He said:
“It’s not just the winning but also the way they have gone about doing it.
“They are role models and superstars and yet still ordinary people in touch with their fans.
“This isn’t overnight success though and it’s great that the current players have given credit to everyone who has gone before them, including recognition for their grassroots clubs, reminding everyone that every England player started their football journey there.
“We hope the game continues to grow and become securely established so that players really can have football careers, but it’s also really important to remain accessible, relatable and likeable.”
Scotton Scorchers is the club of footy-mad Tess Dolan, eight, who was gifted tickets by the BBC after she was filmed dancing to the unofficial anthem Sweet Caroline following last Tuesday’s semi-final victory.
Scotton Scorchers under 14s girls team on a charity fun run last year.
The youngster stole the nation’s heart again when she was interviewed on TV before the victorious final on Sunday.
Mr Collier said:
Boroughbridge girls savour day to remember at Euro 2022 final“We have had many of our players at the games and are proud of all our girls, with good luck messages on social media and local radio etc.
“But also our little dancing superstar Tess, who summed up the nation’s great joy with her celebrations at the semi-final and went on to join the BBC on match day in the studio and lift the trophy too!
“We have over 150 girls and women playing football, we are all inclusive, and it’s about fun and friendship, respect, health and wellbeing. We also have some fantastic players and teams competing at the highest levels in the county. Our Women’s team trained recently with the Lionesses!”
A gamble that the England would get to the final of Euro 22 paid off on Sunday for 70 members of Boroughbridge Juniors Football Club.
Chris Fahy, the club’s chairman and coach, wanted his girls teams to see top level football.
So a year ago he applied for tickets to the Euro 2022 final — and it paid off as they got to see the Lionesses beat Germany 2-1.
He said:
“Seventy from the club went to Wembley for the final, including girls and parents.
“I applied for tickets a year ago. I gambled that England were going to get to the final. Luckily it paid off! Even if it didn’t, I wanted the girls to see top level football.
“It was absolutely fantastic. The atmosphere is different from men’s football – it’s more family orientated. You feel there’s going to be no trouble, no danger, at the women’s game.”
Mr Fahy said the girls had an amazing time at the game, which saw the Lionesses clinch victory in extra time.
He said:
“The girls loved it. We were all really excited going down. We had a fantastic view – we were behind the goal where England scored twice.
“We stayed until the celebrations were more or less finished, about half an hour afterwards.”
The club is holding free taster sessions throughout August for girls aged five to 15, with the first session at Boroughbridge Football Club, on Aldborough Road, starting at 10.15am this Saturday, August 6.
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‘Play like the star you are’: Harrogate gets behind Rachel Daly ahead of Euro final
Harrogate has thrown its support behind Rachel Daly ahead of England’s Euro final against Germany on Sunday.
Daly, who went to Saltergate and Rossett schools in Harrogate, will be among the squad which walks out on the hallowed turf at Wembley in front of a sellout crowd.
The Lionesses have captured the hearts of a nation during the tournament, which has seen late goals and thrashings of the likes of Norway.
Ahead of the semi-final against Spain, Mike Sweetman, who coached Daly at Rossett, told the Stray Ferret he was not surprised at her success.
“I’m not surprised she has had more than 50 caps for England.
“In all my years teaching I had not seen a better female player, saying that, she struggled with a bad knee at school and you definitely need a lot of luck along with talent to cement your place in an England team.”
‘Play like the star you are’
Now, Daly has the chance to make history and help lead England to their first Euro trophy.
Ahead of the seismic tie against Germany at 5pm on Sunday, the Stray Ferret asked our readers on social media what message they had for Daly as she prepares for the big game.
Jean Daly said:
“Play like the star you are – my lovely granddaughter.”
Lorraine Simcock said:
“Whatever the outcome, we are so proud of you all, you have done so much to inspire the younger generation and to promote women’s football. Good luck and best wishes.”
Read more:
- ‘She’s just my daughter!’: Rachel Daly’s dad’s pride at Olympics star
- Local Lioness leads by example in the Women’s EUROs
- I had not seen a better footballer: Rachel Daly’s former coach on her rise with England
George Miller added:
“Smash it up in the final this Sunday, we’re all cheering you on.”
Deborah Risdon said:
“Good luck we are behind you all and most important enjoy the moment.”
Tracy Atkinson said:
Harrogate’s Rachel Daly ready for emotional Elland Road fixture“Wishing you all the very best for the final, your dad will be so proud of you and he’ll be watching over you on Sunday.”
It will be a mix of emotions for Harrogate’s Rachel Daly if she plays tonight for England at Elland Road.
The international friendly against the Netherlands is part of the preparations for Women’s Euro 2022, which takes place next month on home soil.
Rachel, who was announced in Sarina Wiegman’s squad last week, began her career at Leeds United but has never played at the club’s famous old ground.
She has, however, watched the Leeds men’s team play there many times as the diehard fan used to have a season ticket as a child.
Rachel even has a line from the club’s anthem Marching on Together tattooed on her forearm.
In an interview for the matchday programme tonight, she said:
“It’s a club that has held such a special place in my heart and my family’s heart and I’ve got so many memories of being at Leeds.
“It’ll be really exciting to go back as I was there my whole youth career – I started there when I was about eight years old, right through until the senior level.
“I’ve actually never played there, which is crazy because I’ve played in so many different grounds with England, but never Elland Road.
“I’ve been a lifelong, diehard supporter of Leeds…my whole family has. As far as I can remember, I’ve been going there since I was a kid. It’s such a great environment being there as a fan, so being able to play will be even better for me.”
https://twitter.com/Lionesses/status/1540067554848391168?s=20&t=ct1KUrxeS8aaSRbxwxZbcw
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If she plays, Daly will reach the impressive milestone of 50 England caps.
But the game at Elland Road will be bittersweet as Rachel’s dad Martyn, who died last year, was also a massive Leeds fan.
The Stray Ferret met Mr Daly before the Tokyo Olympics. He told us all about the Daly family’s love of Leeds United.
Rachel said her dad “was the biggest Leeds fan I’ve ever met in my life.”
She added:
“It will be so awful to not have him there because I think it would have been one of his proudest moments.”
“I have a different perspective towards football and life now. Football has always been the be-all-and-end-all for me, and it still is, but now I play for a different purpose as well.
“When I get on the pitch, it’s not just about me performing, it’s me performing to make my dad even more proud than he already was.
“I think I carry that weight with me, but it’s a nice weight to have because it’s every game I want to do better and better. I know I’m making him proud up there.
“But in a way, that’s what will make it even more special, having the rest of my family there knowing how big fans we are.”
The game tonight kicks off at 8.00pm and will be shown live on ITV4. Tickets can still be purchased but only at the Elland Road ticket office.