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Harrogate’s Rachel Daly scores four in Women’s FA Cup

Harrogate’s Rachel Daly continued her fantastic form when she scored four goals for Aston Villa Women in the Women’s FA Cup yesterday.

Villa cruised to an 11-0 win over AFC Fylde to reach the last 16 of the competition.

England star Daly, who started her career with Killinghall Nomads, opened the scoring in the second minute and added a second as her side went 6-0 up after 25 minutes.

She was denied a 13-minute hat-trick when her penalty was saved but still notched a couple more after the interval.

Daly, who played as a defender during England Lionesses’ Euro 2022 victory last year, is having a remarkable first season in the West Midlands since her summer transfer from Houston Dash.

Playing up front, she is along with Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw the joint highest scorer in the Women’s Super League with nine in 11 matches — which doesn’t include her FA Cup goals.

She has twice been named Barclays Women’s Super League Player of the Month this season.

The draw for the fifth round of the Women’s FA Cup takes place at 6.30pm tonight on the BBC’s Sportsday show on the BBC news channel and BBC iPlayer.

Petition launched to honour all England Lionesses — including Harrogate’s Rachel Daly

A petition has been launched to award honours to all members of the England Lionesses team that won Euro 2022 — including Harrogate’s Rachel Daly.

Captain Leah Williamson was appointed OBE while Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze and Ellen White became MBEs in today’s King’s New Year Honours.

But the decision to recognise four players and not others in a team game has caused controversy.

A petition calling for all of the Lionesses’ playing squad to receive honours has already attracted 2,000 signatures.

Michael McCann, who started the petition, said:

“It simply does not feel fair at all, that after such a monumental collective effort, and given the historical precedents set with previous sporting successes in England, to chose to honour just four of the Lionesses players.”

Mr McCann calls on the Cabinet Office to “honour the entire 23-player squad with at least an MBE”.

Politicians, including Andy Burnham, the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, have questioned why only four of the team were recognised.

Why only four? They were a TEAM. It should be all or none and I say ALL. https://t.co/lc6ysVKZWL

— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) December 31, 2022

The Daily Mail’s northern football correspondent, Dominic King, also expressed forthright views on Twitter.

If Gareth Southgate’s squad had won the World Cup, every member would have got recognition in the honours list. It’s puzzling, them, why every member of Sarina Weigman’s squad hasn’t been honoured. Sir Hugh Robertson’s explanation for the exclusivity is nonsense, too.

— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) December 31, 2022

Daly, whose career started at Killinghall Nomads, has had an amazing year. Besides winning Euro 2022 she has twice been named Women’s Super League Player of the Month for her scoring exploits at Aston Villa.

Rachel Daly receiving her player of the month award November.

Harrogate’s Rachel Daly named WSL Player of the Month — again!

Harrogate-born footballer Rachel Daly’s amazing year continued today when she was named Barclays Women’s Super League Player of the Month for November.

Daly, who was part of England’s thrilling European Championships success in the summer, has been in red-hot form in front of goal since signing for Aston Villa from Houston Dash this season.

She won the player of the month award in September and has now landed it a second time for playing a key role in Villa victories over Liverpool and Reading in November.

Rachel Daly displays her award.

The former Killinghall Nomads player scored a penalty to seal a 1-0 win over Liverpool before recording a hat-trick against Reading at Villa Park to give her four league goals last month.

Daly is the league’s joint top scorer and has helped catapult Villa to fifth in the table.

Harrogate’s Rachel Daly among winners at Pride of Britain awards

Harrogate’s Rachel Daly was among the winners at this week’s Pride of Britain awards.

Daly was part of the England women’s football team that beat Germany 2-1 in the final of Euro 2022 this year.

At a ceremony hosted by Ashley Banjo and Carol Vorderman, the team received a special award for inspiring girls to play football.

Pic: Rachel Daly Instagram

The ceremony was held at London’s Grosvenor House on Monday and broadcast on ITV last night.

The Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain recognise extraordinary achievements by ordinary people.

It was the latest success of a remarkable year for Aston Villa striker Daly, who was named Women’s Super League player of month in September.

Harrogate’s Rachel Daly scores twice on dream return to England

Rachel Daly’s remarkable year continued today when she scored twice on her Aston Villa debut in the Women’s Super League.

Daly was a key player in England Lionesses’ success at Euro 22 in the summer.

The Harrogate-born player subsequently signed a three-year contract with Villa to return to England after a six-year stint in the National Women’s Soccer League in America with Houston Dash.

In today’s opening WSL fixture, Daly’s curled strike gave Villa a 2-0 lead in the home fixture against Manchester City. After City fought back to lead, Daly pounced to score the winner and be named player of the match.

The exciting match was broadcast live on BBC Two and watched live by 7,000 fans at Villa Park in Birmingham.

Daly played at left back for England at Euro 2022 but has reverted to her forward role with Villa, who finished ninth of 12 in the WSL last season. City were third, so today’s thrilling win was an ideal start to Daly’s new adventure.

New women’s beginner football league could be created in the Harrogate district

A women’s beginner football league could be set up in the Harrogate district this season if enough teams are put forward to take part.

The West Riding County Football Association (FA) is looking to create a league based at Rossett Sports Centre, with the aim of six teams participating.

They will be formed from existing grassroots clubs in the area, including Killinghall Nomads Junior Football Club.

There is currently only one grassroots women’s team in the district – Darley’s Angels. The team was born out of a group of mums who watched their daughters play and train each week for Scotton Scorchers.

Mike Collier, women and girls football lead at Scotton Scorchers Junior Football Club, said:

“There were a lot of mums on the touchline who said they had never had a chance to play. So we asked them if they would be interested in creating a beginners’ team and we had an amazing response.

“The pitch at Darley had availability, so we started training there and got good numbers.

“The ladies came up with the name and the team was born. It is still linked in with Scotton Scorchers and is part of the community.

“There is always a lot of fun and laughter going on and they have great fun playing.”

Darley’s Angels started playing in March 2021 so have just completed their first season. Earlier this year they won a competition to train with the England Lionesses.

Darley’s Angels trained with the Lionesses.

The West Riding FA currently has a women’s beginner league, which Darley’s Angels is part of, however the clubs are all based in West Yorkshire.

It wants to develop the league by splitting it into two divisions; beginners and developers.

It also wants to create a second beginner’s league in the Harrogate district to provide teams in the area with an opportunity to play regular matches.

Mr Collier, who has been involved with women’s football since 2003, said he hoped the positive experience of the Lionesses Euro 2022 win would inspire more women to get involved.

He said:

“If we can get six teams to come forward we can play every third week.

“We definitely welcome this proposal. So far David Terzza at Killinghall Nomads has said he will put a team forward and Pannal Ash has expressed an interest.

“Hopefully we will get there and it might be that once some come forward, others will follow suite.”

David Terzza, Killinghall Nomads girls’ football manager, who was a coach when Rachel Daly played at the club, said:

“There is very limited grassroots football for women in the district at the moment. Only Darley’s Angels exists currently in Harrogate district. However, I’m creating a Killinghall Nomads ladies team, with me starting as the coach.

“Hopefully other clubs in the district will also respond.”

Any women interested in playing for the new Killinghall Nomads ladies team should contact Mr Terzza on 078082 460221 or email david.terzza@btinternet.com

Harrogate’s Rachel Daly given hero’s welcome at Elland Road

Harrogate’s Rachel Daly received a hero’s welcome at Leeds United’s Elland Road stadium this past weekend.

Daly, who is a lifelong fan of Leeds United, was welcomed onto the pitch ahead of the club’s opening day Premier League clash against Wolves on Saturday.

She received a standing ovation and gave a pitch side interview before kick off.

She made the appearance off the back of being part of England’s Lionesses’ historic win at Euro 2022.

Daly and her teammates captured the heart of a nation after clinching the title with a 2-1 defeat of Germany last week.

Following her pitch-side appearance, Daly saw Leeds pick up all three points with a 2-1 win with goals from Rodrigo and an Aït-Nouri own goal.

In June, Daly lived out a childhood dream when she played at Elland Road in an international friendly against the Netherlands.

https://twitter.com/LUFC/status/1555916110700101632?s=20&t=ZxSSO4o_-4xsBGRQRnXI3A

She used to watch the men’s team play at the club’s famous old ground when she was a season ticket holder as a child.

Daly even has a line from the Leeds anthem Marching on Together tattooed on her forearm.

She said in an interview ahead of the Netherlands friendly:

“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.”

Harrogate Town’s new women’s manager leaves suddenly

The manager of Harrogate Town‘s women’s team has left — five days after his appointment was announced.

The club issued a press release last week saying Liam Cope had taken over the reins and had already recruited several players. He was also due to help with player development.

But today a Town spokesman said “the agreement has since been ended and we are looking to recruit again”.

Cope, who has managed Ossett Town Ladies and been assistant manager at Leeds United Women, was due to arrive with a backroom team including a nutritionist and goalkeeping coach.

He said his ambition was to take the club to the next stage up the football pyramid by reaching the Women’s National League.

But the role is being advertised again. The closing date for applicants is Tuesday next week.

The Stray Ferret asked the club why Mr Cope had left suddenly and whether his backroom team would also not be joining the club.

A club spokesman said he understood “the club and Liam had mutually agreed that it would be best for him not to continue in the role”.

Harrogate Town Ladies currently play in the North East Regional Women’s Football League, which is one step below the Women’s National League Division One North.

They play home matches on the 3G pitch at Rossett Sports Centre, with their first fixture scheduled to be at home to South Shields on September 4.

Mr Cope said it was a fantastic club and he didn’t have a bad word to say about anyone at it.

But he added it was a club “in a state of transition” and “I’m not at a stage in my life where I can join a club in transition”. He added he “wasn’t aware of the size of the project” when he agreed to take on the role.

Former school leads messages to Harrogate’s football champion Rachel Daly

Organisations across Harrogate have been giving their congratulations to England football star Rachel Daly today, after she helped the team to a historic victory in the European Championships.

The Lioness, who grew up in Harrogate, spent the day at Trafalgar Square where a victory parade was held in front of thousands of fans — but her home town was keen to ensure she received its best wishes too.

The messages were led by Rossett School, which Rachel attended as a teenager, becoming a star in its football teams. Headteacher Helen Woodcock said:

“Rachel Daly and the Lionesses have brought a real sense of national achievement and pride to the world of English football. We are so proud of her, here at Rossett!

“We have a long tradition of sporting excellence at Rossett – especially in football – with our young women and men going on to football scholarships both here and abroad. Most recently we have cemented our relationship with the sport in beginning a partnership with Harrogate Town, providing a home for their academy training.

“We are immensely proud of Rachel Daly; her work ethic, her resilience and her longevity in the game. All Rossett students and staff were shouting themselves hoarse in encouragement and then in celebration as she tackled and defended as part of the amazing team effort against a strong German side on Sunday.

“Rossett School are looking forward to preparing the next generation of young women and men heading towards sporting excellence as part of its school and community football programmes.

“We hope to welcome Rachel to the school soon to inspire our young women to look at taking their skills a step further, realising a career in the sport at local, national and international level.”

Community football teams were also singing her praises:

you were simply amazing @RachelDaly3 and all the @Lionesses https://t.co/FB28hVSrWG

— FDS Harrogate Soccer School (@FDSHarrogate1) July 31, 2022

Among those sending their congratulations was a parent of a young player at Killinghall Nomads, where Daly used to play as a child.

As the Mum of a Killinghall Nomads JFC girl, you and the lionesses have inspired a generation of young girls ⚽️❤️ and so much more. Congratulations and thank you! @RachelDaly3

— Alexandra Vere (@alexsvere) August 1, 2022

Tweets were also posted by local organisations, including Visit Harrogate:

https://twitter.com/VisitHarrogate/status/1554044676717613057

There have been calls in Scarborough to give their local Lioness, Beth Mead, the freedom of the town.

The Stray Ferret asked Harrogate Borough Council if there were any plans to mark Daly’s achievement or put on a homecoming parade, but had not received a response at the time of publication.

However, the authority did share a tribute on Twitter:

Congratulations to @RachelDaly3 and all the @Lionesses on such an incredible achievement!#̵I̵t̵s̵C̵o̵m̵i̵n̵g̵H̵o̵m̵e̵ #ItsHome https://t.co/5X7XzdMTxs

— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) August 1, 2022

‘That was for you’ – Harrogate Lioness’s tribute to late dad

Harrogate football star Rachel Daly has paid tribute to her late father after winning the European Championship final at Wembley.

The England player posted a picture of Martyn Daly on her Instagram account with the caption “That was for you” after the 2-1 victory over Germany last night.

Mr Daly had been a huge influence on and supporter of his daughter’s career until his death last September.

Speaking before an England warm-up game at Elland Road in June, she told the matchday programme his loss had affected her approach to the sport they both loved:

“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.”

In response to her post on Instagram, fans and friends told her he would be “so proud” of what she had achieved with the Lionesses.

Mr Daly lived in Harrogate and was himself a semi-professional footballer, playing for Harrogate Town and Knaresborough Town in the 1980s and 1990s.

Last summer, as the team prepared to compete at the 2020 Olympics, Mr Daly spoke to the Stray Ferret about his pride in his daughter, not just because of her achievements but also the role model she was to other young women and girls.

He added:

“She’ll never realise what she’s done in the game until it’s over.

“Every pro has a cockiness about them but she’s down to earth too, she’s just my daughter.”

This morning, Daly and her teammates were heading to Trafalgar Square for a victory parade, celebrating the first tournament win for any England football team since 1996.

Daly posted a photo of herself on Twitter with her winner’s medal.

Good morning pic.twitter.com/6e78642uM4

— Rachel Daly (@RachelDaly3) August 1, 2022

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