Lionesses' win 'opens up opportunities'

It is the first time an England team has won a major trophy on foreign soil

England retaining their European title at Euro 2025 "opens up opportunities" and "allows us to have a seat at the table and put ourselves on the map", Exeter City Women's manager, Abbie Britton, says.

It is the first time an England team has won a major trophy on foreign soil.

Ms Britton said when the Lionesses won in 2022 the "incredible" rise of women's football really started.

She said "they are history-makers, they are trend-setters, they have done everything that people have asked of them for women's football, they have really put us on the map".

Abbie Britton, Exeter City Women's manager, said when the Lionesses won in 2022 the "incredible" rise of women's football really started

Chloe Kelly, who scored the iconic winner at Wembley in the final of Euro 2022, was the hero again as she converted the decisive spot-kick to seal victory after Spain had missed three in a row, with Hannah Hampton saving two of them.

Ms Britton said women's football was "packing stadiums out" and it had a "direct impact on what football clubs can then reinvest into those teams".

"The opportunity now for young boys and girls to watch their first ever game, being at a football stadium, being in front of thousands of people, is now accessible to them and that's through women's football because it's affordable, it's a friendly atmosphere and you know it's fantastic football that these girls are putting on."

Laura-Beth Medcalf, who plays for Goonhavern Ladies, said: "Everyone is so in tune with it now, it's given us a long-lasting loving legacy.

"It's just great that we can celebrate something as a nation all together."

'Really motivated everybody'

She said her match highlight was the nail-biting penalty.

The success of the Lionesses has "really motivated everybody" and brought more women and girls into the game, she said.

She said she had seen the number of players competing in tournaments soar from six teams to 30 teams in the last 10 years.

"I think the Lionesses are such role models now for children, boys and girls, it's just lovely to see."

Plymouth Argyle fans watched the match together at Home Park Plymouth on Sunday

Lisa Marley, who manages Truro City Youth which has 18 teams and accommodates them on three pitches, said there was a shortage of facilities in Cornwall.

"We're trying to increase the number of female teams this year.

"There's just simply not enough pitches available," she said.

"There's work to be done in getting coaches involved, getting more female coaches available and also in making more facilities available, because that is a challenge for all teams around the area."

Charlotte Whitmore, women's football player with Plymouth Argyle, was with fans at Home Park and watched the game.

She said: "We always knew the women had it in them and to watch it with all our fans... was really good."