'Making Women's Euro trophy cases was a privilege'

Yana Daniels handcrafted the wooden boxes for the Player of the Match trophies

A Merseyside-based carpenter who created this year's UEFA Women's Euro trophy presentation boxes said the project had been "one of the most rewarding things I've ever worked on".

Yana Daniels, a former Liverpool striker and Belgian international, handcrafted all the wooden boxes for the competition's Player of the Match trophies in her workshop in Wirral.

Ms Daniels was approached by Visa, which had helped her to set up her business through its careers development programme for female players after they retire.

"Being entrusted with this responsibility was a privilege," she said.

The England team won the competition with a 3-2 victory over Spain after a 1-1 draw at St Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland.

The wood used for the project was sustainably sourced from a Wallasey company

Ms Daniels said she had taken great "pride and care" on the project

Ms Daniels, who has also made a range of products for LFC retail, said creating the boxes by hand had been "a labour of love".

"Every detail, from the grain of the wood to the final engraving, was created with pride and care, knowing these boxes will be part of a moment that matters," she said.

She added the boxes were "a keepsake for those who gave their all, and left their mark on European football".

Ms Daniels, who represented her home nation at the tournament in 2017, said the women's sport had "grown immensely" in recent years.

"It's not a taboo any more. Women's football is normal, which should have always been the case," she said.

"I had to play with boys teams. I was the only girl for about five years. You can't compare it to 20 years ago.

"Now every girl can dream of being a professional footballer, which is amazing."