Brighton and Hove Albion Women vs. Manchester United Women - 2023-24 Women's FA Cup, Quarter Final

Saturday 9^th March 2024
Quarter Final
Brighton and Hove Albion vs. Manchester United

Brilliant, just brilliant. Despite the odds of a home draw or a visit to any of the three other North West teams left in the last eight being high, Manchester United get drawn away to Brighton Hove Albion – the furthest I could have travelled for a quarter-final tie! But that’s alright – I’ve been to Brighton before, I quite enjoyed visiting, in fact. Except the women’s team play in Crawley – again, that’s alright as I’ve been here before too, during my ‘doing the 92’ groundhopping project, so at least I’m familiar with the route. Then my plans are thrown into utter chaos – the tie gets switched to a Saturday, which happens to be my birthday! But that’s alright too, as more trains running on a Saturday, so I could even get home on the same day and make last orders if they have an afternoon kick-off. So, imagine my despair then, when the match is confirmed for an early-evening 5.15pm kick-off, meaning I’ll have no chance of getting back home. Cheers. I’m never being ‘peacock smug’ about anything, ever again!

Things are looking up though, as I board the train down to London when I birthday treat myself to a
gingerbread man with a football shirt on – which sounds pathetic, I know. Just to make things better – when I unwrap him, the gingerbread man is sporting a crooked smile, which I feel is mocking me. So, I bite his head off. Due to issues of time and cost, I’m getting an overnight coach back tonight, but the upside is that Crawley is relatively easy to get to; just a change in London and you’re there. I’ve come a long way (literally) since that whimsical frolic with nature in Penwortham.

Today’s tie is a repeat of last year’s semi-final, which United won. Held in Leigh, a crowd of over 4,000 saw an extremely entertaining game in which both sides held the lead, before Rachel Williams popped up with an 89^th-minute winner. Funnily enough, I watched this match – on a tiny television in a Blackpool bed and breakfast! Only in the job for two months at that point, Brighton’s American head coach, Melissa Phillips, got a great deal out of her side and almost pulled off a shock. Containing young forward talent, England’s Katie Robinson and Norway’s Elisabeth Terland, there’s certainly plenty to build on at Brighton – exciting, creative football to draw in the supporters. Fast-forward to today, however, and they’re struggling towards the bottom end of the WSL (10^th of 12 teams) and just last month, removed Phillips and installed Mikey Harris as interim head coach. Brighton cited ‘results and performances not being at the level we had expected’, given the ‘heavy investment’ into the squad and infrastructure as the reason for the change. What a difference a year makes.

Founded in 1967 by workers at the Post Office’s telephone exchange, Brighton GPO played in charity matches for the first few years of their existence, before becoming founder members of the Sussex Marlet Women’s League in 1969. The Marlet, by the way, is a mythical bird that appears on the coat of arms of Sussex – I assumed it was an electrical shop or something, sponsoring the league! The Brighton and Hove Albion supporters club also formed a women’s team during this period, winning local league competitions and even went on to reach the semi-final of the FA Cup in 1976 – although they were beaten 8-1 by Southampton Women (the ‘other’ Southampton we covered last time out!), and disbanded not long later.

After the FA ban on women’s football was lifted in 1971, small amounts of money started to trickle its way into the game with one such example being the sponsorship of Brighton GPO by local sports shop, Clapshaw & Cleave. This deal – which was no doubt arranged by C&C employee and Brighton GPO player, Julie Hemsley – saw the club renamed to ‘C&C Sports’, going on to win the 1979-80 Sussex Marlet League and various cup competitions, before joining the Home Counties League, which was considered a stronger competition.

During this period, the club were primarily playing at Southwick FC, while East Preston FC also served as an occasional venue. In 1990, Brighton and Hove Albion FC founded their ‘Football in the Community’ scheme, with the development of women’s football being high on their priority list. As such, C&C Sports became affiliated with Brighton and Hove Albion, changing their name and playing home matches at Sussex University, before pitching up at the Withdean Stadium; the council-owned athletics stadium which would also become the home of the men’s team in 1997, up until 2011. Hemsley was doing some coaching with the Community scheme by this point and the incorporation of the women’s side led to her being appointed as the club’s first ‘Community and Development Officer’, specifically focusing on the development of women’s and girl’s football. Later, she would combine this role with the assistant manager’s job with the English national team – experiences which would see her given a seat on the FA Council, developing the women’s game on a national scale. It was while with the FA that she encountered Hope Powell; an England international who would later become manager of the England senior team, as well as Brighton and Hove Albion.

Brighton grew steadily throughout the 1990s; winning several local competitions in Sussex – they even went on to have a two-season spell in the top flight of women’s football at the turn of the 21^st century. After various league restructurings saw them placed in the Southern Division of the Women’s Premier League, the 2000-01 season saw them pip Chelsea to the title by a single point to win promotion to the nationalised Premier League. Despite a relegation two years later, the club continued to develop coaching programmes throughout the area and by 2015 had announced an ambitious five-year plan to reach the Women’s Super League and qualify for the Champions League. It took three years for them to get to the WSL – although this was achieved due to another restructuring; their superior infrastructure was deemed ideal for the now-professionalised top flight and so were invited to join. Since then, the club have generally been stable in the WSL – operating in the lower half of the 12-team league – although they did finish in 11^th last season, only five points away from relegated Reading.

It was during the announcement of their joining of WSL1 that they announced that home games were to be played at Crawley FC of the men’s Football League; their Broadfield ground being some 20 miles away from the centres of Brighton and Hove. Interestingly though, there have been recent rumblings that the club may get their own stadium in the same complex as the men’s stadium at Falmer. In what would represent the first purpose-built stadium for a women’s football club, the plan to build a 10,000-capacity ground was voted on by the council back in October and although there will be more hurdles to overcome before a spade hits the ground, it no doubt represents an exciting project for the club and women’s football as a whole. The idea seems to hit the right balance between giving the women’s side their own facility from which to develop and grow, forging their own identity as they go, whilst still being part of the Brighton and Hove Albion ‘family’, on account of being in the same location as the men’s club. 

On arrival at Crawley station, I nip to The Railway pub for a pint – I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this, but it’s my birthday. It’s a nice and cosy pub – plenty of people milling about in the early afternoon, comfy seating, nice premium beers on tap – there are even two massive huskies just lounging on the floor, patiently waiting for a stray crisp to slip from the grasp of their owners. A welcome respite after the journey from Wigan this morning, on my birthday. The ground is roughly a mile away from here, mostly done via ‘Southgate Avenue’ (or the A2004, if you’re boring) – funnily enough, current England men’s manager, Gareth Southgate, is from Crawley. While I’m sure it’s a coincidence that the road is called this, if he does go on to lead England to a major trophy, the local council should pretend that they’ve named it after him and claim the adulation and good press that’ll follow. Just before the ground comes into sight, I pass through a pedestrian tunnel that’s decorated with the red-and-white colours of Crawley FC, along with a painting of a massive football – just so you know where the tunnel leads to. How handy.

Broadfield was ‘only’ built in 1997 (if I remember the year, it can’t be that long ago) and is a decent enough ground – named after the area of Crawley that sits behind, the stadium is made up from a combination of terracing and seating. I’m sitting in the East Stand today, which is the newest at the ground after the original terracing was demolished in 2011 for an all-seated stand to make the stadium compliant with Football League regulations. Once I’m scanned in with my e-ticket and enter, I feel that the stand doesn’t seem like it’s only 12 years old – there are supporting pillars running in front which are largely a relic of grounds of the 20^th century, or temporary stands that have been designed to be transported. There’s no concourse, instead the food van and toilets are located in a corner – I’m imagining a long queue of women and girls, running down the front of the stand during half-time, patiently waiting to use the facilities, while I mischievously stroll into the empty men’s. Maybe we’ll see the toilet gender balance redressed if/when Brighton Women do get their own stadium? An interesting factor to consider in stadium fitting plans, I’m sure!

The pre-match atmosphere is building nicely; the walk to my seat sees me go past a band with multiple drums being hammered and trumpets being blared – think of a military band playing Ska music. Madness. Leading the clapping is Brighton’s mascot, Sally Seagull – she’s the female equivalent of ‘Gully’, who usually appears alongside her at Brighton games, but I can’t see him here. Should I take my chance and ask Sally out for a birthday pint back at The Railway, later? A neat addition to the supporter experience here is the availability of the match programme – which has been advertised as a download via QR codes printed on posters attached around the ground. The supporters around me are very respectful – clapping both sides heartily as they emerge onto the pitch and kick-off. Lining up for United is Maya Le Tissier – who they signed from Brighton in the summer of 2022, going on to make her England debut.

Earpsforce One is here as well – just like in Eastleigh last month, every touch of the ball by England’s No1 Mary Earps has been met with screams of MARYYYYYYYYYY like she’s all of The Rolling Stones circa 1966. During this match, she would rush off her line to punch away a cross and it was met with cheers worthy of any goal – no joke; you can say she's quite popular everywhere she goes! What I find interesting though is the continuing trend of supporters being attracted to the game because of players, rather than the clubs’ themselves. How many people are here to see the teams or to see England stars like Earps and Ella Toone in the flesh?

I remember hearing as far back as the men’s 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea that people in that part of the world like to ‘follow players’ (such as David Beckham), which I found bizarre at the time. Yes, by all means, admire a player for their deeds on the pitch, that’s just good sportsmanship and a respectful nod to their talents, but the concept of following them and not having your own club per se was baffling. Unthinkable, even. Watching a football team was all about being part of a collective, being together – how can you do that with a player? They aren’t pop stars! It’s a team game, there’s plenty more where they came from! Twenty years later and with games in leagues around the world easily available to watch and social media pushing the personalities of players, it’s quite common now to see supporters changing one shirt for another when their favourite player moves on. They are popstars, people do feel ‘together’ in their fandom of said figure – Mary Earps is the Taylor Swift of the WSL. But will supporters follow Earps – or any of the top players in the women’s game – if they move on? How will that affect the growth of clubs’ going forward? How can women’s football take advantage of this ‘pop star’ quality it’s quickly growing? Will Sally Seagull text me back? All questions I’m pondering as the match kicks off.

United wasted no time in opening the scoring – they’ve spent the first eight minutes or so camped in the Brighton half; red shirts passing the ball along the floor with ease, as blue-and-white figures chase its shadow. A Katie Zelem corner isn’t cleared and after a game of head tennis in the penalty area, the ball finds its way back to Zelem on the right, she cuts inside on her left foot, swings the ball in and centre-back Millie Turner loses her marker to head in. Too easy for the away side as the goal is met with loud cheers – and not just from the ‘official’ supporters behind the goal, but from some of the ‘neutrals’ around me too. The songs about Wembley echo even louder not long later, as Toone and Melvine Malard combine to slip the ball to Nikita Parris, running into the Brighton penalty area – she takes a touch before firing past Sophie Baggerly in the home goal.

It feels like it’s game over already – most Brighton supporters around me are muted, but nevertheless, still smiling; enjoying the occasion and the atmosphere whipped up by the band. Sophie Baggerly probably isn’t enjoying the occasion though, as the beleaguered Brighton goalie is kept busy throughout the rest of the half (saying that, maybe she is enjoying showing off her skills? Must be a weird conundrum being a goalkeeper – you don’t want your team to give up loads of chances, but at the same time you want to be kept busy because it allows you to make saves and be all impressive?). Baggsy (as I’ll be calling her from now on), does manage to make a great save, as she palms a looping shot from just outside the area, over the bar. United have several other close chances that go wide and over – the most guilt-edged chance being when Brighton decide to play out from a goal-kick. After playing a one-two with one of her defenders, Baggsy hits the ball too hard at another defender, she loses it and somehow – from almost on the penalty spot – United’s Lisa Naalsund blasts her shot over, with the ball hitting the front of the stand and bouncing onto the outside of the net, in an almost-mocking manner.

Brighton are working hard, trying to close down United, but they’re simply quicker all across the pitch – and large gaps are now appearing as the half draws to a close. Chasing the game, the home side lose the ball on halfway and it’s played up to Malard. The Frenchwoman is in the penalty area after playing a one-two with Toone. Baggsy tries to close her down, but after slipping the ball under her, it looks like Malard will score. However, the ball hits the post and rolls agonisingly across the goal-line – but Lucia Garcia is on hand to tap in. Three-nil and categorically game over now. The band try and trumpet up some support, and their team at least respond with a couple of half chances – the best coming just before the whistle as a low shot is pushed away by Earps, earning yet more celebratory screams from her dedicated fan club. It’s been tough on Brighton; they’ve been given the runaround by their visitors, who look leagues better in every department.

The second half sees United attacking the end that I'm sat close to; I’m sat in-line with the penalty area, and after being starved for action in the first half, I’ve got a great view of the visitors’ fast-attacking, which naturally resumes when the half starts. Brighton are still chasing shadows as Malard in particular has a couple of good chances – Baggsy making two good saves from her; the second of which being a one-on-one that she did well to push wide. It wasn’t long until she’s beaten again, however – and in some style. A United corner is only half-cleared to the edge of the penalty area, Malard plays it to Naaslund on the left-side of the area, she cuts inside past a defender and absolutely wellies a shot across goal that flies past Baggsy and into the corner of the net. Brilliant goal – the shot was exactly what her earlier attempt wasn’t; powerful but with control.

Aside from Toone and Malard running the show for United up front, another forward who has impressed me has been Parris. She’s been a handful all game – really awkward for the defenders to deal with. She’s been constantly popping up in attacking space, running at – and beyond – defenders. I’ve only ever seen her play out wide (usually as an impact sub) for England, where she tends to drift in and out of games, with little space to play in. After watching her during this FA Cup run – and here today – she seems to be used more centrally by Marc Skinner; at different times she’s dropping deep, going wide or sprinting beyond defenders. Even I’m having trouble picking her up, so I can only imagine what the Brighton defence must feel like! Just to underline all this, she has a great chance late on; running towards the area with the ball before unleashing a strike that Baggsy does brilliantly to tip wide. Parris should have a couple of goals, Baggsy should be bagging player of the match for Brighton.

One aspect of the women’s game that has been praised in recent years, has been the lack of theatrics. There are some post-tackle afters when Garcia pushes Brighton defender, Jorelyn Carabali down on the ground – right in front of me too. But instead of rolling around or complaining to the ref, Carabali just got on with it. Fair play – maybe you can argue it was pointless to try anything while 4-0 down, but I’ve not seen any playacting at all during this FA Cup run, so I somehow doubt it would have happened even if the scores were closer. Now, I’m not saying it doesn’t happen in women’s football, just that it doesn’t happen anywhere near as much as in the men’s game. The reason for this can be put down to the one-hundred-and-fifty years of professionalism and big-money prestige that’s been attached to men’s competitions. Every game means something, so players will try anything to win and so this behaviour is engrained within professional men’s football – professional women’s football is still in its early developmental stage. Now, the question is, will theatrics start to appear more if/when the women’s game starts to bring in more money and prestige? Let’s see where we are in a decade or so…

The visitors see out the game comfortably, with Brighton unable to create much of note – United through to yet another semi-final. Can they make it two finals in a row? Their travelling supporters seem to think so – they’re singing about Wembley again as they receive applause from their team; scarves and signs being held aloft for them to see. I actually experienced all this first-hand, as I somehow got lost and ended up having to walk around the ground, in front of the away supporters and through a gate at the opposite end of the ground! No idea why I didn’t go back the way I came? I’m off back to London (via The Railway pub) to spend my life savings on a couple of pints before my overnight coach home. It is my birthday if I’ve not mentioned it. Got to make the most of it.

Brighton and Hove Albion 0

Manchester United 4
(Turner, 8. Parris, 17. Garcia, 45. Naalsund, 59)

Attendance: 3,701

Next round: Manchester United vs. Chelsea

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Manchester United Women vs. Newcastle United Women - 2023-24 Women's FA Cup, Fourth Round

Sunday 14^th January 2024
Fourth Round
Manchester United vs. Newcastle United

It’s 9.30 on a Tuesday morning, I should be listening to Christmas songs on Smooth Radio while I work, but instead, I’m trying to figure out Instagram (or ‘The Gram’, as I believe the youngsters call it?) Anyway, the draw for the fourth round of the FA Women’s Cup is being broadcast on the social media website and what with the Fourth Round being the entry point for the top-level Women’s Super League clubs, it’s an exciting occasion. Imagine my elation when the draw is made – Newcastle, the team I’m following now, only get last season’s runners-up, Manchester United away! If you don’t know already, Manchester United play at Leigh Sports Village – but the actual stadium this time! Having seen the First Round match between Wigan and Chorley here from the outside of a cage housing a 3G pitch, it’s quite the contrast.

Regardless of whenever it turns out positively for me, I love the openness of the FA Cup draw – yes, the ‘bigger’ clubs enter at different stages, but unlike other sports, the leading names aren’t protected by a ranking, meaning they can draw anyone home or away. This makes any ‘meaningful’ tie (one against a big/notable club, a local rivalry or anything else) that bit more special – the draw is random and therefore, it must be a fate that this tie has been created.  This is a plum tie for the Magpies, what with their hosts being a leading WSL side, containing several England internationals and last season’s Women’s FA Cup runners up to boot – but it’s also a plum tie for me (and my wallet) because the stadium is a mere 7 miles away from my home! Two quid on the bus. I’m feeling as smug as a peacock in full plumage, let me tell you.

Primarily home to Leigh Leopards Rugby League club, Manchester United use the stadium to host their men’s reserves (since 2014) and women’s teams, since their creation in 2018. The 12,000-capacity stadium is the centrepiece of a council scheme that saw the regeneration of the local area, with other sporting facilities – the 3Gs we’ve already experienced, an athletics track, sports centre, swimming pool – as well as retail spaces, a hotel and the Leigh campus of Wigan & Leigh College. I feel it’s become a trend to deride 21^st-century development schemes as ‘pie in the sky’; poorly-thought out ideas that would never work in reality, but the LSV development has genuinely been a success in its remit to offer top-class sports, health and education facilities. It’s rather heartening then, to see a professional women’s football club and the thousands of people who come and watch them every other week continuing to add to that success.

I get to Leigh about an hour before kick-off, so to while away the time, I decide to get one of my ‘five a day’ (cider) in at The Whistling Wren, the evocatively-named pub/restaurant that sits close to the stadium. There are a lot of people in here already, so I elect to sit outside and take in the stark contrast to when I was last here, during the Euros 18 months ago. After enjoying a previous match in Group C between Portugal and Switzerland (a 2-2 draw), I was fortunate enough to grab a last-minute ticket to see the Portuguese take on Sweden on a sweltering hot day. 7,118 people came to see that final group match that day, as the Swedes ran out 5-0 winners. Pre-match, the immediate area was awash with supporters from all over the place and a real party atmosphere was being enjoyed, as the bright sunlight exquisitely mixed with the different types of people, colours and sounds that swamped the Leigh landscape. I was even wearing shorts such was the occasion – and I only do this in the gym or in Tenerife. Today, it’s not quite as warm, with the weather being something that a polar bear would wear a jacket in. But at least I have my cider to remind me of those halcyon days gone by.

The fact that it took until 2018 for a football club the size of Manchester United – arguably the biggest in the world – to establish a professional women’s team (especially considering all their rivals had already done so, and enjoyed great success), mystified many. There had been unofficial United teams in operation since the FA lifted their ban in the 1970s, but they were described as ‘supporter teams’ and initially played other unofficial teams of other clubs. As the women’s game grew and became increasingly more organised in the 1980s, ‘Manchester United Supporters Club Ladies’ emerged and were founder members of the Manchester & District League. This league would later merge with other regional leagues to become the North West Women’s Regional League (which is still in existence today, occupying the 5^th and 6^th tiers of the women’s football pyramid).

By the early 1990s, the club approached Manchester United for support and formal recognition – which they got; they agreed to let them use The Cliff, United’s training complex at the time, were allowed to use the name ‘Manchester United Ladies FC’ and were even advertised in the men’s matchday programme. It seemed, what with women’s football steadily growing and moving towards professionalism in the early-2000s, that Man Utd would be at the forefront – then new ownership happened. In 2005 – ironically, the year that England hosted the 2005 Women’s Euros in the North West – Manchester United scrapped their women’s side. The sweeping changes brought in as a result of the takeover by the Glazer family saw several cuts made, which included the women’s club. Instead, they decided to concentrate their resources on community coaching for school-age children – but with no organised team to play for at United, girls had to search for a senior side to continue their progress in the game. Apparently, The Manchester United Foundation (the community initiative assigned to youth coaching) would coach as many as 3,000 girls in age groups up until under-16. Naturally, competition for places within other clubs was already high – especially considering they had their own youth players to develop – so with a smaller pool of professional clubs to choose from, it’s not hard to see that a lack of a senior team at United would have been an impediment for many girls to progress further.

As women’s football continued to progress throughout the 2010s, the noise about how the biggest and most well-equipped football club in England not having a senior women’s team was deafening – by 2018, they were the only Premier League club to not have a women’s side. Perhaps finally realising that there was some long-term commercial viability in the women’s game, United announced the formation of a professional women’s club for the 2018-19 season, which was immediately parachuted into the Championship. Appointing former England captain, Casey Stoney, as head coach, United quickly recruited a strong side (which included several players who had played in their youth set-up but had to leave to pursue a career – such as Katie Zelem and Ella Toone). United won the league at a canter, earning a promotion to the WSL and have since grown steadily – last season, now under the management of Marc Skinner, they finished as runners-up to Chelsea in both the league and this very competition – a second-half goal by Sam Kerr separating the teams at Wembley last May in front of a record Women’s FA Cup attendance of 77,390. Clearly, they’re a club on the up – it’s just a shame they couldn’t have formed a decade or so before!

United have made a somewhat slow start to this season – with expectations high after the relative success of last season, Skinner has come under criticism from a section of the fanbase. The supporters’ displeasure at performances has led to cardboard ‘Skinner Out’ signs being spotted at games. Currently, United are points behind leaders Chelsea in the WSL, they didn’t get past the group stage in the League Cup, and they were knocked out of the Champions League in the second qualifying round by Paris St Germain, leaving the FA Cup as their only realistic prospect of silverware. You’d imagine Skinner, whose contract expires at the end of the season, needs to win it to stand a chance of holding back the critics and earning a new deal. In fairness, it does seem he’s been hamstrung a little; he’s had to contend with several injuries to key players and then there’s the ongoing ownership saga at Manchester United, which has undoubtedly affected their ability to recruit and retain players. Alessia Russo – starting striker for England in the World Cup – apparently had a contract offer withdrawn in the summer and so left on a free to sign for Arsenal. Recently, INEOS billionaire, Jim Radcliffe, has purchased a stake in the club and taken over the running of its football operations, with plans for the women’s side not clear as of yet.

Another key part of the United team is goalkeeper Mary Earps, who this week came to national attention once again, winning the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award. Voted for by viewers, it’s the second year in a row that an England Lioness has won, with Beth Mead taking the trophy home last year. This has rather, shall we say ‘upset’, some viewers who have labelled the win as a ‘box ticking exercise’ by the BBC as aside from winning the Golden Glove for best goalkeeper in the World Cup and being a key part of England reaching the final, Earps ‘hasn’t achieved anything’ of note. Personally, I think heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson (who was voted third) should have won it – she did, after all, win gold in the World Athletics Championship that year. But as the award is voted on by the public, it’s only logical to assume that it’s the fact women’s football is more popular than athletics is the reason why Mary won the award. More people are aware of her and what she achieved and voted that way. Maybe critics should bear that in mind the next time they say ‘nobody watches women’s football’?

Speaking of which, over four-and-a-half thousand people have turned up to Leigh on this gloomy Sunday afternoon – a good thousand of them being from Newcastle. On my way to the stadium, I pass several coaches that have driven down from the North East – and Old Trafford. There’s no train station in Leigh, with only a guided busway offering a connection to Manchester. So, to get as many United supporters to Leigh as possible, United’s travel club lay on transport to every game at LSV. Interestingly, I think this makes for a better atmosphere – getting on board with your fellow supporters outside the ground, the coach offers an environment for people to unite in anticipation and camaraderie. A solitary car journey confines people to their own bubble, whereas the coach fosters interaction and connections; views are aired, songs are sung, hopes are declared. When you arrive at your destination, you carry all of that into your seat, as you try and affect the game with your cheers. And some coach providers allow you to take bags of cans on, which I suspect is fuelling many of the Newcastle supporters who are shouting ‘Tooooooooooon’ in the East Stand right now.

As for me, I’m sitting in West Stand and I’m cursing myself for not getting here earlier, as it’s quite packed – I usually like to sit on the end of a row for easy entry/exit so I don’t bother people. However, on this occasion, I’m having to squeeze in between two groups of people and as I turn to the only available seat, I see it has bird shit on it. Typical. Thankfully, it’s dry and as I use an old Aldi receipt to wipe my hands just in case, I’m struck by the realisation that we’re in the fourth round now, with thousands coming to games instead of hundreds. Those times when I could rock up 5 minutes before kick-off are long gone now. Aside from us in here and the Newcastle supporters opposite, there’s a decent number of home supporters behind one goal, while the other (the terracing) is closed – but there are several United flags erected there and somewhat fortuitously, the colour scheme of the LSV itself is red, white and black (which were Leigh RLFC’s traditional colour scheme, before they rebranded to ‘Leopards’ last year). It’s easy to imagine that all this works to provide a ‘home feeling’ for United’s supporters and players, which can only help the atmosphere, driving the team forward – many women’s football clubs don’t have a specific home to call their own – one that they’re able to deck out in their colours – so any perceived ‘home advantage’ will be minimal. Here, everything is in place for them – even the colour scheme.

United have named a strong side for the visit of third-tier Newcastle, which I wasn’t expecting, as England players Ella Toone and BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023, Mary Earps, start. However, they’ve just returned from a mid-season training camp in Malta, with their last competitive game being a month ago, so it makes sense that they’ll want to brush off the cobwebs by naming their regular players in today’s team. Earps is definitely winning the battle for popularity amongst the supporters here too – I know this because there’s a plethora of cardboard signs telling me so. This is a unique phenomenon in the women’s game – the only time I’ve seen signs at a men’s game, it’s usually a bedsheet asking for a manager’s head or of late, requesting a player’s shirt. This has received criticism from the football community, citing ‘fan entitlement’ which has ‘gone out of control’ – and with the women’s game offering easier interactions, it’s been an issue that has reportedly made some players uncomfortable. In fairness, I don’t see any shirt request signs here today – they’re just saying how great Mary is. They’ve used glitter pens and everything, it’s quite impressive.

What isn’t impressive, at least in my opinion, is Manchester United’s mascot, Fred The Red. The anthropomorphic representation of a devil looks like a cartoon character from the 90s, all garish and shiny, complete with a nose and stupid grin on his face. Here he is now, waving to us and slapping his badge to chants of 'Fred The Red' from supporters. I feel sick. He’s wearing number 55 and as I’m Googling why that’s the case, I instead come across an article that says he’s the highest-paid mascot in the Premier League. Allegedly, he gets £70,000-a-year – that can’t be right, surely? Seventy. Thousand. Pounds. Even half that is a fantastic wage to wear a foam head, wave at people and just generally piss about at events. If anyone at United is reading this – I know times have been hard with the billion-pound investment and everything – but I’m willing to help out and do it for just £30k. Meal and travel allowance on top. As for why he wears 55? No idea – even some of the United supporters don’t know. Dan Brown should write a book on it – he likes that mystery numbers coupled with religious iconography and stuff.

Thankfully, the game soon kicks off and Fred goes off to spend his wages on some champagne or After Eights or something, and his WSL team naturally dominate the ball. A few early shots are either deflected wide or skied over the bar from distance as the players work to find their range – already, it seems it could be a long day for Newcastle here. Rather aptly, just as I noted that down, Newcastle come into the game and start to keep the ball and the United defence work. On two occasions, they get close to the penalty area but it’s just that final ball that’s lacking – one was hit too hard and ran out of play, the other wasn’t hit hard enough and was easily intercepted. It’s just a warning for the Reds – as they spend most of their time ripping apart sides in the third tier, Newcastle are very practised in creating chances out of nothing.

Just to endorse what I’ve just said – United nearly take the lead as a shot from just inside the area is tipped onto the bar by Grace Donnelly, then her team collect the ball, go up the other end and just as it seemed they’re bearing down on Earps, United make a last-ditch tackle. It’s exciting end-to-end stuff at the moment and the supporters are slightly uncomfortable – but they do make me laugh, as the way they’re supporting the team is slightly different from what I’m used to. As an example – instead of going absolutely mental over a free-kick and swearing their heads off in front of children, a poorly-taken free-kick is met with some ‘polite criticism’ which went along the lines of ‘Is this the men’s team?’. I can only imagine the amount of salt that would be cried by a social media critic of the women’s game if they heard that. Fair play, that’s good banter!

Newcastle’s resistance lasts for 28 minutes – Lucia Garcia outmuscles her marker on the left, cuts the ball inside towards Nikita Parris; it’s blocked but finds its way to the edge of the penalty area where Toone takes a touch to get away from a defender before shooting and looping the ball over Donnelly and into the middle of the goal. Toone scores against the Toon! United continue to pressure after the restart – they’ve been tested in the last 15 minutes, with Newcastle constantly hitting them on the break but they’re composed now and are keeping the ball again. Toone is involved in the second goal 10 minutes later – from the left touchline, she crosses high, and Parris finds the space amongst a crowd of defenders to head home. The supporters around me think their side have a third in first-half injury time as another long ball into the box is headed in by Parris – but it’s ruled that she came back from an offside position. United are in complete control at half-time, despite having to withstand a spell where Newcastle looked threatening – it just goes to score the importance of making pressure count.

I go down into the stand during the break to try and find a programme seller, as I didn’t see one on the way in – and I’ve got no chance. The queue for food is snaking around the concourse, as is the one for the women’s toilets. This is something that never fails to me chuckle – it’s tough on the women and girls who need the toilet, obviously, but it’s a clear sign of the popularity of women’s football amongst a group of people who have been classically stereotyped as ‘not liking football’. Unfortunately, beyond requisitioning one of the men’s loos, there’s not much that can be done to remedy this issue in multi-purpose stadiums such as this. Maybe have gender-natural versions and assign them depending on the types of crowds that are expected? Naturally, I’ve got plenty of time to ponder all this as I saunter into the near-deserted men’s and take my sweet time, warming my cold hands under the dryer for good measure. I could get used to this luxury, it’s an amazing feeling.

Any hopes Newcastle had of holding off their hosts and get a foothold in the mountain they had to climb were ended just 10 minutes into the second half, as United get a fortunate goal to make it three. Centre-back, Maya Le Tisser, finds herself out on the right wing; she mishits a cross, the ball loops towards goal where Donnelly can only palm it out to Garcia who proceeds to play it across the 6-yard box to Parris and she bundles home. It’s a scruffy goal but those around me obviously don’t care as they sing ‘We’re going to Wembley’.

Feeling the match is done with, Skinner makes FOUR subs on 65 minutes, giving a rest to some of the regular starters and bringing on those who need some game time. One of the players who was replaced was the industrious Garcia and there was a nice moment as she walked around the pitch, giving high-5s to several kids who had lined up by the advertising hoardings. Again, summing up the family feeling this fixture helps – although I suspect it helps being 3-nil up too. One of the sub introductions for United was Rachel Williams, who I learn later is a plasterer by trade – celebrating her 36th birthday last week, she started her career at a time when there was little money women’s football, which shows just how quickly it’s grown to become fully professional. The former England international is quickly involved in the action as she hits a shot that canons off the bar – it falls back to her, and she proceeded to lift the ball over Donnelly to make it four. Dare I say great finish by the plasterer?

With only a couple of minutes left, the away support – who have been constantly singing throughout the game – make one last sign of appreciation of their side’s efforts; ‘Stand up if you love the Toon’ and waving their black-and-white scarves around. It looks great – it should be interesting to see what crowds they attract in the second tier if/when they get there. Their support during this run – the group of people that came to Skem, the crowd at Gateshead and the horde here at Leigh have been in great voice, constantly getting behind their girls. With the backing Newcastle United have, I would imagine more success is on the way for their new Women’s team. Although, I’m not sure why they’re standing up and saying they love the opposition number 7, Ella, though? Great player and all but she’s cost you a place in the next round.

As the added time of five minutes is announced, the United support chant 'We want five' and low-and-behold, they get their wish just a minute later. A corner is swung in and forward, Melvine Malard powerfully heads home. It finishes as an empathic win for United – Newcastle did struggle to keep up for large periods of the second half as their hosts passed around them, highlighting the gap between the divisions. In fairness, as one of the best sides in the WSL, United regularly score loads anyway, so perhaps the gap between Newcastle right now and the rest of the WSL isn’t that large? It’s nevertheless something to build on for the National League side as they look to getting into the Women's Championship. As for United, considering they were finalists last year and are still ranked in the upper region of the WSL table, so I’m already wondering if I'll be following them to Wembley? Let’s see what the draw brings – Leigh again? Can I be that lucky?

Manchester United 5
(Toone, 28. Parris, 37, 55. Williams, 71. Malard, 90)

Newcastle United 0

Attendance: 4,731

Next round: Southampton vs. Manchester United

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England vs. Germany - Women's Euros 2022 Final

The big day is here – after a month’s worth of the finest European women’s football being played in such diverse locations as Leigh and London, Brighton and Rotherham, Sheffield and Southampton – it’s the final at Wembley. Nearly 90,000 people will be making their way to the home of English football today to be part of the largest-attended women’s European football match – and I’m one of them. And it’s only hosts England playing Germany!

The interest in the England team has skyrocketed in the last week – it’s been covered on the rolling news channels, it’s taken over national conversation on social media and pubs have been advertising their showing of the final. Even at 9am on a train platform in Wigan, there are groups of people wearing England shirts waiting for their transport to London. Even when I arrive and go for a mooch around Westminster, people are wearing England shirts and carrying flags around there too – the whole country has been enraptured by the team’s progress and are hopeful of victory.

Part of this interest has been the success of the men’s side in the last few years – although they haven’t won anything, the ‘success’ they’ve had is reaching the latter stages of tournaments which has encouraged people to be part of the England-watching experience. We’ve all seen the videos; crowds of people congregating in homes, pubs and outdoor spaces across the country, reacting to the drama being played out. The community feeling that football provides has inspired people – and the women’s side have continued that. Hopefully, they can go one step further and actually win something today!

The contrast between this appearance in a Euros final for England and the last one – in 2009 when they lost 6-2 – could not be starker. I doubt even 95% of people watching the game today watched that one – the women’s game in England was still mostly semi-pro back then, and was given scant coverage. Germany have dominated European women’s football, winning this competition eight times. However, thanks to the investment and onset of professionalism in the women’s game across the world within the last couple of decades, other countries have started to catch up – the same is true of the USA, who were quick to organise and professionalise their teams. Now more teams have ‘caught up’, they’re finding themselves up against genuine competition. England are in a great position because they have the infrastructure and clubs already in place thanks to the successful men’s game in the country – all they need is more investment and interest to grow further. And while this tournament has already been a success, an England win today will go a long way to boost investment and interest even further.

I have a couple of pints around Westminster (please don’t ask how much it cost me!), taking in all the sights – even having a lovely, cool (expensive) cider on the Thames in the neat Tattersall Castle boat-bar! It’s nice and relaxing – the boat is docked, but the deck is entirely open, so you can just sit there, enjoying the experience of being on water, while looking at the London Eye and the rest of the landmarks in the distance. I make my way to the stadium from Wembley Central tube – it’s the furthest away of all the stations within a mile, so I figured it would be the less busy. Naturally, there are throngs of people in England shirts hanging around the streets leading down to the stadium – a nice mix of genders and ages too; the same family mix we’ve seen throughout the tournament.

I was slightly fortunate to get a ticket for today, as I got it during the resale period. I did apply for one during the initial sales, but was unsuccessful – again, showing how popular this competition has been. But I’m in, in what will be my first major tournament final (well, since the 2013 FA Cup final, anyway!) and I can’t help but be awed at the occasion. I’m sat in the top tier of the North Stand – a £30 ‘category 2’ ticket, pretty much bang on halfway, the players tunnel directly below – and I’m looking on at the dancing and singing going on in the centre of the pitch. I’ve no idea what’s going on, but it looks pretty enough, and people seem to be enjoying themselves! Before long, the teams are out, the anthems are played and the game begins – England playing their strongest side, while Germany are missing star player, Alexandra Popp. The forward grabbed both goals in a 2-1 victory against France in their semi-final and her absence is undoubtedly a boost for England – can we press on and dominate the game in front of this expectant home crowd?

As it happens, the first half was a chess match. England perhaps edged it; having the better of the play without creating much in the way of a clear-cut chance. Saying that, Germany had the best opportunity when a scramble occurred, and Mary Earps had to jump onto the loose ball. Nerves are jangling throughout the stadium, everyone gripped by the action – the German supporters are here in big numbers and have not stopped waving flags throughout the game.

Those nerves get more fraught at the start of the second half as Germany dominate for ten minutes – creating two great chances. Earps saves one, while another goes wide. England manager Sarina Wiegman clearly identifies the issue and remedies it by bringing on Manchester United teammates Ella Toone and Alessia Russo – the attacking midfielder and striker have a good partnership at club level and it’s something that’s already worked for England too, with both combining for Toone’s equaliser against Spain the quarter-final.

Despite the pressure, most people inside the stadium are up on their feet soon after – and it’s a brilliant moment; an example of the great quality that can be found in the women’s game. A Germany attack is absorbed by the England defence, Georgia Stanway protects the ball, pushes forward into space before dropping it back to midfield partner, Keira Walsh. Walsh looks up before hitting a 40-yard pass towards the speeding Toone – she takes one touch on the edge of the box and with the keeper bearing down on her, deftly lifts the ball over the keeper’s head and into the net. The pass from Walsh was fantastic – the vision and technique that was needed was absolutely high-quality stuff. And the finish? Such coolness to produce something like that on an occasion such as this.

To make it even better, England scored with only ten players on the pitch as Beth Mead was by the side, getting treatment. Sadly, for her – and England – she has to be substituted, with Chloe Kelly replacing her. With quite a bit of time left, Germany naturally come out fighting – England are looking a little leggy and the Germans exploit this, finding space with their quick passes. On one of their forays into the England half, they create a great opportunity – a shot that cannons back off the bar, with the rebound falling gratefully into the hands of Earps. The pressure is well and truly on, the supporters around me recognise this and up the rate of chants – a chorus of Sweet Caroline even breaks out! This is the first time that I’ve heard people sing it during a match, as it’s usually been utilised as a ‘celebration song’. I don’t mind Neil Diamond, but it sounds better with (mostly) female voices singing it!

But it’s all in vain – with barely ten minutes to go, Germany equalise – and it’s a brilliantly-worked goal. After an England ball forward is intercepted, the Germans move from halfway, down the right side of the pitch putting together several short passes. England can’t get near the ball as it’s slipped from player-to-player and eventually, it’s played inside the penalty area from the right and Lina Magull runs onto the ball, opening up her body to strike first-time into the roof of the net. It’s a great finish and it has somewhat of a deflating effect on the crowd – we’re still ten minutes or so from full-time, but everyone knows this game is going to extra-time. This is an England football team we’re watching here; they never do things the easy way!

And guess what? It goes to extra-time! On 88 minutes, to address the issue of the midfield being overrun, Wiegman sent on Jill Scott for Stanway – now 35 years-old, Scott played in that 2009 final and has been a stalwart in the England team ever since. If there’s anyone who has the experience to guide this beleaguered England team – and supporters – through this tough period of the match, it’s her. The supporters are immediately buoyed by her introduction, cheering her introduction with newly-found optimism.

England start extra-time with renewed energy, but the game reverts back to the chess match we saw in the first half – who will make the first move? It’s the second half of extra time when the moment arrives. England have the ball at the back, trying to draw the Germans to them but they’re not taking the bait – in fact, England give them a sniff with an under-hit backpass that Earps has to boots out wide. The ball is picked up and played towards Scott who bustles past two players to win a throw-in. It’s taken towards Kelly, who tries to turn away from her marker, but the ball is blocked for a corner. Hemp steps up to take it, whipping the ball towards a crowd of players – Lucy Bronze seems to get a thigh on the ball, it’s blocked but Kelly is on hand to poke the rebound past the keeper and into the net. A wall of sound erupts, Kelly spins away from the crowd of players and starts to lift up her shirt – but she looks at the ref for some reason – but then she realises everything is good, so completes the whipping off of her shirt and swings it around her head as she runs away, followed by her teammates. What an image! Also one of the scruffiest goals you’ll ever see – a stark contrast to the two goals from earlier – but who cares about that?!?!? England lead in extra time of the European Championship final, and there’s ten minutes left. Surely they can’t let Germany back into the game again?

Despite throwing everything at England, Germany cannot create that one chance – England look knackered, but so do Germany – the last action of the match is a clearance towards Jill Scott and it’s a fitting moment that it’s her who gets the final touch before the referee blows for full-time. England have done it! European Champions for the first time! I notice for the first time just the sheer number of kids who are near me – as their parents are hugging them, holding them up in the air or even chucking them around! Such a special moment to share; an unforgettable memory for parent and child. How inspiring would it be for one of your earliest football memories to be watching England win a trophy? Much has been made about the potential for this tournament to encourage the next generation to take up football – yes even boys, as well as girls. We live in an era where watching football at the men’s top level is unreachable for families – it’s so different here. If this game can persuade parents to take their kids to a match during the regular season, it’s been a massive success.

‘Three Lions’ was played immediately after the final whistle to celebrate the win – ironically enough, yesterday was the anniversary of the England men winning the World Cup at the old Wembley against West Germany 56 years ago! I watch, still with a sense of disbelief, as England captain Leah Williamson lifts the trophy with her teammates around her and an explosion of glitter engulfs them. Let’s hope it doesn’t take another 56 years for an England senior team to win something! A huge amount of credit has to go to Serena Wiegman – this is her second successive Euros win after she lifted the trophy last time with her native Netherlands. She moulded together a team with youth and experience, playing some exciting football – but crucially, she was able to make the right tactical and personnel changes at the right times.

In the queue for Wembley Park tube after the match – I somehow got lost and went to that station instead (!!!) – a musician is banging out Three Lions and Sweet Caroline on his guitar. I can’t help but think about a video message from Williamson that was played at Old Trafford before that first match, passionately telling everyone to go and see a WSL game. It’s been a brilliant tournament – even without the England success – crowds have flocked to it, so hopefully it’s just the start of the women’s game in this country establishing itself as a major player in the sporting calendar.

As people started to drift away from the stands earlier, one of my last sights was of the England players sliding face-first into the sea of glitter while Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ was playing! Such a great image to end with – ‘having a good time’ indeed!

England 2
(Toone, 62. Kelly, 110)

Germany 1
(Magull, 79)

Attendance: 87,192

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England vs. Sweden - Women's Euros 2022 Semi-Final

As it turned out, the rails were too hot to run trains on (what a thing to write), so I had to miss the Italy-Belgium game in Group D that I had a ticket for – however, advanced planning has got me all excited today (again, what a thing to write), as I’m at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane to watch a Women’s Euro 2022 semi-final – and it’s only England vs. Sweden!

Before the tickets went on sale for the tournament, I plotted England’s route through if they won all their games – winning their group and the subsequent quarter-final would see them here while finishing as runners-up and a win in the quarters would have seen them play in Milton Keynes. So, with much hope, I applied and managed to obtain a ticket for a game in Sheffield that no confirmed teams playing in it. Thankfully, England DID win their group and got through their first knockout game, so now I could see them potentially get through to the final tonight, as they take on Sweden – who I saw in my last game, as they took apart Portugal five-nil.

However, this fixture very nearly didn’t happen – Spain were just a couple of minutes away from beating England in the last round before Ella Toone popped up with a late equaliser; volleying in from an Alessia Russo-headed knock-down. The nature of Russo’s header caused controversy within the Spanish camp – they believe that Russo had elbowed their defender as she jumped. I would say this as an England supporter BUT it wasn’t a foul in my book; her arm ‘gently brushed’ her opponent after she had won the header, so no advantage was gained. Would I be saying this if it was the other way round? Honestly, I can’t say – I would like to think so; with V.A.R. in place, I guess we have to give it the benefit of the doubt. They didn’t think it was worthy of bringing the incident to the referee’s attention, so what else can you say? If several referring professionals don’t think it’s a foul, then

The match was very gripping to watch – after a first half in which both sides traded large periods of possession, Spain grew into it and dominated the second half; their goal being a well-worked move that has become a trademark of Spanish teams at all levels. They very nearly sealed the game not long later, when a cross looped towards the top corner of the net, which Mary Earps did brilliantly to claw away (especially with her having to back-pedal to reach the ball). Just as it seemed hopeless, England put in a cross, Russo produced a brilliant knock-down (with no hint of a foul whatsoever), and Toone volleyed in to force extra-time. Spain were 5 minutes from winning and this seemed to put them on the back-foot at the start of ET – Georgia Stanway received the ball in the centre of the park, took a great touch into space, she wasn’t challenged as she approached the area and let out a shot from 20 yards that rocketed into the top corner. A brilliant goal, worthy of winning any game – which it did! England beating one of the favourites to seal a place in the semi-final here tonight.

As you might imagine, a rush for tickets kicked off as soon as the match was over – people desperately clamouring for information on how to get a hold of the few remaining tickets that were held back for sale. This wasn’t an issue for me of course – I had booked my ticket and hotel months ago, but it was somewhat heartening to see so many people interested in wanting to be part of cheering the England women’s team to a potential final. And some would have you believe that nobody cares about women’s football.

Once I arrive in Sheffield and check-in, I go for a potter about (to find a pub) and already see plenty of people – adults, kids, families – walking around with England tops on. We’re still five hours before kick-off at this point! Choosing Bramall Lane as a semi-final venue is very apt – it’s the oldest ground to continuously host professional football. So, if England do get through tonight, it will have witnessed another major milestone in the development of women’s football in this country.

I’m sat in the Kop Stand, which I’ve been to before during my ‘doing the 92’ series, ‘Playing Offside’ (yes, it’s an obvious plug!) This is one of the most unique stands still left in English football – the stand is built on a hill, so the walk up to it is done via a steep staircase, with the smells of old pipe smoke, beer and greasy chip butties enveloping you. The catering facilities and toilets are at the bottom of the hill, so I’d imagine this helps to keep people in their seats for the majority of a match – no quick and easy visits to the toilet during play. In today’s era of ‘super mega stadiums’, it’s easy to see some bright spark licking their lips at the prospect of landscaping this area and redeveloping it into a brand-new stand with corporate facilities – there’s certainly room for it. However, despite Sheffield Unite’s flirts with the Premier League, the stand remains, hopefully for another hundred years – standing as a reminder of how football used to be, while still being part of its future.

The atmosphere, as you would expect, is fantastic pre-kick-off – most people wearing white England shirts, brandishing flags and singing songs. It’s badly needed, as the opening half hour is very tense – Sweden having the better of the play, playing very much like I saw them in Leigh the other week. Earps has to react quickly to save her side on two occasions – she’s also beaten from a corner when an attack gets in front of her and heads onto the bar. England, however, started to take a grip on the game, dominating the play – and their pressure tells on 35 minutes. England break down the left, towards the Kop and put in a cross – which missed everyone in the area. Lucy Bronze has caught up on the opposite flank though, and the right-back collects the ball, plays it to Beth Mead in the centre, back-to-goal, she takes a touch, turns and volleys the ball into the corner. It was a great finish – happening right in front of me, and even I couldn’t help but jump up with everyone as it hit the back of the net. Don’t think I even did that at Old Trafford!

Half-time arrives and England manage to control the game to go in 1-up – it’s still tense though; Sweden have been putting pressure on the England backline, who seem to enjoy passing it around, almost daring their opponents to press them so they’ll leave gaps in-behind. That’s how England’s goal was scored, to be fair – but all it takes is one slip and the Swedes will be on top again. I nip down the hill to use the facilities but before I head back into the stand, I stand atop the hill and take in the sights of Sheffield that are visible – I doubt there are many UEFA-standard stadiums whose city you can see whilst standing inside it!

Any tension that may have been exorcised in those toilets at half-time (again, what a sentence to write!) will not be making a comeback thanks to England’s early actions in the second half. They win a corner which is hit beyond the crowd of players in the middle, towards Bronze – who for some reason is unmarked – and she gets her full forehead onto the ball, and it ends up finding its way into the corner, across goal. For me, it’s a clear goal – I don’t understand why she was unmarked or how the ball found its way in – but there’s a V.A.R. check for an apparent offside/obstruction of the keeper. After a nervous wait, the goal stands, and everyone jumps up in excited celebration once again – not me though, I’m very much a ‘two goal lead is a dangerous lead type of person!’. We need at least another five here for me to be certain!

The start of second half’s are usually pretty quiet in terms of atmosphere – everyone’s just come back from a break, so it takes a bit to get things going (this applies to the players as well as the supporters!) Thanks to the early goal, it has generated the same sort of atmosphere that I experienced in the first half, only it’s slightly more frantic now the England supporters believe that their team has one boot in the final. There’s a large contingent of Swedes here too – dotted around the ground (they’re wearing yellow, so very easy to see amongst the England white!), but there’s also a concentrated ground in the corner of the stand to my left. They’re singing ‘Sverige’ (Sweden) along with the unique tune that I heard in Leigh – a progressively up-tempo clapping of hands, in the vein of Iceland’s ‘thunderclap’. It’s very impressive to still hear them loud and clear, amongst all the England supporters.

Another impressive entity during this tournament has been Mary Earps. She’s very much a ‘no nonsense’ type of goalkeeper – doesn’t believe in that ‘zonal marking’ stuff; when she sees the ball, she comes for it. She’s at it again now – Sweden put some pressure on the England goal, force a corner and after the kick is flicked on, they look like they’re going to put it in at the back post. Nope, Earps, all 5ft 7in of her, somehow springs across the goal to tip the ball over. I’ve plenty of ‘critics’ of the women’s game cite the quality of goalkeeping as a major issue, but when you watch Earps making saves like that – in a goal whose dimensions were designed for men, by the way – it makes a mockery of their complaints, really.

As if to address another common complaint that people have of the women’s game – it doesn’t contain a large degree of technical brilliance – the next big moment of the match makes a mockery of that too. England are advancing on the Sweden defence with Georgia Stanway carrying the ball – she slips the ball beyond the defence towards Fran Kirby. The attacking midfielder carries on to the six-yard box before playing it across to Russo – she shoots, but the Sweden keeper saves with her legs. The ball goes to the right where Russo follows it; she holds off two defenders before backheeling it towards goal – and through the keeper’s legs and into the back of the net! It was a brilliant finish – an unexpected moment that nobody expected – least of all the Swedish keeper! My favourite thing about this moment though was that Russo went sprinting over to Earps to celebrate with her; without her save a few moments ago, the score could so easily have been 2-1, instead it’s 3-0 – the margins of football, which Russo clearly recognised. ‘Football’s Coming Home’ is now ringing around Bramall Lane, as everyone believes this is the clincher. Not me though – JUST CALM DOWN! (I think to myself).

However, even I’m inspired to celebrate a bit not long later as England get a fourth – and in some style, once again. With Sweden pushing players as high as they can, there are large gaps of space opening up, so when England turn the ball over, they quickly find Kirby in space, who’s being tracked by two defenders. From just outside the area, she takes a touch before dinking it over the goalkeeper, who – despite getting a big hand on the ball – cannot prevent it from dropping into the corner. Kirby runs off to knee-slide in front of the jubilant supporters, and she’s quickly mobbed by her teammates.

England see the game out masterfully from there, sparking more chants of Three Lions and ‘Sweet Caroline’ (which I’ll never understand how that became an England anthem!) Just to sum up the feelings inside the ground, the majority of the crowd stayed for a good fifteen minutes after the final whistle to applaud both sides – feels weird to say this, especially after your team has just won 4-0, but my player of the match was the goalkeeper. Those early saves – and the one later, while England were defending that ‘dangerous lead’ – gave the team a platform from which to build from.

So, England are into the final – their first appearance in the Euros final since 2009, when the all-conquering Germany swept them aside, 6-2. Their opponents in the 2022 final? It’s only Germany! However, we have home advantage this time – can football finally ‘come home’? I’m delighted to say that I’ll be there to witness it, anyway.

Come on England!

England 4
(Mead, 34. Bronze, 48. Russo, 68. Kirby, 76)

Sweden 0

Attendance: 28,624

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