Thatcham Tornadoes kick off the fun ahead of Lionesses’ first World Cup fixture
Just hours before the Lionesses take on Haiti for the Women's World Cup in Australia, girls in West Berkshire are kicking things off in their honour.
The Russo's and Hemp's of tomorrow got things underway at the Thatcham Tornadoes tournament at Douai Park tonight (Friday).
The impact of the Lionesses has been nothing short of extraordinary with the Thatcham club forming five new girls’ teams off the back of last summer’s Euros.
Over 60 girls, from a range of ages, took part in the special training and mass participation session at around 5pm today.
The club received funding from the National Lottery which has helped them grow their girls’ section.
The grant - called The National Lottery’s Women’s Euro Legacy New Team Grant, was set up following the Women’s Euro’s.
It made £1 million available, nationally, and so far £200,000 has been issued to set up 170 new clubs and teams across the country.
Douai Park has also received some of this funding which has been used to build a new pavilion and changing rooms.
Under-16s coach Kate Pike said this funding has been a real help for the club.
"We are the envy of every team that come to play us away," she said.
"They love coming here, it is just beautiful."
She added: "The impact of having these new teams is such a big deal.
"When you think back to 15 or 20 years ago you just didn't see many girls playing football, there might be the odd girl playing football in a boys team but there certainly wasn't anything like you see now.
"Now girls playing football in schools is more of a normal thing."
When the Lionesses won the Euro's against Germany at Wembley last summer, they wrote an open letter to the Government - led by Arsenal's Lotte Wubben-Moy - calling for all young girls to be given the opportunity to play football.
Mrs Pike said: "It is amazing to see girls in the media that are strong, that are positive and that are just amazing women really.
"It is so important for girls to know that they can do anything."
One of the inspired young footballers is 12-year-old Sophie Wickens.
She said: “I am so excited for the World Cup, I am definitely going to watch England play Haiti.
“It is really good to see the women on the big screen and see someone doing what you do.”
The Thatcham Tornadoes under-12s recently won the Berkshire County Girls Football League and vice captain Daisy said the experience was amazing.
“I love playing with the Tornadoes,” the Chloe Kelly fan said.
“I have made a lot of friends.”
Tilly Williams, 12, added: “It was a hard league to win but we just came out on top because of our dedication to the game.”
Many members of the squad watched the Euro final and one of the Tornadoes was lucky enough to meet former Lioness Jill Scott.
“It was really cool,” said England fan Olivia Rayfield.
“It was at the end of the game and she came over to the stands and I got to meet her.
“She showed us the medal and we said well done to her, it was really cool to be there.
“I want to continue to play football when I am older.”
National Lottery said its players raise more than £30million a week for good causes including vital funding into sport – from grassroots to elite.
For more information visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
The Lionesses will play Haiti at 10.30am tomorrow (Saturday).
