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      Lioness Beth Mead set to release two new books after Euros success

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      LIONESS star Beth Mead is following in the footsteps of Marcus Rashford by putting pen to paper for two new books.The Euro 2022 champion is writing an autobiography detailing her journey from when she first started kicking a ball for her village team aged six to Wembley stadium in July where she and the rest of the England squad beat Germany 2-1.
      Beth Mead, 27, is writing an autobiography which will tackle her top level football career
      Striker Beth, 27, is working on two books which will tackle her top level football career.
      The first, which will be published in November, is called “Lioness: My Journey to Glory”, and will detail the “challenges, sacrifices and dedication” needed to win a major football tournament.
      She also plans to pen a book aimed at encouraging girls and boys to start their football careers titled “Roar: A Football Hero’s Guide to Dreaming Big and Playing the Game You Love”, out next year.
      Beth said: “I’m eager for the world to know me in a new way and for people to learn more about the challenges, sacrifices and dedication that go into winning a major tournament.
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      “I feel very proud and honoured to be among the first female footballers to be able to tell their story in this way.”
      She added she hopes her kids book will “inspire girls and boys to play the sport they love, dream big, work hard and never give up.
      “But most importantly, I hope it encourages them to pursue the things they enjoy the most and have fun while they do it.”
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      England star Keira Walsh agrees to world record Barcelona transfer and becomes second Lionesses Euros winner at Nou Camp

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      KEIRA WALSH has become the world’s most expensive female footballer following a sensational £400,000 Barcelona move. The ex-Manchester City ace joined the LaLiga Women’s champions after signing a three-year contract.
      Barcelona paid a record-breaking fee of more than £400,000 to get Keira WalshCredit: Getty
      The midfield star is the second Manchester City player to join Spain’s championsCredit: Getty
      The switch sees Walsh, 25, become the eighth senior player to leave City this summer.
      The move comes two years after Chelsea broke the women’s transfer record with a swoop for Pernille Harder for a reported fee of more than £250,000
      It will see Lionesses ace Walsh – who grew up admiring the talents of former Spain and Manchester City hero David Silva – become the second English top-flight ace to sign for the Catalan giants.
      She joins England team-mate Lucy Bronze at the club who have won a record seven Spanish top-flight titles.
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      It comes after City reportedly rejected multiple offers for Walsh, who was among England’s standout performers during the Euros.
      Rochdale-born Walsh won a player of the match award for her display in the Lionesses’ 2-1 defeat of Germany in the final
      Her move to Barca comes at a crucial time for the Catalan club.
      Their captain and midfield superstar Alexia Putellas is currently out of action following an ACL injury sustained shortly before the Euros in July.
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      Walsh, who began her playing career at Blackburn in 2008 before joining Man City in 2014, has been described as having “the best football brain” by former Citizens gaffer Nick Cushing.
      City have been hit by a raft of departures and England veterans Ellen White, Jill Scott and Karen Bardsley all decided to call time on their playing careers this summer.
      Other big-name players who have left include Bronze, Georgia Stanway, Canada forward Janine Beckie, and Scotland playmaker Caroline Weir.
      And Weir returned to haunt her old club netting the goal that saw Real Madrid knock them out of the Champions League qualifying round for a second successive season.
      The exodus has left some fans concerned about the club’s league title and top three chances.
      Telegraph Sport reports City are thought to be working on signing new players ahead of the WSL transfer deadline of 5pm on Thursday for domestic acquisitions.
      Walsh impressed with her international performances this summer helping England to win the Women’s EurosCredit: PA
      The window for overseas signings closes at midnight on Thursday.
      Walsh’s move will see her become the third WSL star this summer to swap England’s top-flight for Spain’s with Weir moving to Barca’s rivals Real Madrid.
      The Catalan side will face Granadilla Tenerife in their league season-opening game on September 17.   More

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      Chelsea star Harder believes clubs splashing transfer cash on female players is good for women’s game growth

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      PERNILLE HARDER reckons clubs splashing the cash on top talent in women’s football is good for the growth of the sport.And the midfield star is backing Lauren James and the Blues’ summer signings to make their mark with the team chasing WSL and Champions League titles.
      The women’s transfer fee record could be broken this summer two years on from Pernille Harder’s high-profile Chelsea moveCredit: Getty
      Harder is backing Lauren James to impress for the WSL champs as they aim to retain the league titleCredit: Getty
      It is just over two years since Harder, 29, made headlines following her world record-breaking transfer to the WSL champs from Wolfsburg for a reported fee of around £300,000.  
      The Denmark captain, whose team face West Ham on Sunday in a season-opening duel at Stamford Bridge, has enjoyed a storming run of trophy wins with the Blues.
      Triumphs include two successive league titles and two FA Cups with the player bagging 15 goals in 38 top-tier appearances.
      This summer has seen the world transfer record smashed with Manchester City reportedly agreeing to sell Keira Walsh to Barcelona.
      And Chelsea have been heavily linked with a move for Paris Saint-Germain star Grace Geyoro with the Blues claimed to have had a record-breaking bid of more than £425,000 rejected.
      On Tuesday this week, Harder told reporters: “I think it’s good for women’s football to get the money rolling.
      “You could say it like that, but it shows that it keeps developing.
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      “It’s a good development for women’s football, that players don’t have to play their contracts out, but they can actually get sold and clubs can get something out of the players.
      “I’m happy that it keeps getting higher. I wanted to start something new in women’s football.”
      This summer saw Chelsea sign centre-back Kadeisha Buchanan, 26, from eight-time Women’s Champions League winners Lyon.
      The Canada star’s move was preceded by Eve Perisset, 26, becoming the first Blues signing under the club’s new owner US billionaire Todd Boehly.
      Harder added: “All the new signings we got (for) this season and this year have been really good.
      “I feel the improvement in training already and I’m really excited for the season to start and see how we’ll be.
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      “Kadeisha has a lot of experience in the Champions League and being in a top team through almost all (of) her playing career.
      “I played against her a lot when she played for Lyon. She has a lot of quality, is really calm with the ball and also really good in defence.”
      Chelsea’s pre-season saw them take on Lyon and US side Portland Thorns in a friendly cup competition
      The contest resulted in a loss on pens for the Blues to the French giants followed by a win against NWSL club Portland.
      Among the players who shone for Emma Hayes’ side is forward Lauren James with the England starlet netting against Lyon in August along with Sam Kerr.
      Since then James has gone on to earn her first senior international cap coming on as a sub for the Lionesses during their 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat of Austria.
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      And Harder is hopeful the forward will impress for Chelsea this term.
      The WSL ace said: “She had a great preseason. She’s a really good player, still young, but I think with time she will be a huge player for England.
      “I hope that she can be even more involved this season because she’s fit now, she doesn’t have any injuries.”
      This season, which will be Emma Hayes’ tenth year in charge, will see Chelsea chase a trophy quadruple with the team on the hunt for a first Champions League title.
      The term also coincides with the start of a government-backed review of women’s football in England to be led by former Blues forward Karen Carney.
      The sport’s financial health, growth and commercialisation are among the issues to be explored.
      Harder believes Kadeisha Buchanan’s Champions League-winning experience will give Chelsea a boost in EuropeCredit: Getty
      And Harder is open to the idea of a review of the progress of women’s football in Denmark.
      The Blues star added: “I would love that in Denmark because I think we can improve some things there.
      “When I see everything happening here in England and also other countries, I think it’s important for us in Denmark to keep developing and not feeling okay with how it is because then we will slip behind.” More

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      Man Utd Women’s star Nikita Parris leaves local kids stunned by turning up for kickaround with U12s team

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      Women’s football legend Nikita Parris has given a group of unsuspecting youngsters a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of playing with the trophy-winning star.The Manchester United forward who has been capped 65 times for England arrived at her childhood football club in Toxteth for an early morning kickaround, surprising the under 12s team.
      Nikita Parris coaches the young players in Toxeth at her childhood football clubCredit: SWNS
      The kids were left inspired by Parris’ tales of making it to the topCredit: SWNS
      The star has been capped 65 times by England and was part of the squad who won this summer’s EurosCredit: SWNS
      As the girls sat down to breakfast, Parris gave them a stirring talk about coming from the area and achieving her dreams of playing the beautiful game professionally – before getting underway with some shooting practice. 
      After the session, Mila Williams, aged 7, said she “learnt so much” from Parris and wants to “follow in her footsteps”. 
      The heart-warming video comes after research of 1,000 6-16 year olds revealed their heroes, with footballers Beth Mead, Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcus Rashford – and Nikita Parris – featuring in the top 50 list. 
      Other idols for youngsters included Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and his sidekick Kevin Hart, Harry Styles and Emma Watson.
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      Nikita Parris said: “It was amazing coming back to my old training ground today and seeing so many girls just wanting to give it a go.
      “I loved the way the Weetabix Wildcats coaches were keeping the activities fun-based, you could see the girls were all having a really great time.
      “It was great hearing all their questions about how to get started in football, and I told them all that as long as they’re enjoying themselves that’s the most important thing.
      “It’s been a fantastic summer for women’s football, and it’s great to see brands giving girls the opportunity to get involved in sport. And I’m chuffed to be in the top 50 too.”
      Parris is one of many footballers to rank in the top 50 children’s heroes in the research conductedCredit: SWNS
      Nikita Parris leads the youngsters in a series of training drillsCredit: SWNS
      The 28-year-old has clubs such as Lyon, Manchester City and Arsenal on her expansive CVCredit: SWNS
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      A spokesperson for Weetabix, which commissioned the study, said: “Football is for everyone and that’s been highlighted more than ever this year.
      “With the England women’s team recently winning the Euros, there’s no better time for young girls to be encouraged to get into football.
      “To see Beth Mead, Alex Scott and Nikita herself in the top 50 list of children’s heroes is inspiring and a sign of the times.
      “We hope this is just the beginning of girls getting involved in football and the training session showed just how much they enjoy it and have a passion for the sport.
      “Weetabix Wildcats offers girls the chance to take part in non-competitive football.
      “Especially in the current circumstances, we want to ensure families still have access to affordable and healthy food and opportunities to keep active with the emphasis being on having fun and making new friends.
      “Sport should be part of everyday life, and we’re passionate about giving girls access to football.”
      The research also found athletes and sportspeople are the most inspiring type of celebrities for kids (20 per cent), followed by musicians (16 per cent) and actors (11 per cent).
      Similarly, 24 per cent think a good hero is brilliant at sport, while 26 per cent believe kindness makes a great role model.
      It also emerged 31 per cent feel a celebrity has given them an idea of what they want to do for a living and 27 per cent want the exact same job as their idol.
      While 54 per cent said their favourite celebrities inspire them to chase their dreams.
      CHILDREN’S TOP 50 HEROES
      1.            Cristiano Ronaldo            
      2.            Ed Sheeran        
      3.            Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson       
      4.            David Beckham
      5.            Lady Gaga          
      6.            Emma Watson  
      7.            Ariana Grande  
      8.            Billie Eilish
      9.            Kevin De Bruyne
      10.          Miley Cyrus       
      11.          Harry Styles       
      12.          Lewis Hamilton        
      13.          Zendaya                      
      14.          David Attenborough              
      15.          Jordan Henderson          
      16.          Kevin Hart
      17.          Marcus Rashford             
      18.          Kylie Jenner      
      19.          Raheem Sterling                      
      20.          Ant and Dec
      21.          David Walliams        
      22.          Greta Thunberg        
      23.          Phil Foden                  
      24.          Prince Harry             
      25.          Jojo Siwa                     
      26.          Beth Mead                 
      27.          Megan Rapinoe       
      28.          Pep Guardiola           
      29.          Alex Scott                   
      30.          Kim Kardashian        
      31.          Dove Cameron         
      32.          Nikita Parris               
      33.          Steve Backshall        
      34.          James Charles           
      35.          Lil Nas X                      
      36.          Tommy Fury              
      37.          Addison Rae              
      38.          Jesy Nelson               
      39.          Millie Bobby Brown                
      40.          Dixie D’Amelio  
      41.          Jack Grealish             
      42.          Jake Paul                     
      43.          Logan Paul                 
      44.          Rylan Clark                 
      45.          Junior Andre             
      46.          Leah Williamson
      47.          Molly-Mae Hague
      48.          Charli D’Amelio
      49.          Bukayo Saka      
      50.          Big Zuu
      Parris moved to Manchester United last monthCredit: SWNS
      Young football stars of the future lined-up to be pictured with ParrisCredit: SWNS More

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      England 10 Luxembourg 0: Lionesses batter minnows in final World Cup qualifier to end campaign with stunning 100% record

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      GEORGIA STANWAY bagged a brace as England put the icing on the cake of a triumphant summer by crushing Luxembourg 10-0.Golden girl Beth Mead added to her World Cup qualifying goal tally as the Lionesses ran riot in their first home game since their historic Euros win at Wembley.
      England’s Georgia Stanway scored twice as they thrashed Luxembourg 10-0Credit: AFP
      Among the players starting for Wiegman, this evening was Keira Walsh, making her 50th senior appearance.
      The midfield maestro is at the centre of one of the biggest transfer stories this summer with the Man City ace thought to be close to joining LaLiga Women’s champs Barcelona.
      And it is reported Walsh could be set to join her England and former City team-mate Lucy Bronze at the club for a world record fee.
      Any sign that transfer rumours off the pitch would be a distraction on them was blown away by the clinical performance of Walsh and her team-mates.
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      Before the fixture, Sarina Wiegman spoke of wanting the game to be a celebration for fans and players with retired England legend Jill Scott showing the Euros trophy off before kick-off.
      And the Lionesses certainly heeded the call of their Uefa Coach of the Year-winning gaffer as they hemmed a youthful Luxembourg side into their own half.
      It would take a cold heart not to feel some sympathy for their opponents whose starting line-up included two 16 -year-olds and three 18-year-olds including goalkeeper Lucie Schlime.
      And the Luxembourg shot stopper was in for a long night as the hosts laid siege to her goal.
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      It took Wiegman’s side just 11 minutes to find the back of the net.
      Georgia Stanway buried England’s opener from the spot after Alessia Russo was felled in the box.
      The striker missed a few chances moments later and saw a close range shot parried wide in the 13th-minute following a pass from Ella Toone.
      But Russo soon atoned for her missed efforts powering a header past Schlime after leaping to meet Leah Williamson’s pinpoint delivery.
      Alex Greenwood clattered the woodwork before Stanway registered her brace combining with Toone and Mead for England’s third.
      And Rachel Daly made it 4-0 after Toone followed up her cheeky nutmeg with a cross nodded home by her team-mate.
      Luxembourg barely had a chance to recover before Mead latched onto a cutback from Daly to bag her 13th goal in 10 games from this World Cup qualifying campaign.
      And Russo came close to heading in her second forcing a Schlime save on the stroke of half-time.
      The second spell saw no let-up as Wiegman made a triple substitution with Millie Bright, Katie Zelem and Beth England entering the fray.
      England tapped in the sixth goal in the 47th minute before Nikita Parris combined with the Chelsea ace and Toone to bury her second goal in two consecutive games.
      Toone notched England’s eighth from the spot before substitute Lauren Hemp made it 9-0 late on.
      And England made it 10-0 with the Euros champs matching the scoreline of their hefty defeat of Luxembourg last September.
      A stern test against the USA at Wembley awaits them in October.  More

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      Aldi worker faces being ONLY woman in Britain to banned from ALL footie grounds after hurling flare onto pitch

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      A FAN who hurled a flare onto the pitch faces being the only woman in Britain banned from all footie grounds.
      Abbie-Leigh Reay, 23, threw the missile towards the ref when her team Tranmere went 3-0 down in a League Two fixture against Forest Green.
      Abbie-Leigh Reay faces being the only woman in Britain to be banned from all football grounds
      She was caught on CCTV as she threw her arms up in celebration.
      Police later stopped the Aldi worker as she was leaving Tranmere’s stadium following her team’s 4-0 defeat in January.
      At Sefton magistrates’ court, Reay, of Bebington, Merseyside, denied throwing a missile onto a football playing area.
      But she was convicted and could be banned from visiting any UK sports ground. She will be sentenced this month.
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      Austria 0 England 2: Russo and Parris on target as Lionesses claim World Cup spot after heroic Euros triumph

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      ALESSIA RUSSO got the ball rolling as England beat stubborn Austria 2-0 to seal their place in next year’s World Cup. The striker’s opener and a Nikita Parris thumper saw the Lionesses’ red-hot run continue with the team now 21 games unbeaten under Sarina Wiegman.  
      Alessia Russo scored her ninth goal for the Lionesses who needed a draw to qualify for next year’s World CupCredit: Getty
      England aim to seal ten wins in ten World Cup qualifiers when they play LuxembourgCredit: PA
      The result saw the Euros winners bag a ninth victory out of nine World Cup qualifying games notching a whopping 70 goals in the process.
      The match also saw Lauren James make her senior England debut with the Chelsea forward entering the fray late on.
      And Wiegman acknowledged Austria provided her stars with a stern test following their Euros triumph.
      The England head coach said: “I think it was a hard game coming out of the Euros without having much rest, with some players having been in the Champions League.
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      “After all that I’m very proud of the team that we came out of this and won the game. It looked so easy, but I think it was very hard.”
      The duel saw super sub Parris smash the ball home late on.
      On Parris’ efforts, Wiegman added: “We wanted more depth and that’s one of the strengths of her game.
      “She had the runs behind and that’s what she did really well.
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      “Her finish was great. That was very successful, so we celebrated that together.”
      The Lionesses – playing for their first game since their European Championship triumph – got off to a flyer in the seventh minute at Wiener Neustadt Stadium.
      The team were also in action for the first time since the retirement of their all-time record scorer Ellen White.
      But Russo showed the future looks bright for England in attack bagging her ninth senior international goal.
      Though off balance in the box, the striker fired Wiegman’s aces ahead after getting a boot on the end of a headed ball from Lauren Hemp.
      And England almost doubled their lead moments after their seventh-minute opener with Hemp outpacing Verena Hanshaw to tee up Russo.
      But Austria, who succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against their visitors during the Women’s Euros, showed precisely why they proved tough opponents during the tournament.
      They grew into the game and blazed the ball over the bar around the 12th minute with Julie Hickelsberger firing after the hosts won possession.
      Nikita Parris doubled England’s lead to secure a win against AustriaCredit: Getty
      And the Austrian midfielder looked to cause problems shortly before half time with her cross forcing a solid block from Alex Greenwood.
      The second spell saw Irene Fuhrmann’s Austria side attempt to up the ante.
      Hickelsberger came close to levelling after pinching the ball off keeper Mary Earps.
      And the England number one made a top-drawer save in the 60th minute parrying Laura Feiersinger’s shot away from goal.
      Wiegman rang the changes with Parris and Beth England coming on for Beth Mead and Russo moments later.
      And Parris blasted England two-nil ahead in the 70th minute before coming close to netting a second shortly after.
      The visitors wrapped up the win to cap off one of the most successful summers in the Lionesses’ history.
      They will take on Luxembourg in their final World Cup qualifier before the start of the new WSL season. More

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      Former England ace Carney to lead women’s football review announced by culture secretary Nadine Dorries

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      KAREN CARNEY will head a major review on the future of women’s football in England, according to a government announcement. Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries revealed the former Lioness will chair an “in-depth” examination of the women’s domestic game.
      Karen Carney is set to chair a review looking at the future of the women’s domestic gameCredit: Getty
      Broadcast revenue generated by the sport will be among the issues to be covered by the government-backed reviewCredit: Reuters
      It follows some significant changes to the sport over the years, particularly at its highest levels with the professionalisation of the WSL and FA Women’s Championship.
      The review, backed by the Culture, Media and Sports Department, will include an analysis of the sport’s elite and grassroots levels and will be launched by the FA in the coming weeks.
      It comes after England’s historic triumph at the Women’s Euros in July with the team winning their first major contest crown.
      Lionesses’ heroine Carney, 35, a Sky Sports pundit who has 144 international caps said: “Over the last few years, the game has grown significantly and at a rapid pace.
      “Of course, this is an exciting time, but there is an urgent need to ensure there are processes and structures in place that protect the interest of the game and the people working in it.
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      “I have always said that the sport needs to be built on solid foundations to give it long-lasting success in a sustainable way. 
      “For me, this is a defining period for the sport and this review will be at the heart of that.”
      The DCMS-backed review is set to cover a range of issues.
      These include the game’s infrastructure and audience reach, its financial sustainability and broadcast revenue as well as sponsorship and competition prize money.
      The stark disparity in FA Cup prize cash between men’s and women’s sides has been a concern for fans and club managers over the years.
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      In March football chiefs announced an increase in Women’s FA Cup prize money with the fund set to rise from £428,915 to £3million from this season.
      The future of the WSL is another topic that has come up for debate in recent months.
      This summer has seen calls for the top tier to become commercially independent with Chelsea chief Emma Hayes calling for the league to be taken out of the FA’s hands.
      The review of the domestic women’s and girls’ game will see industry experts invited to give evidence at meetings to be led by Carney across the country.
      Football experts are due to be called to give evidence as part of the review’s analysis of the girls’ and women’s gameCredit: Getty
      It will culminate with a report on the state of the sport to be published early next year.
      Ms Dorries added: “The Lionesses’ spectacular performance shows how far we have come at the top of the women’s game.
      “While it is right that we celebrate and reflect on that success, we need an equal emphasis on improving participation, employment opportunities, commercial investment and visibility in the media.” More