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      Hayes says watching UFC champ Namajunas helped inspire Chelsea’s progress to Champions League final

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      EMMA HAYES revealed watching martial arts ace Rose Namajunas played a part in inspiring her side’s dramatic 4-1 thrashing of Bayern Munich.A clip of the two-time UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion uttering “I am the best” before knocking out Zhang Weili caught the attention of fight fans. 
      Emma Hayes admires the positive attitude of ‘mentality monster’ Rose NamajunasCredit: Getty
      Rose Namajunas won the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship by knocking out Zhang Weili in AprilCredit: Getty
      In UFC 261 in Florida Namajunas delivered a brutal first-round left-footed head kick that stunned Weili who has won 21 of her 23 MMA bouts. 
      The victory saw Namajunas claim the women’s strawweight belt less than four years on from her first title win with a first-round knockout of Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
      Hayes, whose team play Tottenham next, said: “I showed the players a video of Rose Namajunas saying ‘I am the best’ before her fight.
      “At the end (after she’d won) an interviewer says to her, ‘I heard you saying before you are the best’ and she replied ‘I am the best’.
      “And I said to the team mentality monsters (like Rose) block all the noise out, don’t hear anything and tell themselves ‘we are the best’. 
      “I think this team and the spirit we have has demonstrated why we’re going to the first (Women’s) Champions League final for an English team in a long time.” 
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      Chelsea’s 5-3 aggregate semis defeat of German league leaders Bayern will see Hayes become the first female manager in 12 years to lead a team into the final of the tournament. 
      And on Sunday 16 May – at the stadium of Sweden’s national women’s team in Gothenburg – her WSL juggernauts will face a Barcelona side looking to make history of their own.
      Like Chelsea, the dogged Spanish outfit who are top of the La Liga Women’s division, are targeting their first major trophy win in Europe. 
      And Lluis Cortes’ team – currently 14 points ahead of second-placed Levante in Spain’s top flight – endured heartbreak in the 2019 finals when they were beaten 4-1 by Lyon. 
      Chelsea will take on Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League final on May 16Credit: Rex

      Chelsea’s clash with the queens of women’s football in Spain will mark a phenomenal milestone in Emma Hayes’ 20-year journey as a coach.
      A journey that has taken Hayes from grassroots work with West Euston girls’ football team in north London all the way to steering Chelsea to nine trophies since her 2012 appointment. 
      And the Kingsmeadow boss will be plotting to win a piece of silverware that has eluded the Blues since the club first took part in the Women’s Champions League back in 2014.  
      Before then Hayes’ players will turn their attention to domestic matters and their final two games of the season.  
      Maximum points for Chelsea away at Spurs, and then home against Reading, will see them claim their fifth WSL title in six years and their first treble.
      Hayes is the first female manager in 12 years to lead a team to the Women’s Champions League finalsCredit: PA
      Hayes added: “We have to win on both fronts and I want to win the league. 
      “I want to win the league as much as anything as that’s your bread and butter.
      “That’s what Vic (Akers) taught me. It’s your bread and butter.” 
      Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Wins for Chelsea against Tottenham and Reading in the league will see them retain their WSL titleCredit: Prime Media
      Emma Hayes gets stuck into Chelsea training More

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      Chelsea 4 Bayern Munich 1 (5-3 agg) Emotional Hayes hails historic win as Blues reach Champions League final

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      PERNILLE HARDER and Fran Kirby broke Bayern Munich hearts to help Chelsea seal a dramatic 4-1 victory in an unforgettable Champions League semis. A late Harder header and a stylish Kirby brace saw the Blues reach their first-ever final after an end-to-end five-goal second leg thriller. 
      Emma Hayes has made history by steering Chelsea to their first ever Women’s Champions League finalCredit: Getty
      The WSL giants will take on Barcelona who defeated PSG in the contest’s other semi-final clashCredit: Prime Media
      The 5-3 aggregate trouncing of the German giants – which sparked jubilant Blues celebrations – will see Chelsea take on Barcelona for the trophy. 
      The result takes Hayes one step closer to achieving her dream of seeing her side become the most dominant force in women’s club football in Europe. 
      Victory in the finals would see the Blues become the second Women’s Champions League winners from England following Arsenal’s success in 2007.
      And the Kingsmeadow chief admitted to feeling very emotional about a win she imagined as a little girl playing football on the streets of Camden. 
      Hayes said: “I’ve played this out in the Curnock Street Estate. I entered that pitch every day as a nine-year-old about to play in the Champions League final. 
      “Oh my God, my dreams came true. I wanted this win so badly. I mean, it was the longest week in the world. 
      “I had to do everything to keep my emotions in check and keep training normally. I just wanted the game to come. 
      “And fair play to Bayern – they were tremendous opponents. But the resilience in this group is just so unbelievable. 
      “Ann-Katrin (Berger) and the defenders, plus Sophie (Ingle) in front of the back four did a great job. “Niamh (Charles), Millie (Bright) had a job to do today and they along with everybody executed what I asked them to do.
      “We’re there, we’re in the final. I’m overwhelmed with emotion. I almost can’t even let the tears out and I’m so happy for everyone.”
      Ji So-yun was on target for Chelsea who thrashed Bayern Munich 4-1Credit: Prime Media

      The hosts, boosted by the return of skipper Magda Eriksson, went on the attack almost immediately with Kirby jetting down the right and delivering the ball to the Ji So-yun lurking in Bayern’s box. 
      But the Blues playmaker saw her pass intended for Pernille Harder headed out of danger in the second minute. 
      And Bayern countered moments later through Klara Buhl on the left who switched the ball from her left to her right foot before her shot was blocked.
      The 0-0 scoreline lasted until the tenth minute with Hayes’ players eventually rewarded for their attacking efforts. 
      And it was Blues golden girl Kirby who put them 1-0 up following a swift counter which began with Melanie Leupolz dispossessing a Bayern player. 
      And the England forward buried a low left-footed strike in the bottom corner after receiving the ball in the penalty area from Sam Kerr. 
      The Blues appeared to have the upper hand and had another chance to score close to the half-hour mark through Kirby.
      But the forward saw her shot go wide of the box. 
      And the hosts suffered a scare with Sarah Zadrazil lashing in a phenomenal right-footed rocket from 30 yards out to equalise for Bayern in the 28th minute.
      But Chelsea retook the lead with Ji So-yun smashing in smashing in a low drive after her free-kick rebounded off the wall close to half-time
      The second half saw more nerve-wracking end-to-end drama before Pernille Harder headed the Blues 3-1 in front with less than ten minutes of normal time left. 
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      Fran Kirby scored twice to help Chelsea set up a tantalising clash with BarcelonaCredit: Getty
      That goal sparked panic amongst their opponents who poured forward in a desperate hunt for another goal. 
      And the visitors were caught cold when keeper Laura Benkarth was stranded upfield in injury time with Kirby netting to wrap up a historic Chelsea win.
      The result left Bayern boss Jens Scheuer rueing “individual mistakes” within his team’s performance.
      Scheuer said: “Chelsea put in a better performance but they were not the best team over the two matches. They were just more clinical today.
      “We committed too many individual mistakes today and we were made to pay for it.”
      Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Pernille Harder was on target for Chelsea with a late second half headerCredit: Zuma Press
      Emma Hayes gets stuck into Chelsea training More

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      Brighton Women’s boss Powell calls for clampdown on bigoted online abuse as WSL teams boycott social media

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      HOPE POWELL has called for tougher sanctions against trolls who engage in racist and sexist abusive behaviour online. And the Brighton gaffer, whose team will play Reading, has welcomed football’s boycott of social media this weekend. 
      Hope Powell wants tech firms to take tougher action against bigoted online trollsCredit: PA
      Brighton are among the WSL teams taking part in a boycott of social media until midday on May 3Credit: Getty
      Powell, 54, was speaking to reporters ahead of her players’ trip to the Madejski Stadium with the Seagulls searching for their first win against the Royals in the top flight. 
      And both teams are among 12 Women’s Super League sides shunning social media and urging tech giants to take action against shocking discriminatory abuse online. 
      The protest has seen The FA, Premier League, EFL and the women’s game turn off Twitter, Facebook and Instagram from 3pm on April 30 until 11:59 pm on Monday 3 May. 
      Powell said: “As your profile increases in football, there’s every chance that you could be subjected to some negativity around your gender, around the fact you’re a female footballer, or the fact that you’re a player of colour or a different culture to the person who’s sending the abuse. 
      “You can’t tell me it’s not damaging. I don’t use social media but we all know that some people in the public eye have shut down their social media, because of the trolling and the negativity.
      “There’s every possibility that it could have quite a damaging negative effect. 
      “This boycott is a really good way of sending a message that it shouldn’t be tolerated. 
      “There needs to be better sanctions, it needs to be policed. 
      Football teams across the country are calling for a clampdown on discriminatory abuse onlineCredit: Huw Evans
      “My understanding is that you can just sign up as anybody. You can have a fake name and it needs to be a little bit better than that. 
      “There needs to be proof of ID so these people can be monitored then you know who they are and then they can be sanctioned, but I can’t profess to know the technicalities of it.” 
      Brighton, who are sixth, are looking to avenge a 3-1 home loss to Reading in their last league encounter in December 2020.
      And the Royals have a solid record against Albion winning four of their past five clashes since Brighton’s 2018 promotion to the WSL.
      Kelly Chambers’ Royals – who are seventh – are searching for their first win since their shock defeat of Man United in February. 
      However, Powell, says her side who are three points above Reading, will go into the clash in a relaxed frame of mind.
      Powell added: “From my perspective, we’ve done well, considering some of the pressure points we’ve been in.
      “I keep mentioning (the 3-0loss to) Bristol, but that was a real turning point.
      “We’re very relaxed as you can imagine because we’re not in the bottom part fighting.
      Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      “We’re enjoying our games, training well, training with some freedom, fun and no pressure on our shoulders. 
      “But the players recognise that they’re doing well and they want to continue to do well, and again it’s a lot easier when you haven’t got that pressure you can just go out and play, which is great. 
      “Even as staff, we can enjoy a bit more perhaps than we did in our first season, and I think that’s really important.
      “Everybody still wants to play, everybody is really eager to play and that is really encouraging.”
      Victoria Williams and her Seagulls team-mates hope to pick up their first WSL win against ReadingCredit: Alamy
      Reading hope to notch up their first win in the league since their 2-0 defeat of Man United in FebruaryCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      Hayes eyes a Chelsea Champions League double with Tuchel also bidding for glory in Europe

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      EMMA HAYES is dreaming of Chelsea sealing a historic Champions League double by becoming kings and queens of club football in Europe. And the Kingsmeadow chief hailed Thomas Tuchel, 47, for buying into the winning mentality being encouraged by the Blues. 
      Emma Hayes is urging her team to play the game of their lives against Bayern MunichCredit: PA
      Hayes’ WSL stars are bidding to become the first Chelsea team to reach the final of the Women’s Champions League by beating Bayern Munich. 
      And Tuchel’s Prem aces hope to dispatch Real Madrid in the men’s semis with a second leg decider set for Wednesday.  
      Should both sides win their competitions it would see Chelsea become the first English outfit to triumph in the men’s and women’s Champions Leagues in the same season.
      Hayes, 44, said: “I had a lovely encounter with Thomas Tuchel, he’s a fantastic guy, really open-minded and progressive coach. 
      “There’s a reason why the men’s team are performing like they are and to mirror that success, side by side, how fantastic that would be. 
      “I’ve always said this about Chelsea, we always talk about winning in this place, that’s what comes with the territory. 
      “We don’t mind the pressure, the expectations, the tags, the titles, whatever comes with it, we just know we’re a club that wants to be in winning positions.
      “It’s great to think that both the men’s and women’s teams have reached these stages. 
      “But as I’ll always say we’re about winning things, not just getting here.”
      Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Chelsea are hoping to reach their first ever Women’s Champions League final this seasonCredit: AP
      Tuchel’s side are aiming to defeat Real Madrid in their second leg Champions League semisCredit: PA

      Hayes believes her side has the quality to bounce back from the disappointment of their 2-1 first leg semis away defeat to German league leaders Bayern.  
      Hayes added: “I feel relaxed going into this. Everybody wants to win every game and we have enough quality to do that. 
      “What I think will make a difference is our ability to stay calm in every moment, even when it’s not where we want things to be.
      “We have to stay true to the reason we are in this position and have trust and belief in each other that the right things will happen at the right time.” 
      Emma Hayes gets stuck into Chelsea training More

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      Kelly Smith backs Hayes and Chelsea to triumph in Europe just as she did with Arsenal Ladies

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      KELLY SMITH is backing Chelsea to steal Arsenal’s limelight by ending their spell of being the only women’s football club from England to conquer Europe. And the Gunners’ icon believes “energiser” Hayes will have her players “riled up” to knock Bayern Munich out of the Champions League. 
      Kelly Smith helped Chelsea could triumph in the Women’s Champions League just as Arsenal did in 2007Credit: The FA – Getty Images
      Smith believes Emma Hayes will have Chelsea riled up and ready to defeat Bayern MunichCredit: Getty
      It was 14 years ago this week that Arsenal made history by becoming the first women’s team from these shores to triumph in the contest.
      They did so with a gritty 1-0 aggregate win against Swedish outfit Umea with Alex Scott netting the winner and Smith becoming the tournament’s third-highest scorer. 
      Hayes was in the dugout for that victory during her stint as assistant manager to trailblazing Gunners Ladies boss Vic Akers. 
      And Smith, 42, who missed the finals due to a suspension, has fond memories of Hayes’ two-year tenure before her spell as Chicago Redstars boss from 2008 to 2010. 
      Smith told SunSport: “Emma was a young coach and still learning the trade when she was at Arsenal. 
      “But you could see she was hungry, passionate and a real energiser coach who really loved being out on the field. 
      “She got massive amounts of experience coaching in America after leaving the club and really developed Chelsea’s game. They are very lucky to have her.  
      “I hope they can perform, get to the final and try and take away Arsenal’s mantle of being the only team to lift the trophy.
      “And I’m sure Emma’s going to get them riled up and ready. 
      “It’s a huge opportunity for them to get to the final and they’re going to believe that they can do it being at home with that home advantage.” 
      Smith and her Arsenal Ladies team-mates won the Women’s Champions League 14 years ago this weekCredit: Getty

      Chelsea, who take on Bayern at Kingsmeadow, are looking to overturn a 2-1 first leg semi-final deficit by toppling the German league leaders. 
      And Hayes was tight-lipped on whether skipper Madga Eriksson will be available for selection after missing the first leg with a calf problem. 
      However Smith, who netted 144 times in 125 Arsenal appearances, thinks Eriksson’s presence could make a difference to Chelsea chances. 
      Smith added: “I do think, having watched little parts of the first leg that they really missed Eriksson at the back.
      “She’s the stalwart there, the leader and organises that whole backline. Hopefully she can come back into the mix for the game.”
      Smith, who is backing a smart meter campaign with sports stars including Nicola Adams, has been reflecting on the evolution of the WSL which turned ten this year. 
      And the former England forward, who is the Lionesses highest scorer with 46 goals, hopes to see the top flight become more lucrative in the next decade. 
      Smith hopes to see the Women’s Super League attract a bigger fan base in the next ten yearsCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Smith said: “When I started playing we were only training two nights a week and trying to be full time athletes while juggling jobs. But now the game is professional.
      “I’d like to see teams playing in bigger stadiums and generating bigger fan bases. 
      “We’ve seen it with the special football weekends with derbies and where you get larger crowds coming to games such as Arsenal vs Spurs. 
      “I also hope the WSL becomes self-funding and for clubs not to lose money. We’ve got a long way to go but we’ve just got to keep pushing.”
      Smith, who won 20 trophies in three spells with Arsenal, is thought to be a strong contender to be an inductee into the Women’s Super League Hall of Fame. 
      A panel of experts are due to decide on a shortlist from which the first Hall of Famers will be chosen.
      The former Gunner, who played for Arsenal between 1996 and 2017,  has ideas on who she would like to see inducted.
      And Chelsea’s Ji So-yun is among the names on her list.
      Smith added: “It’s going to be difficult for whoever’s on that panel to come up with the first couple of inductees. 
      Chelsea’s Ji So-yun is among the players Smith would like to see inducted into the Women’s Super League Hall of FameCredit: Reuters
      “The names that spring to mind for me are Rachel Yankey Alex Scott. Karen Carney and Faye White. 
      “There’s also Fara Williams who’s just retired, Steph Houghton, Katie Chapman and Jill Scott and Emma Byrne who was Arsenal’s goalie when I was there. She was a top-level player. 
      “Even Ji So-yun at Chelsea. She’s been around for a good number of years and been a high level performer for Chelsea.”
      Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Smith is supporting a national campaign encouraging people to learn about smart meters
      Kelly Smith is supporting the ‘Get Britain Energy Fit For The Future’ campaign. 
      Rio Ferdinand, Jens Lehmann and Robin van Persie star in BT Sports new women’s football series Ultimate Goal More

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      It’s powerful to see the WSL united alongside the Premier League and EFL in a stand against racism

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      I’M GLAD to see the four-day social-media blackout has included women’s football.Sometimes in the past when men’s football has taken a stand against issues, people haven’t considered how women’s football is affected.
      Alex Scott hopes football’s social media blackout is the start of things to come in regard to tackling onlineabuse
      Casey Stoney called out Mark Zuckerburg for failing to protect individuals from abuse on his social media platforms Facebook and Instagram
      It’s important to understand that female players are hit with the same horrific abuse that male players suffer.
      It’s powerful to see the WSL united alongside the Premier League, EFL and other sports in a stand against racism and discrimination on social media.
      Man United boss Casey Stoney recently called out Facebook and Instagram chief Mark Zuckerburg for not doing enough after Lauren James was racially abused again.
      She was hit with vile comments when she put up a picture of her hugging her little sister on Instagram last week.
      Liverpool’s Rinsola Babajide revealed she had been abused on Instagram, leaving her “feeling sick”.
      And after other users reported racist abuse on Babajide’s account they were stunned when Instagram replied: “We’ve reviewed the account and found that it doesn’t go against our community guidelines.”
      Horrific abuse like that shows how prevalent this issue is.
      Hopefully this weekend’s boycott sends a strong message but I just hope that come midnight on Monday things just don’t go back to normal.
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      We always need to think about how we can keep moving forward and progressing.
      This is the first step but I hope those higher up are planning for what action to take next.
      It shouldn’t just be on the likes of Thierry Henry’s shoulders, after he deleted his social media accounts five weeks ago in a stand against online abuse.
      When we come together it’s powerful.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
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      FA charge Birmingham Women for playing suspended Ruesha Littlejohn against Reading

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      BIRMINGHAM WOMEN have been charged by the FA for fielding Ruesha Littlejohn in a WSL match when she was suspended. And the Republic of Ireland International has also been charged following her appearance in Blues’ 1-1 draw against Reading. 
      Birmingham have been charged with failing to ensure that Ruesha Littlejohn complied with an automatic suspensionCredit: Getty
      FA officials claim the team, who play Manchester City next, “failed to ensure that a player registered with the club complied with an automatic suspension”.
      And Littlejohn, 30, who has made 11 WSL appearances this term, has been accused of “failing to comply with an automatic suspension by participating in the fixture”.
      The BBC reports Birmingham have been under the impression that Littlejohn had fulfilled her ban in the match preceding the clash with Reading. 
      That game was Blues’ 5-1 trouncing of Coventry United in the fourth round of the Women’s FA Cup.
      Birmingham say the fielding of Littlejohn in the match against Reading, on April 25, was due to “an administrative error”. 
      The club says it “unequivocally supports” the midfielder and “will be making no further comments”. 
      An FA tribunal is set to review the case and the outcome could potentially have implications for Birmingham’s battle to remain in the top flight. 
      Should the team face points deduction it could leave them in danger of relegation from the WSL
      Carla Ward’s side will travel to Man City before their end-of-season home game against Tottenham on May 9. 
      The team, who are three points above the drop zone,  are hoping for a strong finish to their season following their draw with Aston Villa. 
      Birmingham are due to play Manchester City away in their next league fixtureCredit: Zuma Press

      And Ward praised the grit her side have shown in a season which has seen them battling with injuries and 
      The Birmingham boss said: “These players have got more resilience than any group I have ever worked with. 
      “They are a tough and tight knit group who look after each other.”
      Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Birmingham will play Tottenham in their final WSL game of the seasonCredit: Rex
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      Shiels extends reign as boss of Northern Ireland Women following Euros qualification success

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      KENNY SHIELS has extended his tenure as Northern Ireland’s Women’s manager following their fairytale Women’s Euros qualification.  The former Derry City gaffer has signed a two-year contract weeks after masterminding his side’s historic play-offs triumph over Ukraine. 
      Kenny Shiels has agreed to a new two-year contract as Northern Ireland Women’s bossCredit: Pacemaker
      On his contract extension Shiels, 65, said: “My job is to continue to build on the momentum we have generated and prepare for next summer’s Euros.
      “The success of the Northern Ireland senior women’s team has added to the interest in the women’s game from the grassroots level up. 
      “I’m delighted with this development and thankful to the Irish Football Association for making this happen.” 
      Shiels, whose managerial career has seen him take charge of clubs in Northern Ireland, England, Scottish giants Kilmarnock, was appointed as the senior women’s national team manager in May 2019. 
      His side, which includes Birmingham City’s Rebecca Holloway, defeated Ukraine 2-1 away in Kovalivka before securing their Euros spot with a 2-0 in a second leg win in Belfast. 
      Their 4-1 aggregate victory over their opponents – who are listed 25 above them in FIFA’s world rankings – saw Shiels’ squad become the first Northern women’s team to reach a major international football tournament.
      The former Kilmarnock manager’s decision to extend his contract has been praised by squad members including Durham ace Sarah Robson and Liverpool’s Rachel Furness.  
      It comes in the same month as the release of ‘A New Dream’, a short film looking behind the scenes of Northern Ireland’s 2022 Women’s Euros qualification journey. 
      And skipper Marissa Callaghan, who works as a Girls’ Participation Officer at the Irish FA, hopes her team’s success will encourage more youngsters to take up football.
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      Northern Ireland Women are set to compete in the Women’s Euros for the first time in 2022Credit: Pacemaker

      Callaghan told the Irish FA’s web site: “We’ve spoken about how we need to do as much as we can for the community and young girls.
      “We need to make sure that we get out and about to the local clubs and schools – wherever we can go. 
      “We want the young girls to see us and get inspired. I think that’s the legacy we want to leave in the next year.”
      Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Marissa Callaghan hopes Northern Ireland reaching the Women’s Euros will inspire more girls to take up footballCredit: Inpho
      Rio Ferdinand, Jens Lehmann and Robin van Persie star in BT Sports new women’s football series Ultimate Goal More