Women’s World Cup 2023

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      Sorry Grealish… Mary Earps’ Lionesses are UK’s ‘real rock stars’ with mag shoots, McDonalds ads and desperate celeb pals

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      SHE was once so hard-up she worked five jobs to pay for petrol to get to football matches.

      But England goalie Mary Earps could now rake in millions after being named Sports Personality of the Year 2023.

      Mary picked up the Sports Personality of the Year trophy

      She fought to get Nike to make a replica of her shirt for fans

      The 30-year-old is set to follow in the commercial footsteps of other England female greats like Alex Scott, Chloe Kelly and captain Leah Williamson, with industry insiders hailing their ‘rock star’ appeal that is rapidly catching up with their Three Lions compatriots.

      Since winning last year’s Euros, the Lionesses have graced the cover of top fashion magazines, endorsed sports and fashion brands like Nike and Calvin Klein and promoted luxury names such as Gucci.

      One sports agent told The Athletic last year: “It feels like I’m managing a celebrity more than a footballer at the minute.

      “They’re demanding just as much – possibly even more – money than the male players. Brands and celebrities are passing on their numbers.”

      The Lioness’ fame soared further this year after making the final of the World Cup, losing out to Spain in a narrow game that ended 1-0.

      One expert said big-name companies will be lining up to offer Mary sponsorship deals because she is already a fan favourite, with thousands chanting her name from the stands.

      The stopper is popular not just for her keeper skills but for taking on sports giant Nike.

      She took a swipe at the firm for not making a replica of her goalkeeper shirt for fans. They were quickly rolled out and Mary was vindicated when they took five minutes to sell out online.

      Stars like Alessia Russo are attracting a new generation of fans

      Ella Toone and Russo strike a pose for a magazine front cover

      Beth Mead received her OBE from the Prince of Wales

      In June this year she launched her own brand MAE27 to offer supporters an alternative shirt with the motto: ‘Be unapologetically yourself’.

      She is the second Lioness in consecutive years to be named Sports Personality of the Year after Beth Mead was given the 2022 accolade.

      PR expert Sean O’Meara, of Essential Content, told us: “Mary could earn millions. Her potential is huge.

      “Winning Sports Personality of the Year opens up all sorts of opportunities and could make Mary a household name.

      “Brand and sponsorship deals will increase, presenting jobs are possible and no doubt reality TV shows and programmes like Strictly Come Dancing will start sniffing around.

      “It’s a giant opportunity. The whole Nike replica shirt furore boosted Mary’s popularity as the lovable underdog that everyone can root for.

      “Now she’s been introduced to a more mainstream audience with this award, people who aren’t necessarily football fans.

      “Being the second Lioness to win Sports Personality is good for the whole Lioness brand. They are a really strong, healthy brand with lots of authenticity and scandal-free.”

      Lucrative deals

      Ella Toone and Alex Greenwood have deals with McDonald’s

      Beth Mead even has a mini doll in her likeness

      Mary’s teammates call her the TikTok Queen and it’s easy to understand why.

      Alongside team-mate Millie Bright, she’s not afraid to show off her dance moves and also posts training clips.

      She has more than 750,000 followers on the platform.

      Yet it could have been all so differently for Mary, who has a degree in information management and business studies. 

      Three years ago the Man United goalie was ready to quit the beautiful game after being left out of the England squad.

      She told how she collapsed to her kitchen floor and cried before considering retirement, then accepting she might never make the national team.

      “I got to a point where I felt I had sort of reached my limits,” she said. 

      “I had given football a good go, but wasn’t quite good enough. I had responsibilities. I had a mortgage and it wasn’t adding up.”

      Mary is riding the crest of a wave after also winning Best Fifa Goalkeeper, the Super League Golden Glove, the World Cup Golden Glove and England Player of the Year. She also came fifth in the Ballon d’Or.

      Mary had already faced a tough ride at a time when women’s football was mainly ridiculed by men.

      Aged 17 and playing for Doncaster, Mary admitted “there was no real money in the game back then.”

      Yet to take driving lessons, she relied on other players to help take her to matches and took on two coaching roles as well as a job in a local cinema, a kids’ toy shop and telesales work at her dad’s firm to contribute to petrol money.

      She said: “There was a girl who even drove from Southampton up to Doncaster and used to pick me up on the way. It is mad how the game has changed since then.”

      Doors opened

      Alex Greenwood has a deal with Visa

      Twitter/@Mdawg1bright

      Millie Bright advertised Walkers crisps

      More people than ever are tuning in to watch the women’s game, with an audience of 21.2 million watching the BBC’s World Cup coverage this year.

      This has attracted mass sponsorship and brand deals for players.

      One agent told The Athletic how the team’s “feet didn’t touch the ground for months.”

      They continued: “We had so many requests from so many different areas — areas that previously we’d been trying to push doors down in.

      “Two days after the final, we booked in a day with our players where we had to sit down with pages and pages of requests. We had loads of big brands, including some that hadn’t done much work in women’s football, wanting to work with them.”

      Presenter Alex Scott is arguably the most famous Lioness and is said to be as worth as much as £4million.

      England captain Leah Williamson is reportedly also worth £4million after striking deals with Italian fashion house Gucci, Nike and Pepsi.

      Arsenal’s Alessia Russo, 24, who has deals with Adidas, Gucci, PlaySation and Beats by Dre, and graced the cover of Women’s Health, is said to be on a £100,000-a-year salary and is reportedly the first British star to make £1million in a year.

      Manchester City’s Alex Greenwood, 30, has a contract with sports brand Under Armour – estimated to be worth £250,000 – as well as jewellery brand Abott Lyon, for whom she designed football-themed bracelets and necklaces. She also champions Garmin watches.

      Fashion idols and luxury brands

      The Lionesses got MBE’s

      Leah Williamson is a fashion queen

      Chelsea forward Lauren James is just 22 but already has deals with Sure, Google Pixel and Nike.

      Stable mate Millie Bright, 30, is an ambassador for Walkers crisps and Pepsi while Chloe Kelly, who stripped to her bra in a victory celebration at the Euros, starred in a Calvin Klein underwear campaign. Range Rover is reputed to have tried to tie Chloe into a £1.5m deal.

      Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone, 23, is the face of Nike’s Phantom GX football boots and has deals with PlayStation and McDonald’s.

      Right-back Lucy Bronze has paired with Cupra cars, Visa, EE and Klarna.

      Last year’s Sports Personality of the Year winner, Arsenal player Beth Mead has deals with Budweiser and McDonald’s and has been spotted wearing Victoria Beckham clothes. 

      It is not known how much her endorsements are now worth but Beth was valued at £410,000 before winning the title.

      ‘Clean and healthy’

      Alex Scott leads the big earners

      Alex Greenwood strikes a pose

      Sean O’Meara says England’s female heroines will continue to attract big money as the game grows in popularity too.

      He said: “Men’s football still has more commercial clout but the women are catching up and Mary stands out as one of the players with a cult following.

      “Women’s football is attractive to companies because it’s viewed as ‘clean’ and healthy.

      “Male footballers are cleaner than they used to be and, on the whole, are undergoing a renaissance in terms of perception and what it means to be a player.

      “There are a lot of players who are challenging the play hard, drink hard culture from the 90’s, but overall the women’s game is seen as a safer, sometimes more attractive, bet.” More

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      Fans blast ‘bitter’ Joey Barton as he slams SPOTY winner Mary Earps as ‘big sack of spuds’

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      FANS have blasted “bitter” Joey Barton as he slammed SPOTY winner Mary Earps calling her a “big sack of spuds”.The goalkeeper, 30, who was a key part of the Lionesses side which reached the Women’s World Cup final in the summer, topped the public vote for the award on Tuesday.
      Joey Barton has called SPOTY winner Mary Earps a ‘big sack of spuds’Credit: Alamy
      The goalkeeper, 30, topped the public vote for the award on TuesdayCredit: PA
      Barton questioned why Earps won it ahead of a host of champions in other fieldsCredit: Twitter
      Credit: Twitter
      Her success made her the third consecutive female winner after her England teammate Beth Mead won last year and US Open champion Emma Raducanu in 2021.
      But Barton, who claimed women are not qualified to talk about the men’s game, questioned why Earps won it ahead of a host of champions in other fields.
      He tweeted: “So the best sports person this year is… A Women Goalie. Lost in a couple of finals this year. Not won a sausage.
      “So popular that Nike didn’t even sell a replica jersey before tournament.
      Read more Sports News
      “You telling me all those who jumped on that bandwagon, haven’t voted in the BBC nonsense?
      “Good luck to Mary. Hope she makes a few quid.”
      Joey then added: “To win before Ronnie O’Sullivan and Frankie Dettori…? Well, that’s just madness to me.
      “Both almost genius like in their respective fields. They’ve lost to a big sack of spuds that plays in goal for a girls team.”
      Most read in Football
      However many fans jumped to the defence of Earps.
      One said: “Joey Barton is a sad bitter t***.”
      Another commented: “Such a great moment for women’s sport. Mary Earps is such a talented footballer and an inspiration to so many young girls.
      “She’s also a hero to us older girls who didn’t get the chance. Thank goodness things have changed. Sport brings the world together.”
      The Prince of Wales also congratulated the Manchester United shot stopper.
      William, who is president of the Football Association, sent her a message on social media, posting on X: “Hugely well deserved, Mary. Congratulations! W”.
      It comes after Piers Morgan insisted that the Lionesses’ star should not have claimed the prize.
      Former Manchester City and Newcastle star Barton went into a tirade on X, formerly known as Twitter, claiming women are not qualified to talk about the men’s game.
      He said that women commentating on men’s football was the same as him “talking about knitting or netball” – and called those who disagreed with him “eunuchs” and “fart parcels”. More

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      Piers Morgan leads complaints after Mary Earps is named BBC SPOTY despite ‘winning nothing’ – but fans hit back

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      PIERS Morgan led complaints on social media after Mary Earps won the 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.The 30-year-old goalkeeper was a key part of the Lionesses side which reached the Women’s World Cup final in the summer.
      Piers Morgan led complaints on social media after Mary Earps won BBC SPOTYCredit: Rex Features
      Earps followed previous winners Emma Raducanu and teammate Beth MeadCredit: PA
      Credit: Twitter/@piersmorgan
      Morgan disagreed that the Lionesses star should have claimed the prizeCredit: Twitter/@piersmorgan
      The Manchester United shot stopper also won FIFA’s Golden Glove award for the best goalkeeper at the tournament.
      She followed previous female SPOTY winners tennis superstar Emma Raducanu and England team-mate Beth Mead.
      But Morgan, 58, insisted that the Lionesses’ star should not have claimed the prize.
      On X, formerly known as Twitter, he wrote: “Trying to get my head around two of England’s women footballers winning BBC SPOTY in successive years… while male sporting superstars with great personalities like Rory McIlroy, Frankie Dettori & Ronnie O’Sullivan have never won it.”
      Read more Sports News
      Piers added: “No offence to Ms Earps, but shouldn’t it have been given to someone who actually won something in 2023?”
      Another user said: “Mary Earps wins SPOTY for helping England win nothing. Oh but she did save a penalty so guess that’s enough, such a political winner this year second and third weren’t much better either.”
      But others were supportive of Earps receiving the accolade.
      The Prince and Princess of Wales tweeted: “Hugely well deserved, Mary. Congratulations! W”.
      Most read in Football
      Cairon Lee said: “She thoroughly deserved to win it she played a critical role in helping England to the final and giving them a shot to win it she has done a massive amount for goalkeeping as well as woman’s sport so well deserved in my opinion.”
      Guillermo Ravelo wrote simply: “She deserves it.”
      Earps saved a penalty from Spain’s Jenni Hermoso in the final, but the Lionesses were unable to add to their 2022 European crown as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat in Sydney.
      At club level she kept 14 clean sheets as United finished second in the Women’s Super League.
      She hailed the part her teammates had played in her achieving this individual accolade.
      “I would not be here without my team-mates with the Lionesses and at Manchester United because we’ve achieved some incredible things over the last couple of years,” she said.

      “While individual accolades are great, they only come after team success. This is their trophy just as much as mine.”
      Former England cricketer Stuart Broad, who retired at the end of the fifth Ashes Test in the summer, was second in the BBC public vote and world heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson was third. More

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      Unstoppable women racing towards equality.. I wonder what Joey Barton’s wife thinks of his rubbish Alex Scott comments

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      TAMMY WYNETTE sang: “Sometimes it’s hard to be a woman.”She was wrong… it’s hard all the bloody time!
      Joey Barton claimed that women ‘shouldn’t be talking with any kind of authority’ about men’s football last weekCredit: Alamy
      I don’t suppose that most of the people reading this column would understand, worry or even care what it is like to be a woman in a traditionally all-male industry like football.
      But I ask them to take a pause and consider it because this has been a mixed week for women in football.
      First, pleasure at a record 59,042 Women’s Super League crowd at the Emirates Stadium.
      Followed by the grim news that 152 players out of 697 monitored at the Women’s World Cup received discriminatory, abusive, or threatening messages on social media.
      Read More on Football
      Players at the women’s finals in Australia and New Zealand were found to be 29 per cent more likely to be targeted for online abuse than players at the 2022 men’s World Cup.
      One was even subjected to open misogyny when Luis Rubiales, the former head of the Spanish FA, bear-hugged World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso before kissing her firmly on the lips.
      Then this week Joey Barton’s had his say, claiming women pundits “shouldn’t be talking with any kind of authority” on the men’s game before comparing their input as the equivalent of “me talking about knitting or netball”.
      Joey’s entitled to his opinion, of course, but I suspect his comments just encouraged more vile social media abuse aimed at women who just want to be left alone to get on with their job.
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      Arsenal broke the WSL attendance record when they faced Chelsea on SundayCredit: Getty
      England and Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps has been nominated for Sports Personality of the YearCredit: PA
      I wonder what Joey’s wife and daughter make of his anger on a fresh target, singling out Alex Scott because, I suspect, the England international is making much more of a splash than Barton ever will.
      Scott has no chip on her shoulder. Barton has a whole plank on his.
      She had a career of 140 appearances and 12 goals for England as a right-back, he played one international for, ahem, 11 ­minutes.
      This, he thinks, entitles him to judge that Scott should shut up about the men’s game.
      She hasn’t experienced it and neither she nor any other woman should commentate on it or analyse it. Anyway, she wasn’t “a great player”. What rubbish.
      She has earned her right to do the job she does, and she does it very well.
      Why should she be subjected to abuse and singling out just because she is a woman? Barton’s attitude is reminiscent of the one that women should stay at home, clean the house, look after the kids and not dabble in men’s business.
      There are many that still think like that. Sadly, the view that only men should cover men’s football is common.
      Alex Scott has responded to Barton’s commentsCredit: Reuters
      But you’ll have to get used to it because, chaps, our impetus towards the top in almost every sphere is unstoppable.
      We are to have our first female ref in the Premier League.
      Rebecca Welch will take charge of the game between Fulham and Burnley on December 23. Most will presume this is a token gesture, but it is not.
      She is yet another woman who has earned the right having spent years working her way up from the very bottom of the referee programme.
      What difference does it make it you are male or female if you can do the job?
      Read more on The Sun
      The best retort to male supremacists might well come very soon.
      Should goalkeeper Mary Earps win the Sports Personality of the Year award — the second consecutive female winner after Beth Mead — it will be a further salute to equality. Something we should all strive for.
      Rebecca Welch will become the Premier League’s first female referee this monthCredit: PA More

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      England Lionesses keeper shirts sell out in FIVE minutes after Mary Earps’ huge Women’s World Cup row with Nike

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      LIONESSES goalkeeper shirts finally went on sale this morning – and they sold out within a matter of minutes.A batch of the shirts went on sale at 8am and were sold out by 8:05am amid high demand.
      England goalkeeper shirts sold out this morningCredit: Getty
      Mary Earps urged Nike to sell them ahead of the Women’s World CupCredit: Getty
      The number put on the official England online shop was comparable to that of the men’s strips prior to a major international tournament.
      Mary Earps was left “hugely disappointed” ahead of this summer’s Women’s World Cup after Nike failed to put any goalkeeper shirts on sale.
      The Manchester United star also revealed that she had been “fighting behind closed doors” and “trying to go through the correct channels” in a bid to find a solution.
      Nike initially decided against selling the shirts, but made a U-turn in August.
      Read More on Football
      A limited quantity was released on the Nike website in October without warning and sold out almost instantly.
      Some later appeared on eBay for DOUBLE the price.
      Two shirts were sold for an astonishing £199.99, while another went for £174.99.
      Earps played a crucial role in England’s journey to the Women’s World Cup final earlier this year.
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      Although the Lionesses suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spain, the United keeper was awarded with the Golden Glove.
      She has since been named as England Women’s Player of the Year and BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year. More

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      World Cup FA creep Luis Rubiales ‘forcefully kissed’ Lionesses star Lucy Bronze & ‘cupped & stroked’ Laura Coombs’s face

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      DISGRACED Luis Rubiales “forcefully” kissed Lionesses star Lucy Bronze and “cupped and stroked” the face of Laura Coombs, the head of the FA said. The Spanish FA chief, 46, was banned from football for three years in October after his “inexcusable” behaviour at the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.
      Spanish FA chief Luis Rubiales was banned from football for three years in OctoberCredit: Getty
      England’s Lucy Bronze during the Women’s World Cup final in SydneyCredit: Getty
      Luis Rubiales ‘cupped and stroked’ England’s Laura Coombs’ faceCredit: Getty
      Luis Rubiales embracing FA chair Debbie Hewitt after the finalCredit: Getty
      He kissed Spain’s midfielder Jenni Hermoso without her consent after Spain beat England 1-0 – and was also seen grabbing his crotch while celebrating the win.
      In written evidence to Fifa’s disciplinary committee, FA chair Debbie Hewitt said Rubiales was “unpleasant and unnecessarily aggressive” while waiting in the tunnel for the medal ceremony.
      Hewitt said he initially “shook the hand of every player and touched a few on the arm as they walked past”.
      But he “seemingly forcefully kissed” England defender Lucy Bronze on her face and “cupped and stroked” teammate Laura Coombs’ face, Hewitt said.
      Read more on Luis Rubiales
      She told the Fifa committee that she found his behaviour “odd”.
      After he finished greeting the England players, Hewitt said Rubiales “became more boisterous” among the Spanish players.
      “He was tactile with almost all of them, kissing most on the cheek, and giving some multiple kisses in quick succession and holding them very tightly,” she said.
      “He rubbed some on their back, tapped one on her bottom, grabbed some by their arm, lifted several off their feet, and one was hoisted twice.
      Most read in Football
      “In most cases, Rubiales initiated the hugs and physical contact. The hugs were reciprocated but the kisses weren’t.
      “It appeared some players moved their heads to avoid the kissing.”
      Hewitt added that there was “no evidence to suggest this kiss was consensual” when Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips.
      Rubiales had “brought the Fifa organisation and the World Cup ceremony into disrepute by behaving in such a way on this global state”, she said.
      “He has taken away the focus on what should have been the positive and joyous celebrations of the Spanish team and he has instead stubbornly and repeatedly tried to blame the player,” she said.
      Rubiales told Fifa’s disciplinary committee that Hewitt portraying him as “some sort of creep” is “absolutely disgusting”.
      He said he read the evidence “with absolute dismay”.
      Rubiales claimed he was trying to “comfort” Coombs after she was injured during the match and was wearing a bandage at the time.
      Coombs did not play for England in the final, having been an unused substitute.
      It also emerged the Fifa committee considered tougher sanctions.
      In the written grounds of its decision, it said Rubiales’ behaviour was “inexcusable and unacceptable, especially considering his high rank within the football ecosystem at the time”.
      Rubiales was banned from football for breaching article 13 of Fifa’s disciplinary code, which relates to “offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play”.
      He began his career as a Spanish football official in 2010 and elected as president of the Association of Spanish Footballers.
      He went on to become president of the Spanish Football Federation, a role which he stepped down from in September 2023.
      Rubiales sparked outrage when he kissed Spain’s Hermoso without her consent.
      Striker Hermoso lodged a sexual assault complaint in person at the State Attorney General’s Office following the incident.
      She described the kiss as ”an impulsive, sexist act, out of place and without any type of consent on my part”.
      Read more on The Sun
      The Sun has contacted the FA for comment.
      Luis Rubiales quit over criticism for kissing Spain forward Jenni HermosoCredit: Getty
      Rubiales carrying Spain’s Athenea del Castillo Beivide on his shoulder as they celebrate winning the World CupCredit: AFP More

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      ‘Gutted’ England star Mary Earps in tears and is consoled by team-mates after letting in soft goal in Netherlands win

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      ENGLAND goalkeeper Mary Earps claimed she “let the team down” after making an error during the Lionesses’ 3-2 win over Netherlands on Friday.The World Cup golden glove winner left the pitch in tears at full-time despite England’s late comeback.
      Mary Earps was in tears after the matchCredit: Getty
      The goalkeeper was consoled by Sarina Wiegman and Alessia RussoCredit: Reuters
      Sarina Wiegman’s side had to win the match by at least two goals to keep their Nations League hopes alive and take control at the top of Group A1.
      However, with the team already 1-0 down in the 35th minute, Earps let Lineth Beerensteyn’s shot slip through her gloves and into the net.
      The Lionesses were able to turn the match on its head after half time thanks to goals from Georgia Stanway, Lauren Hemp and Ella Toone.
      But with one game still to play, England’s fate in the competition is now out of their hands.
      Read More on the Lionesses
      Earps could not hide her disappointment after the match as she was consoled by her team-mates.
      And in a post-match interview with ITV, the goalkeeper admitted that the error will continue to “haunt” her.

      She said: “I’m sorry my performance cost the girls like that.
      “That will haunt me for a long time. I’ve really let the team down today. I’m really gutted.”
      Most read in Football
      Earps made an error which led to Netherlands’ second goal in the first halfCredit: Getty
      The Man Utd star was left devastatedCredit: PA
      Earps added: “It could have been a really special night at Wembley. The team were unbelievable.”
      England boss Wiegman responded to the 30-year-old’s comments in her post-match press conference, insisting that it was a team effort.
      The Dutchwoman said: “I don’t want her to talk like that, because you win as a team and lose as a team
      “She didn’t let the team down. Everyone does their best. You only let your team down when you don’t put effort in.”
      Arsenal legend Ian Wright was also quick to defend Earps on ITV.
      He said: “I don’t think she should be beating herself up like she is, she looked really quite distressed there.
      “The fact is on many occasions Mary Earps has saved this team. Unfortunately for her today she made a mistake that yes we needed two goals but we didn’t lose the game.
      “Unfortunately we didn’t get the two goals but at the same time that’s what it’s about. It happens like that and her team has pulled her out of it. You’ve to take it on the chin and move on.”
      Read More on The Sun
      Earps was voted BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year earlier this week, beating Aitana Bonmati, Sam Kerr, Fridolina Rolfo and Alexandra Popp to the prize.
      She also came fifth in the Ballon d’Or rankings – the highest a goalkeeper has placed since the female award was introduced. More

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      The Sun’s Footie For All campaign praised by Culture Secretary as £30m of NEW cash for grassroots football announced

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      THE Culture Secretary praised The Sun’s Footie For All campaign as she joined England’s Lionesses on the pitch to announce a multi-million cash boost for grassroots football. Lucy Frazer unveiled a £30 million venture to construct around 30 state-of-the-art 3G pitches across the country. 
      Political Correspondent Martina Bet talks to Culture Secretary Lucy FrazerCredit: Roland Leon
      We joined the Cabinet Minister at St George’s Park where she made the revelation to the Lionesses and told us how important it is to build more facilities, especially for women and girls. 
      Speaking to our political correspondent, Ms Frazer said she realised she had to do something to support the Lionesses’ legacy after seeing them “in action” at the World Cup.
      “I came back from Australia, thinking we have got to build on this, we can’t stop, we have got to go further, we have got to continue to support them”, she said.
      At every one of these new sites, there will be reserved peak-time slots, women and girls only evenings and priority booking for women and girls’ team.
      READ MORE ON POLITICS
      There will also be dedicated female changing rooms, shower facilities and accessible toilets.
      Ms Frazer said: “One of the main issues is that girls are put off by the fact that there’s nowhere to change and there’s nowhere to shower.”
      The Cabinet Minister also described the Sun’s Footie For All campaign and Fund as “complementary” to the Government’s cash injection.
      Our campaign is aimed at supporting grassroots youth football clubs impacted by the cost-of-living crisis and the fund, in collaboration with Tesco’s Stronger Starts programme, provides £150,000 in grants to assist clubs facing financial challenges.
      Ms Frazer said: “In life, generally, you can’t do things alone, the Government can’t do this alone. And we are combining with the sporting bodies to achieve our aims, with the Department of Education, the Department for health… and so The Sun’s campaign is is a complementary to that.
      “And it’s really important that we have football access for everyone and I’m a proud supporter of the Sun’s campaign.”
      In terms of where the new pitches will be located, Ms Frazer said it will be up to the Football Foundation to decide, adding: “They are already looking at potential sites and looking at a whole range of things and accessibility is absolutely one of them.
      Most read in The Sun
      “They have already started that work, because we want to make sure that these are delivered by 2024-25. And so that work has started already.”
      The Government is providing £25 million funding, with The Football Association contributing £5 million.
      The announcement comes ahead of the team’s crucial UEFA Women’s Nations League match against the Netherlands at Wembley Stadium on Friday.
      England’s FIFA World Cup 2023 Captain Millie Bright said: “We are really pleased to see the commitment towards this funding and the promise that this will be prioritised for the growth of women’s and girls’ football so whatever the motivation to play, there is a safe and accessible area for females to go to.”
      Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer on the pitch with the Lionesses and a local girls’ football clubCredit: Roland Leon
      Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer talks to the manager of the England women’s national team Sarina WiegmanCredit: Roland Leon
      Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer attended the training session of the Lionesses and announced a £30 million venture to construct around 30 state-of-the-art 3G pitches across the countryCredit: Roland Leon More