Nowhere was the roar for the Lionesses louder than in the Astley and Tyldesley Miners Welfare Club on the outskirts of Manchester.The club where a five-year-old Ella Toone started her journey to England stardom – like so many places across the country – hosted nail-biting, table-thumping and, ultimately, deafening watch parties.
The roof almost came off the clubhouse when Chloe Kelly’s winning penalty went in. Red bucket hats emblazoned with Toone’s now famous “Buzzing My Head Off” catchphrase were thrown in the air.
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Young fans at the Astley and Tyldesley Miners Welfare Club celebrate the winning goal
“Absolutely ecstatic,” said Lorraine Warwick-Ellis, who runs the pathway development for women and girls at the club. “I was very nervous, very worried about penalties but we did it in the end.”The success of the Lionesses has driven a huge boom in the popularity of women’s and girls football in recent years.
She hopes this win will have a similar effect.
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Ella Toone holds the Euros trophy aloft. Pic: Reuters
“I hope it cements the girls who are already here, keeps them engaged and I hope it brings more girls down who want to be footballers and see that it’s open for everybody.”
It had been a pretty sombre watch for much of the game after Spain took the lead but it erupted into life after Alessia Russo’s equaliser.The shootout was the usual emotional rollercoaster but young fans seem to have greater faith in the Lionesses.
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Football’s staying home!
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Among the jubilant teenagers celebrating in the clubhouse were two who have followed Toone’s path to academies at professional clubs.”It’s unbelievable, they’re amazing, Chloe Kelly, I just don’t know what to say about her,” said Natasha Greenhouse. “We knew if it went to penalties that they’d do it.”Tamsin Gallagher said: “They’ve done it the hard way all the way through the Euros but we all believed in them. Come on England.”The party in Manchester and around the country and only just begun.
