UK Government have committed to England Lionesses’ Euro legacy with a £622m funding package to boost women’s football in schools.
Having faced multiple hurdles and even a FA ban over the last century, England Lionesses cemented the rise women’s football with their glorious run to clinch 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro title on home soil last July, courtesy of an extra-time winner over Germany at Wembley Stadium, London.
Their triumph also came at a time of political turmoil as Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss battled to replace Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, during which the title-winning squad wrote an open letter to both politicans pleading for support to grow the game in schools.
Truss went on to become Prime Minister for 49 days before she was swiftly replaced by Sunak, who has now announced a £622m funding package aimed at boosting female participation in football within schools.
FA Director of Women’s Football, Baroness Sue Campbell praised Sunak’s announcement as she issued the following statement:
“As soon as the final whistle was blown at Wembley on 31 July 2022, the players turned their attention to what they wanted their legacy from the tournament to be and what’s been announced today is as important as anything that was achieved on the pitch in the summer.
“We’re delighted that it will be made clear to schools that they should offer a minimum of two hours of PE and they must ensure that girls have equal access to all school sport, including football.”
£600m will be awarded to the PE and Sport Premium across the next two academic years, whilst £22m will be provided for the School Games Organisers network in order to provide schools with security and stability to create long-term plans for PE and especially girls’ football.
To minimise the risk of funding being mispent by schools, there will be ‘strengthened guidance’ in how to wisely spend the funding alongside stricter guidelines on equal access, whilst a new digital tool will be designed by PE and Sport Premium to support schools in maximising pupil ability.
Schools will also be expected to deliver two hours minimum of PE per week in term-time throughout the academic year.
FA Chief Executive, Mark Bullingham added that this funding package will ensure that last summer’s “magic” of home success at a home tournament will be able to “live on with a legacy that has the ability to change the future of women’s football and positively impact society.”
Bullingham also iterated that providing equal access for girls within grassroot football is part of the FA’s strategic ambions, which means that this development “is a very proud” moment for the sport.
Acknowledging the important role that the players played in this push for renewed funding within schools, Bullingham said: “We’re all extremely grateful to the players for using their voice to deliver change and would like to place on record our thanks to Government for the positive measures announced today.”
This announcement also further underlines the legacy of last summer’s Women’s Euro tournament, which saw record TV and social media audiences.
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