It’s still staggering to look at the start contrast in football in the time between England’s turn to host the Women’s European Championship. The game has come a long way in the 17 years since it last welcomed teams from across the continent for the 2005 Euros, from facilities and broadcasting, to improvements in scouting and coaching. While the country offered a glimpse of what could be at the start of the new millennium, the recent tournament on British shores has made waves and you only need to look at the opening group game — a sold out Old Trafford for the Lionesses to kick off their campaign — to really indicate how the game is continuing to grow.
England are riding the crest of a wave this year and the home advantage pre-tournament, as well as some devasting victories in qualifiers and friendlies, including a 20-0 win against Latvia, meant they are the favourites in the England vs Germany betting for the final at Wembley, and a record-breaking 8-0 win against Norway established their dominance — the most goals scored in a game in Euros history.
It wasn’t always this way though. Long gone are the days of empty seats, and an England side assembled of mostly part timers who worked extra jobs to be able to play. Most club games weren’t televised and, although the format was changed for the next tournament in 2009, only eight teams entered. It was certainly a less glamorous affair, and England headed into their group, comprised of Sweden, Finland and Denmark as one of the lowest ranked sides.
While a crowd of just over 3,000 attended the tournament opener between Sweden and Denmark, there was 25,000 at the City of Manchester Stadium, now known as the Etihad, to witness England’s first and only win over Finland — goals from Amanda Barr and star player Karen Carney, who would go on to win an MBE for services to the women’s game, were enough to pick up three points for Hope Powell’s side.
“It was incredible and a lot of hard work went into that (the attendances for England games),” Bev Ward, one of the tournament’s organisers said. “It wasn’t a mistake — we set a European record in the opening game for women’s football. It was full of girls and families and that was an incredible statement really.”
Although they finished bottom of the group, the tournament went along way to improve participation in the sport, with a £10 million investment from the FA following. It was an eye opener to see the differences between that and the men’s game, which was demonstrated by striker Kelly Smith, one of the better strikers in the domestic league for Arsenal, had to take temporary work as a postwoman to keep the money coming in.
“It’s important we put on a good show this summer, especially with the reputation the women’s game has in England – or doesn’t have,” she said. “There are a lot of negative images out there that men, especially, cling on to.”
The tournament served as something of a watershed moment for women’s football in England. And while Germany would go on to rubber stamp their authority on the game, winning a fifth successive title at Blackburn Rovers’ Ewood Park, the Lionesses made waves over the next decade, and reached the semi-finals of the 2017 Euros in the Netherland, coming agonisingly close before losing to the eventual winners on their home turf.
