One hundred and three days before England’s women kicked off their first home tournament, the announcement came. In some ways it was surprising; in many others, depressingly not.
“Our resources are better deployed at the level of school-age children rather than adults,” Manchester United’s director of communications, Philip Townsend, droned in a February O 2005 statement. Just three months before the north-west of England was due to host 15 matches at Euro 2005, world football’s richest club had confirmed they would be disbanding their women’s team. For a sport still grafting to catch up after an almost-laughable 50-year FA ban until 1971, it felt like a stinging slap to the face.
Nevertheless, when you look back on the seminal moments of Lionesses history, that home tournament 17 years ago represented significant progress for women’s football in Britain. It might not have been a glittering extravaganza for the ages, only eight teams competed, one of its venues was actually a rugby league ground and England went out in the group stage, but still: it was Euro 2005 which arguably sowed the first seeds for real growth on these shores, and offered genuine hope that women’s football really didn’t need a mighty Manchester United to potentially thrive after all.
If ever proof was required in 2022, all three of England’s group matches had sold out by the middle of April – not least their opener at the 73,200-capacity Old Trafford. Tickets for the final were available for all of 43 minutes.
This summer feels half a world away from the previous time England were dealt hosting honours for a major women’s tournament, but back then at the start of a bumpy journey, things were no less exciting for those who were involved. And like all good stories, this one begins in Topshop…
