How Euro 2005 offered England a glimpse of women’s football’s future

Hope Powell’s side bowed out early but England’s last home women’s Euros was an ‘inspiring watershed moment’

It was as if a previously shuttered window had been thrown wide open and, for the first time, Hope Powell’s players could glimpse unexpectedly exciting new horizons.

Bev Ward, the Football Association executive responsible for that tournament’s marketing and communications strategy, recalls the moment well. “England were playing at Ewood Park in Euro 2005 but they were held up getting there because the team bus was waved down by fans lining the approach roads. I remember Rachel Unitt, Rachel Yankey and Kelly Smith – leading players – saying it was the very first time they’d seen women and girls wearing replica shirts with their names on the back.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/0OXWeFm