BwD footballers join together to celebrate England reaching Women’s World Cup final

The Chief Executive of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council joined female players from a local football team to mark the momentous occasion of The Lionesses’ 3 – 1 win against Australia, sending them to the first ever Women’s World Cup Final.

England are now in the final and will play Spain on Sunday with local female footballers getting behind the team and being ‘truly empowered’ by the win.

Flossie Jones and Hayley Wilford who also work for the Council were celebrating the fact that women’s game is finally getting the recognition it deserves and joined the Council’s Chief Executive Denise Park to show their support for the game.

The duo play for Blackburn Community Women who are currently in the North West Women’s Regional League – Premier Division.

Hayley Wilford, Technical Officer in the Environment and Operations Department, said:

I’ve had a football at my feet for as long as I can remember – It’s been incredible watching the women’s game grow over the years and I’m incredibly proud of the Lionesses. Football has always been my greatest passion, and Blackburn Community Women are an amazing club, with a great bunch of girls to play alongside with.

Flossie Jones, Graduate in Adults Services, said:

Growing up there were not as many female role models in the game as there are now. But now it is really inspiring to watch some of the Lionesses of a similar age to me from the North West such as Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone doing so well.

The recognition for Women’s Football is improving, I think winning the Euros last summer really helped progress in the right direction. From personal experience, we are having more people watch our games, having more opportunities to play in the men’s club stadium and have young people coming to watch and wanting out signatures after games. I think the game’s popularity will continue to grow with the Lionesses continuing to break records, like getting to the World Cup Final for the first time and that’s truly empowering.

England will kick off on Sunday at 11am and Blackburn Community Women will play their first game of the season later that day.

Chief Executive Denise Park said she is sending her support to both teams and said:

This is a fantastic achievement for The Lionesses and it’s also brilliant to see local women taking the opportunity to become inspired by the World Cup Final. Some of the Lionesses once wore Blackburn Rovers shirts and this is a remarkable achievement for those particular players.

It is empowering to see that the women’s sport is getting the recognition that it deserves and it has been great to see the progress that they have made and we will continue to support them. Good luck to The Lionesses and to Blackburn Community Women this weekend.