Euro Success The Perfect Tonic – Richards

Two days on from Sarina Wiegman’s squad’s triumphant bus tour and party in the park, Wolves vice-president John Richards takes a reflective overview of England Women’s thrilling triumph in Switzerland and uses personal experience to outline the collective benefits the Lionesses’ latest glory will bring about.

Like so many others, I was glued to the television for several weeks to watch the Lionesses work their magic. And how brilliant were they?

I have to say they seemed to be making hard work of it at times – last-minute goals, extra-time, penalty shoot-outs. No wonder I’ve got grey hair!

In the end, they got there, though, and deservedly so. Admittedly, they had to dig deep in the final against Spain but the fact they responded well to going behind (again!) and battled back in the second half is the hallmark of a top team.

Unlike my wife, I enjoy watching a shoot-out. And, here again, you could sense the confidence in the England team. Although we missed the first one, you knew Hannah Hampton was going to save at least one (she actually saved two) and the rest, as they say, is history.

The whole tournament was a great spectacle and a wonderful advertisement for women’s football. The game has grown so much in the last ten years and the Lionesses’ latest success will no doubt give it an even bigger boost, especially in this country.

Jenny Wilkes’ excellent article on here earlier this week talked about the development of the women’s game and the changes she has seen over the years. Her important point about the visibility of women’s football, which is now at an all-time high – if you can see it, you can be it – is absolutely right. I can’t praise highly enough the work she has done since she took on the role of chair of the club.

I know there have been some difficult times but the Lionesses’ success is the result of lots of people like her who have bravely championed and promoted the women’s game. It’s a fitting reward for the commitment and efforts they have made.

Without doubt, there will now be more young girls wanting to emulate their European Championship heroes. And we at Wolves are hoping that this growing interest will have a positive impact on our own women’s team. We were so close to moving into the Women’s Super League 2 last season and, under Dan McNamara’s leadership, there is a great deal of belief and optimism that we are capable of taking that next important step upwards.

The other important point to consider is the overall benefit football can have on those involved. From personal experience of watching my own daughters, and now my granddaughters, play their various team sports, I can see how much these activities have helped them. There are the fitness benefits, of course, but equally important are the life and social skills, the friendships, the togetherness, the leadership and the dynamics of working in a team.

All of these qualities were evident in the Lionesses’ camp, where every individual made a contribution and enabled the team to dig so deep when needed. They are qualities which will set them up for life.

The new season is only a couple of weeks away and I can guarantee there will be many more supporters watching for the Wolves Women’s team’s results with great interest. I certainly will.