Where The Final Game And The First Game Meet

Some 10,600 miles from the scene of a first England appearance in a World Cup final for 57 years, we see further evidence of the women’s game’s growth.

Wolves, like other clubs, may remain surprised that their season-opening National League fixture at Derby today hasn’t been rearranged to allow for interrupted TV viewing of the showpiece Sydney clash awaiting Sarina Wiegman’s heroic squad.

Happily, though, there is at least provision for them to watch the final at the hotel they are using for their pre-match get-together, although it will be a tight squeeze if they want to see the presentation ceremony.

Kick-off at Mickleover Sports Club has been pushed back an hour to 3pm, so all eyes will be on the country’s historic meeting with Spain before thoughts switch to putting early Northern Premier Division points on the board.

And the rising profile of Dan McNamara and his squad was further boosted yesterday when the manager and three of the club’s players conducted a whistle-stop tour of Molineux’s corporate areas before the Premier League game against Brighton.

Mingling with supporters were the dressing-room trio of Liv Fergusson, Merrick Will and Ellie Wilson, all of them new arrivals this summer after playing at higher levels elsewhere.

During their articulate appearance on the mic with the club’s former head of media Paul Berry came the acknowledgment and appreciation of the fact that such positive exposure wouldn’t have come a few years ago.

McNamara and a sole member of the playing squad did the same ‘tour of duty’ early last season, so it felt like another forward step to have extra representation on this occasion.

There was also a four-page focus on the side and selected individuals in the match programme.

How grateful they all no doubt are for the thrilling manner in which the Lionesses are spearheading the huge advance of women’s football in this country.

In wishing McNamara and his side good luck in trying to build on their impressive 2022-23 season, we trust they will understand us homing in on the bigger picture in conclusion to this article.

This, after all, is a red-letter weekend and we express the fervent wish that some treasured silverware will be on board and heading to these shores when Sarina and her players head home early in the new working week.

*To add a little time context, Sarina Wiegman was born in late October, 1969 – in between a Wolves defeat at Manchester City and a 1-0 home win over Albion that was secured by Mike O’Grady’s late goal. She was six days short of her second birthday when Bill McGarry’s side travelled to beat Den Haag in the city of her birth in the early stages of their run to the 1972 UEFA Cup final.