Lionesses changed game for girls but ‘we’re a forgotten generation’ – BBC

The Lionesses’ Euro 2022 triumph was meant to be a turning point. Instead, a generation of young players now feel overlooked. Two years after England’s first major trophy on home soil, the women’s game is still fighting for the recognition it was promised.

What the Lionesses achieved—and what changed

England’s victory over Germany in the Euro 2022 final drew 17.4 million viewers, the most-watched television event of the year in the UK. The match itself ended 2-1 after extra time, with Chloe Kelly’s 110th-minute winner sealing the title. The win sparked immediate celebrations, with fans and pundits declaring a new era for women’s football.

Yet the euphoria has not translated into lasting structural change. Participation figures for girls’ football in schools and grassroots clubs remain stubbornly low. A 2023 survey by the Football Association found that only 40% of secondary schools in England offer regular football sessions for girls, a figure unchanged since 2019. The promise of increased investment and pathways into the professional game has not materialised at scale.

Why the next generation feels forgotten

For many young players, the gap between aspiration and reality is widening. A 16-year-old academy player from the North West told the BBC: “We’re a forgotten generation. The Lionesses inspired us, but now we’re stuck in a system that doesn’t have enough coaches, pitches, or opportunities.”

Clubs in the Women’s Super League have expanded their academies, but access remains uneven. The top eight WSL clubs now run youth programmes, yet only three have full-time staff dedicated to girls’ development. Travel costs, kit expenses, and the lack of local leagues force many to drop out by age 14. The result is a pipeline that narrows just as it should widen.

Grassroots clubs, meanwhile, are struggling with volunteer burnout and funding cuts. The FA’s own figures show a 12% decline in the number of registered female youth players since 2022, reversing early post-Euro gains. Without sustained investment, the Lionesses’ legacy risks being confined to a single summer.

What comes next—and who must act

The FA has pledged to double the number of qualified female coaches by 2027 and introduce a new national league for under-16s. But targets alone won’t close the gap. Local authorities must prioritise pitch access, and schools need to treat girls’ football as more than an extracurricular afterthought.

Professional clubs, too, bear responsibility. Only five WSL teams currently offer bursaries for players from low-income backgrounds. Expanding these schemes could keep talent in the system. The Premier League’s £5m Girls’ Football School Partnerships programme has reached 1,200 schools, but coverage is patchy outside urban areas.

Most critically, the government’s promised £300m investment in grassroots facilities has yet to materialise. Without it, the Lionesses’ impact will fade faster than the headlines.

Two years ago, England’s players stood on the Wembley pitch, lifting a trophy that felt like the start of something. Today, the next generation is still waiting for the game to catch up with the dream.