Something amazing happened on 31st July. Not only did England win their first major football trophy since 1966, but it was the women (not the men) who secured this magnificent victory. And that’s not all. As well as playing in front of a record European Championship crowd of 87,192 at Wembley Stadium, the TV audience of 17.5 million was also a UK record.

As England progressed in the tournament, the momentum grew. More and more viewers tuned in to watch the Lionesses roar. Many were surprised by the talent on display, their skill and stamina both seemingly improved under head coach, Sarina Wiegman.

Having defeated Northern Ireland 5-0 in their opening fixture, England’s women went on to beat Norway (8-0) and Austria (1-0) in their other group matches. Buoyed by the nation’s support, they then beat Spain in the quarter-final (2-1 after extra time) before overpowering Sweden, one of the tournament favourites, 4-0 in the semi-final.

In the space of a few days, Beth Mead, Ellen White and Lauren Hemp became household names, up there with the likes of Harry Kane and Raheem Stirling. New supporters of the women’s game were impressed with the grit and determination on display as well as the discipline and respect shown by the players, things that are often lacking in the men’s game.

There’s no doubt this was the start of something very special for women’s football, not just in the UK but the world over. 17.9 million viewers also watched the final in Germany, where they saw their team defeated 2-1.

England took the lead after 62 minutes, courtesy of substitute Ella Toone. Germany then equalised 15 minutes later forcing the match into extra time. It was Chloe Kelly, also a second-half substitute, who scored the winning goal in the 110th minute and whose iconic celebration has empowered women all over the world.

The Manchester City striker had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury (one of the most serious injuries an athlete can sustain) in May 2021. Such an injury takes at least 12 months to recover from and Kelly was in a race against the clock to be fit in time for the European Championships.

Her journey back from injury and subsequent tournament-winning goal have proved inspirational and ensured she will always be known as an England footballing legend.

Thanks to their historical win, the Lionesses have put women’s football well and truly on the map. Tickets for their next match, an international friendly against the United States on 7th October, sold out within 24 hours. There has also been a huge surge in ticket sales for the Women’s Super League. Season tickets for Chelsea have already sold out and Manchester City have reported a record number of season ticket sales.

Of course, this will attract more broadcasting deals, bigger sponsorships and, ultimately, an even larger audience. It is also hoped (and expected) that more schools will allow girls to play football. In fact, the Lionesses have appealed to the Department for Education to change the rules after their inspirational Euros win. Currently, just 44% of secondary schools in the UK provide equal football lessons for both boys and girls.

But it’s not just women’s football that will benefit from England’s splendid victory. Women’s sport as a whole is set to grow significantly with an increasing number of girls taking up their chosen sport and believing they can progress to international level, thanks largely to the Lionesses legacy.

Something amazing happened on 31st July and it will change women’s sport forever.