This was a tale of resolve and courage and conviction with the team depleted by injuries recovering through collective will The pale sun hits the river and smashes into diamonds. Some fans soaking up watery rays on the grass bank in front of the Volkswagen factory. It’s a nothing and everything kind of day in Germany’s 64th biggest city: bit breezy, bit warm, bit cold, bit sunny now, maybe a bit wet later. The noise in the stadium is pleasant, bordering civil. Moral of the story: the elements aren’t going to help you out here. Nor is the crowd. All the fire and sulphur you need to fortify you for this game, you’re going to have to provide yourself.This is...
Emma Hayes’s side remain in the tie following a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of the Women’s Champions League semi-finalA defeat to Barcelona once more in the Champions League will, in the immediate aftermath, feel like a blow for Chelsea and their fans. However, a gritty performance and 1-0 loss at the hands of the team so many consider the best in Europe should fill Chelsea with plenty of encouragement for the second leg at Camp Nou on Thursday.It is well known that this is the one title Emma Hayes and her team desperately desire, the final missing piece in their trophy cabinet. They have come close, losing 4-0 to Barcelona in the 2021 final, and the heartbreak of...
Beyond Borders’ Inspiring a Generation? report hopes to help more young people form a connection with England’s playersI’ll be honest. I don’t think the Lionesses matter that much to my friends. I’m not sure that women’s football matters that much to them, either.Most of my friends are people I’ve known since school. A lot are boys. We are all from London. We are all tapped into the cultural mix of music, motives, fashion and food that makes our city one of the coolest places to live in the world. Continue reading...
London-based Bloomsbury Football are teaching their girls about menstruation with an Olympic swimmer’s help Period health is something I never thought about while growing up. I knew the basics and had check-ups regularly, but instead of learning how to live with it, it was always a matter of mitigating side-effects. When I was 15, a doctor asked why I was still menstruating and prescribed birth control to take continuously to stop it, but I chose not to use it. However, as time went by, I decided to “solve” that problem. It’s been nearly 15 years since I had a period without any influence from pills or a hormonal IUD.Nowadays information is more available than ever. We have apps to track...
Emma Hayes said she needed to ‘build her to last’ despite a record fee – now club and country are reaping the rewardsNot since Kelly Smith have I been as excited by a player as I am by Lauren James in the women’s game. The England and Chelsea striker has the potential to be one of the best in the world.James is only 21 but she has shown her raw attributes for a number of years and has constantly improved to become one of the most exciting players in the Women’s Super League. Continue reading...