Despite losing, the Lionesses have made a patriot of me

Despite covering the Royal Family, Team GB at the Olympics and reviewing most of the iconic sites that our country has to offer as part of my job as a journalist, I have never been a hugely patriotic person. 

Even the King’s coronation, which I watched largely because we were invited to a friend’s celebratory party, didn’t instil great fervour. 

It was just not something that I felt greatly, until now.

For there is something about the Lionesses journey, work ethic, togetherness and success that has brought out a side of me that I never thought would kick in. 

Despite their loss today, they have made me proud to be English.

Patriotic is certainly not a term that I ever dreamed I would use in relation to football!  

As a mother of three die-hard Spurs fans and a husband who has watched every match on TV throughout our 25-year marriage and still disappears twice weekly to play, I’ve despised the sport. 

I’d go so far as to say it has ruined so much of my possible enjoyment of family life; Sky Sports is almost permanently on a television in the background, our family WhatsApp chat is full of Fantasy Football league and transfer discussions, and the weekly cycle of dirty football boots and kits drive me to despair.  

If that wasn’t bad enough, I’m constantly silenced by my four men should I dare to speak during their regular Sunday afternoon football date on the sofa.

Yet, for the past month, there has been a new addition to the dog-teared and beer-stained couch, and that has been me! 

Glued to every match the Lionesses have played over the past month, I have watched in awe, roared with joy and screamed in excitement at the games – and so have my three sons. 

A sight I never imagined I’d see, yet one that has made me feel extremely jubilant.

While I still have no clue about the off-side rule, I have been feeling a growing surge of happiness – one that has been a long time coming – that these incredible footballers are continuing to score real change. Not only on the pitch, but off it too!

There are so many reasons that getting behind this team of women is so important to me. Women are still significantly under-represented in the top roles in the world of business, yet, of course, when it comes to sport – it goes even deeper. 

Throughout my life football has always been seen as a man’s sport. While there were signs that things were starting to shift, the Lionesses victory at Euro 2022 was a game-changer, altering the perception and popularity of women’s football in the country.  

By getting to the finals this time, even though they did lose, they have only solidified women’s place on the field. 

When I had an opportunity last year to interview England forward Beth Mead – top scorer at Euro 22 and worthy recipient of a lengthy list of accolades – she told me it had always been her dream for the game to attract more and more people. 

‘Our goal is to inspire young girls to grow up and realise they can follow their dreams,’ she said. 

And that is another reason why I have become so passionate about supporting the Lionesses – they have proven to be the best of role models, changed perceptions about women’s football and encouraged many young girls to take up the sport. 

And it is no surprise to hear grassroots teams say the Lionesses’ success is continuing to inspire the next generation of women’s footballers.

To me, the word patriotic means having a deep connection with my country; being proud of it. 

And that is exactly how I have felt watching this England team play. 

The respect I have for Sarina Wiegman, being able to keep her team focused even when playing the host nation to boos. 

Hemp’s 71st minute goal in the match against Australia took my breath away. I could feel the weight being Kelly’s penalty shot against Nigeria.

Mary Earps saving Hermoso’s penalty with a potty-mouthed reaction to boot. Alex Greenwood continuing to play, even after she was left bleeding.

Football might not be coming home, but it’s caught up to the Lionesses’ brilliance.

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