The Lionesses are welcomed home with a special surprise

The Lionesses are welcomed home with a special surprise as girls team spell out ‘PROUD’ using 1,000 footballs, while England legend Ellen White insists they have ‘inspired millions of women and girls’

  • England enjoyed a memorable run to the World Cup final, before they narrowly lost 1-0 to Spain on Sunday
  • The Lionesses will be welcomed home with a special surprise courtesy of one team based in west London
  • WATCH: ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ – Episode 2 – Mail Sport’s brand new football show 

England’s Lionesses are set to receive a heroes welcome when they return to the UK on Tuesday morning.

Sarina Wiegman’s side captured the hearts of the nation during their memorable run at the World Cup, before they heartbreakingly lost 1-0 to Spain in Sunday’s final. 

They flew out of Australia on Monday and are set to be greeted by a heartwarming show of support ahead of landing at Heathrow Airport at around 6:35AM.

Girls from Actonians Ladies’ FC – one of hundreds of grassroots football clubs in the UK to have benefitted from The National Lottery funding – staged a heart-warming message of thanks to their heroes, using around 1,000 footballs spelling out ‘PROUD!’.

The club, based in Chiswick, London, is in the flight path of Heathrow and has more than 250 women and girls training and playing after experiencing soaring levels of interest in the sport ever since the Lionesses won Euro 2022 last summer. 

In the flight path of Heathrow Airport, National Lottery funded club Actonians Ladies’ FC welcomes the Lionesses home with PRIDE

Actonians Ladies’ are one of hundreds of grassroots football clubs to have benefitted from The National Lottery funding

The Lionesses captured the hearts and minds of the nation during their memorable run to the World Cup final in recent weeks 

The welcome home message is a deserved reward for an inspirational group of England stars who continue to break down barriers in the sport and Lionesses legend Ellen White – who was part of the Euros winning side – heaped praise on their performance this summer, while she also highlighted the importance of National Lottery funding.

She said: ‘Like Actonians LFC, I am incredibly proud of what the Lionesses have achieved. They played exceptionally throughout the tournament, and despite the result their legacy will be inspiring millions of women and girls to fall in love with football.

‘We’re at the start of a golden era for the female game, made possible by National Lottery players who have pledged a further £15 million over the next four years to get more women and girls into football. This has created an environment for success, and a strong foundation for a bright future at every level of the game.’

Lionesses legend Ellen White was part of the Euro 2022 winning side and also outlined her pride at England’s achievements

National Lottery players raise more than £30million a week for good causes including vital funding into sport – from grassroots to elite. Find out how your numbers make amazing happen at: www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk 

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