ROARING TOWARDS A BRIGHT FUTURE!

Bromley lead support of Lionesses

By Matt Badcock

GIRL POWER: Alessia Russo is congratulated after scoring her fine goal for England against Sweden

PICTURE: Alamy

THE Non-League family will be cheering on England this afternoon as they take on Germany in the Euro 2022 final at Wembley – and National League Bromley hope the Lionesses continue to ignite interest in the women’s game.

Including the youth section and academy, the Ravens have around 200 women and girls playing each week.

From 4-11 year olds in Wildcats, to 12-16 year olds in The Squad, along with development sessions, girls only technical sessions, and a women’s first team, they also have Bromley Belles, who are a fun recreational side that has grown from 12 participants to 50.

They also run Football for Absolute Beginners – football’s version of a Couch to 5K – with 35 signed up for the four-week course and, six months ago, employed Andrea Ellis as a full-time women and girls’ development officer.

Progress

And there is a determination among the whole women’s game to build on the the success and visibility brought by England’s run to the final on home soil.

“I hope it has given people the taste and changed attitudes towards women playing football,” Ellis told The NLP. “I’ve been to all the England matches, bar the semi-final, and as the tournament has gone on people have jumped on board – that’s how football fans start.

“But I feel like it has grown from not just talking about the women’s team but about supporting England.

“You’ve got to see it to be it. Now we know young girls are seeing it. There are men wearing shirts with women’s names on the back – [Leah] Williamson on the back, or [Millie] Bright. That fills my heart with joy, it’s amazing.

“I just think the tournament has fast-forwarded the progress. People have been working in the grassroots scenes for years driving the girls and women’s game.

“I’ve been at a summit this week and we talked about the work starting on August 1. Because we have to ride this wave. That’s the view we’ve been taking at Bromley, where we’ve put all these provisions in place now. Our youngest participant is four.

The oldest, who plays for the Belles, is 60.

Domino effect

“We’ve got both a competitive element from the youth teams, the academy and the women’s team now, who have had three successive promotions. But, also, we know girls and women drop out of that and various points so we need to be there to provide a recreational provision, which we’ve got. Hopefully people look at Bromley and can see we’ve got something for everyone, whatever your age or previous experience in football.

“Hopefully the Euros has ignited something there. I’d like to think people will be actively seeking to get on the pitch. That has a knockon effect – more women get involved, become coaches, more teams. It has a massive domino effect on the whole game.”

Today, Bromley have a Women and Girls’ Celebration Day with challenges and activities from 12pm, a Bromley Ladies friendly at 2pm before screening the final in their new Broomfields bar at 5pm.

“The club’s support has been amazing,” Ellis said.

“It’s part of their vision.

“We’re all striving for the same thing. To give access to women and girls but it’s a really important part of the progress the club is making.

“It’s not about getting bums on seats. It’s the ethos – we’re a community club and that’s what is so important.”