‘We want to play for England just like Jess Park’

The next generation of aspiring Lionesses say the current England team is inspiring them to become professional footballers.

Defending champions England will take on Spain in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 final on Sunday, hoping to go one better than two years ago when they lost to the same opponents in the World Cup final.

Young girls at Elloughton Blackburn Football Club in Brough, the former club of current England international Jess Park, said they hoped to follow in her footsteps.

Eight-year-old Scarlett said: “I feel like I could be like her [Jess Park] and I could play for Elloughton but then go into England, too.”

She added: “I think they [the Lionesses] are going to win. I think she [Jess Park] has been really good. I’ve been proud of her.”

Thea, seven, said her role models included Park and Ella Toone.

She said: “I like them because they’re just really kind. I really look up to them and I want to be the next one of them.

“They represent our country and they’re just really good at playing football.

“I think they’re going to do really well and score lots of goals.”

Thea’s mother, Becca, said her daughter “lives and breathes” football.

She said watching the Lionesses showed girls what could be achieved in the sport and that it was not just for boys.

She added: “Representation is important in all areas and the fact that they can see someone special like Jess, who has started here and see what she’s gone on to do, I think that’s amazing.”

Scarlett, seven, said she joined the team because she wants to be a professional football player.

“I feel inspired that Jess has gone from Elloughton Blackburn to the national team,” she said.

“If they win, girls will want to play the game more.”

Elloughton Blackburn’s president, Conleth Campbell, has been at the club for 20 years and saw Park’s progress.

He said she played for the club from the age of seven for four years and it was an “absolutely phenomenal achievement” what she had done.

He said: “We did see the talent back then at such a young age and we’re all extremely proud of her.

“The success of Jess and the success of the Lionesses has promoted girls football in this country.

“We are approaching capacity [at the club].”