England fans pack Trafalgar Square to celebrate with the Lionesses

2022-08-01

Thousands of fans pack out Trafalgar Square to celebrate the Lionesses victory parade – after more than 23.3 MILLION fans tuned in to watch their historic Euros victory at Wembley

Super-sub Chloe Kelly, 24, settled the match beyond doubt in her first ever international goal at Wembley
It had looked as though the final was going to the dreaded penalties before Kelly exploded into action
Lionesses had never doubted themselves and powered to victory on the world stage watched by millions
The result sent the Lionesses into raptures and saw them crash a press conference – singing ‘its coming home’
Kelly said after the match in an interview ‘As a young girl watching women’s football to this – it’s amazing’

Thousands of England fans are in central London to welcome the Lionesses after their historic Euro 2022 win over Germany at Wembley last night.

Around 7,000 supporters are partying at the event hosted Alex Scott in Trafalgar Square, where fans were dancing in the fountains last night after Chloe Kelly’s extra time goal.

Supporters were given free entry on a first-come first-served basis from 11am on Monday, and enjoyed live music from DJ Monki while tournament highlights are shown on screens. The victorious players and their manager, Sarina Wiegman, will be greeted as heroes and take part in a Q&A session before lifting the trophy.

The event has been organised by the Greater London Authority, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Westminster Council, and will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 12.40pm. It is expected to end at 2pm.

England’s pride of heroic – and hungover – Lionesses partied until 4am ahead of a Trafalgar Square victory party with fans today after a record 23.3million watched them win the Euro 2022 final.

The team were congratulated by the Queen and then celebrated the win late into the night – including wild dancing at Wembley, on the team coach and even in the car park outside their hotel – after making history and beating Germany 2-1.

The 87,192-strong attendance in the stadium smashed the record for either a men’s or women’s Euros final and saw the team end more than 50 years of hurt by delivering the nation’s first major football trophy since 1966. In extra time super substitute Miss Kelly fired them into the history books after beating Germany in a tight final that captivated millions and tens of thousands watching in pubs and fan parks across the country.

And MailOnline can reveal the victorious team partied until 4am at the Lensbury Resort – and many emerged bleary-eyed and wearing sunglasses five hours later after as little as two hours sleep.

Many in the country might feel the same with 17.4million watching the match on BBC1 – 5.7million more than the previous record for a women’s match – plus a further 5.9million who watched on BBC iPlayer or via the BBC website yesterday. The match is also the most watched TV show of 2022.

England fans during a fan celebration to commemorate England’s historic UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 triumph in Trafalgar Square

Crowds wait for the victorious team in the shadow of Nelson’s Column this morning

England fans prepare to welcome the Lionesses after their historic win

A young England fan draped in a St George cross flag is all smiles in central London today

The Euro 2022 win will inspire millions of girls to take part in football, experts predict

Trafalgar Square is a sea of St George’s flags today

The Lionesses leave their hotel for the victory party in Trafalgar Square

Leah Williamson and Millie Bright of England lift the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Trophy after their sides victory during the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final

In an image that will live long in the memory, Chloe Kelly swings her shirt over her head after scoring the winning goal and securing the title

Speaking about the party this morning manager Sarina Wiegman said it was ‘crazy’, adding: ‘There was lots of music. Lots of dancing. And English people can really drink. There was a little bit too much alcohol. But that’s ok. We enjoyed it. When you have these accomplishments it’s really good to party’.

Historic (and hungover) England captain Leah Williamson admits: ‘I’m feeling a bit rough this morning’

England captain Leah Williamson received a huge cheers from dozens of fans as she emerged from the team hotel holding the Euro trophy.

Wearing a red bucket hat, Leah struggled to lift the silver trophy above her head. She then told the BBC: ‘Feeling a bit rough this morning’.

Scores of young children, many in England shirts, watched in awe as Leah held the trophy aloft for the assembled media.

The head of Women’s football at the FA Baroness Susan Campbell said many of the players – and manager- were ‘ worse for wear’ and had just two hours sleep following the post match celebrations.

She said: ‘ I think the party went on too long and lasted into the night. It ended about 4am. All the players, their families and friends were there. It was wonderful. It was a wonderful evening that went on far too long.’

Campbell said the victory would prove an inspiration to a generation of young girls

She added: The joy, the happiness and brilliance of the players and absolute brilliance Sarina made it all worth it. She is an exceptional human being’

Her captain Leah Williamson received a huge cheers from dozens of fans as she emerged from the team hotel holding the Euro trophy. Wearing a red bucket hat, Leah struggled to lift the silver trophy above her head. She then told the BBC: ‘I’m feeling a bit rough this morning’.

Matchwinner Chloe Kelly was one of the first players to leave the hotel accompanied by her boyfriend Scott Moore. He wore an England shirt with his girlfriend’s name emblazoned on the back. The couple loaded up their car before returning to the hotel in Teddington, south west London.

Kelly, who tore off her shirt after the winning goal yesterday, said the FA wouldn’t allow her to elaborate on her winning goal and the impact it will have on the nation to end 56 years of hurt by winning the final. She said: ‘I am sorry I can’t say anymore, but I will later.’

The Lionesses had arrived back at their team hotel just before 11pm and had danced with delight on oval garden at the entrance. They headed to a recreation room fitted out with giant bean bags and other home comforts where the party took place.

A hotel guest said : ‘Everyone was clapping and cheering when they came in. I am sure it was one hell of a party. If anyone deserved to celebrate it was the Lionesses’.

Other players, including Millie Bright and Alex Greenwood, emerged from the hotel in the morning prior to a parade in Trafalgar Square. They were accompanied by an FA official and declined to comment. The most energetic was Hannah Hampton who walked down the steps of the hotel dancing.

David Williamson, 52, the proud father of captain Leah, 25, said the atmosphere last night was ‘amazing..the girls were obviously enjoying it, just fantastic really’.

He said: ‘We’re very happy…all the girls just, I think they know that they kind of created history, I guess and I think they enjoyed it last night. ‘It was fantastic. Everyone was very happy.’ Dressed in a white t-shirt which said ‘home’ in red lettering he said he was ‘unbelievably proud of Leah, I mean not just her the girls have just done amazing’.

He said there was ‘a little bit of singing’ as part of the celebrations last night as the girls were ‘just releasing a lot of tension’ following weeks of hard training.

Mr Williamson said he would be having breakfast and then heading to Trafalgar Square to continue the celebrations there.

The team were also enjoying themselves last night, singing Sweet Caroline with the crowd before enjoying a few beers and some dancing in the changing room at Wembley. There were also joyous scenes on the team bus and at the hotel in west London – as well as tears of joy when the players were reunited with their families and partners.

Experts have said the women’s game will now ‘explode’ but there is growing criticism that just 66 per cent of primary schools and 44 per cent of secondary schools offer girls the same access to football as boys in PE lessons. Ian Wright has suggested that England’s policy makers will throw away the legacy of the win if girls don’t get the same chances as boys, warning that MPs and businesses will be ‘jumping on’ the Euro 2022 victory and must be forced to invest in the game.

England’s goal hero Chloe Kelly described the post-match celebrations at the team hotel as an ‘amazing night’ as she left the team hotel today

Many of the England players needed shades this morning after a heavy night partying until 4am

England’s Ella Toone leaving the The Lensbury, Teddington, in her England shirt from the semi-final

Hannah Hampton and Jill Scott leave the hotel this morning after their historic win

England’s Alex Greenwood (centre) leaving the The Lensbury, Teddington

The England Women’s team arrive back at their team hotel as they celebrate their huge win against Germany in the Euro 2022 final and dance in the car park after leaving Wembley

Kelly pokes home in extra time sending millions across the country wild

Two England fanatics kiss the famous three lions on a historic day for English football

England fans are in central London to greet their heroes

Katie Thomas from Dartford during a fan celebration to commemorate England’s historic UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 triumph in Trafalgar Square today

More than 7,000 people are able to enter Trafalgar Square for a victory party with queues forming early this morning

‘My warmest congratulations, and those of my family, go to you all on winning the European Women’s Football Championships.

It is a significant achievement for the entire team, including your support staff.

The Championships and your performance in them have rightly won praise.

However, your success goes far beyond the trophy you have so deservedly earned.

You have all set an example that will be an inspiration for girls and women today, and for future generations.

It is my hope that you will be as proud of the impact you have had on your sport as you are of the result today.’

Alex Scott said today that the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 victory would be a game changer in terms of raising the profile of women’s football.

She told BBC Breakfast: ‘These Lionesses have raised the bar. They have changed the way women’s football is viewed in this country. The train has left the station and it is gathering pace. It will be tragic to take any steps back after what we have witnessed yesterday and through the whole tournament. There must be an opportunity for every single girl to play football if they want to.’

England captain Leah Williamson enjoys a beer and salutes her teammates in the victorious Wembley dressing room last night

Mary Earps dances on the table as players of England interrupt the press conference with Sarina Wiegman singing Three Lions

Prince William embraces Leah Williamson following the Lionesses’ win during the UEFA Women’s Euro England 2022 final

Women splash in a fountain in Trafalgar Square as they celebrate England’s win thanks to Chloe Kelly’s final goal

Spectators at Wembley included the Duke of Cambridge, whose seven-year-old daughter Princess Charlotte had earlier filmed a ‘good luck’ message for the team.

Meanwhile, as many as 15million more were watching around the UK on television – another record for women’s football – including Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his children Wilf, two, and seven-month-old Romy.

The Queen led the praise, telling them in a statement ‘You have all set an example that will be an inspiration for girls and women today, and for future generations’.

The result sent the Lionesses into raptures, with the victorious women storming into Sarina Wiegman’s post-match press conference singing the Baddiel, Skinner and The Lightning Seeds anthem Three Lions.

The celebrations continued in the Wembley changing room as the players were seen dancing and laughing – enjoying their historic achievement.

Yesterday’s final was a tense 90 minutes with flying tackles and yellow cards peppering a highly-energetic match, watched by Prince William in the crowd.

But the introduction of Ella Toone looked to have settled it after she broke to fizz a shot past helpless German keeper Merle Frohms watched by a record 87,192 in the stadium.

But there was heartbreak minutes later as Magull worked her way into position to equalise, devastating England fans across the country.

With only ten minutes left, the game was left balancing on a knife edge with the ultimate prize at stake.

Match winner Chloe Kelly celebrates on the team coach after the Euro 2022 winner

The Euro 2022 on ice with some beers in a picture taken by Georgia Stanway

Goalkeeper Mary Earps captures dancing on the team bus after the big win

Alex Greenwood and Ellie Roebuck kiss their medals

Alessia Russo and Mary Earps show off their new medals

Ellen White with the trophy and her winners medal

Marty Earps enjoyed a dance in the dressing room and also posing biting her gold medal

Leah Williamson dances in the changing room with her teammates

Lauren Hemp poses with the trophy on the Wembley pitch

Alex Greenwood was among the stars sharing celebration snaps on Insta

England captain Leah Williamson hugs a relative in the team hotel after lifting the trophy

Stars on the back seat of the bus on the way back to the team hotel for more partying

Keira Walsh on the team coach leaving Wembley

Ella Toone with the trophy and her winner’s medal

Lauren Hemp and Beth Mead on what they have called the best day of their lives

Ella Toone having a ball after the historic win

The stalemate could not be broken, going into another agonising 30 more minutes of extra time which at first had produced nothing more.

But Kelly was not about to let the game go to penalties and picked the biggest stage in the world to produce her first ever international goal.

She dominated German keeper Frohms to propel England to a 2-1 lead and set the game beyond any doubt.

Yesterday in a statement The Queen said the women would go down in history and be icons of sport.

She said: ‘My warmest congratulations, and those of my family, go to you all on winning the European Women’s Football Championships.

‘It is a significant achievement for the entire team, including your support staff.

‘The Championships and your performance in them have rightly won praise.

‘However, your success goes far beyond the trophy you have so deservedly earned.

‘You have all set an example that will be an inspiration for girls and women today, and for future generations.

‘It is my hope that you will be as proud of the impact you have had on your sport as you are of the result today.’

From left: Ellie Roebuck, Rachel Daly and Beth Mead of England celebrate in the changing room with the Women’s EURO 2022 Trophy

Mary Earps dances on the Press Conference table as players of England interrupt the Press Conference with Sarina Wiegman, the team’s manager, following their win

Mary Earps climbs onto the table as players of England interrupt the Press Conference with Sarina Wiegman

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, embraces Leah Williamson of England after their 2-1 win during the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final match

The Lionesses ‘gatecrashed’ manager Sarina Wiegman’s press conference singing ‘football’s coming home’

The team sang and danced as they surrounded their manager, their joy at winning unreserved

The Lionesses danced around the press conference table, climbing on top in front of cameras as celebrations continued

The England Women’s team arrive back at their team hotel, drinks in hand, after winning the Euros

After toasting their historic win, the Lionesses head back to their hotel following yesterday’s game

Chloe Kelly walks back into the hotel after taking the team to victory, wearing an England cowboy hat and her medal

The team make their way into the hotel, having spent the evening celebrating their historic win

Dancing next to their bus, the Lionesses return to their hotel having been celebrating their win against Germany

The athletes danced around the trophy with drinks in hand as they celebrated the win from inside the changing rooms

The team of women partied in their changing room at Wembley after winning the Euros against Germany

Cheers! Ellie Roebuck raises a can of Heineken as she toasts to the winning game that saw England take home the trophy

Jubilant scenes from inside the changing room show the group celebrating together after defeating Germany on the pitch

Jess Carter and Fran Kirby of England celebrate with the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 trophy in the changing room

Fans celebrate the final whistle by splashing in Trafalgar Square’s fountains in the capital

Bethany England celebrates by lifting the UEFA European Women’s Football Championship trophy

England’s Ellen White lifts the trophy as she celebrates with teammates after winning the Women’s Euro 2022

England’s Chloe Kelly celebrates with fans after winning Women’s Euro 2022 against Germany

England’s Hannah Hampton celebrates after winning Women’s Euro 2022 against Germany

England’s Ella Toone takes a selfie after winning the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final between England and Germany

England’s Leah Williamson and Millie Bright lift the trophy as they celebrate with teammates after winning Euro 2022

Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, centre right, shakes hands with England’s Lucy Bronze during a medal ceremony

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin hand the trophy to England’s Leah Williamson

The Duke of Cambridge congratulates England’s Beth Mead alongside UEFA’s Chief of Women’s football Nadine Kessler

She’s done it! Chloe Kelly, 24, roars with joy as she celebrates third goal which settled the Euro 2022 final against Germany

Rachel Daly of England celebrates following the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final as the Lionesses take home the win

Lauren Hemp of England celebrates the team’s win as she lies down in confetti covering the pitch

England players celebrate on the confetti-scattered grass in Wembley stadium following their Euros win against Germany

England’s players celebrate with the trophy after their win in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final football match

Chloe Kelly of England takes photos with family following the England win last night

Alessia Russo and Ella Toone of England, wearing a bucket hat, celebrate with the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Trophy

An England fan holds a ‘Millie Bright You’re My Idol’ sign in the stands as England celebrate winning

England’s Nikita Parris and teammates celebrate after winning the women’s Euro 2022 tournament at Wembley Stadium

England’s Leah Williamson and Millie Bright lift the trophy as they celebrate with teammates following their win

Leah Williamson of England Women greets match referee Kateryna Monzul after the game

England celebrates following the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final

Ella Toone and Alessia Russo of England celebrate with the trophy during the UEFA Women’s Euro England 2022 final

Ella Toone and Alessia Russo of England celebrate after taking home the trophy

England fans in Boxpark Croydon celebrate after they won the final against Germany

England fans celebrate in the stands after they won the women’s Euro 2022 after being held 1-1 until extra time

Fans celebrate the final whistle in Trafalgar Square, London, after watching the screening of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final held at Wembley Stadium

Hannah Hampton, Alex Greenwood and Lotte Wubben-Moy following the England win

Beth Mead of England celebrates lifting the UEFA European Women’s Football Championship trophy

Top of the world: Chloe Kelly waves her jersey round her head after she scored the crucial winning goal with minutes to spare

England’s Chloe Kelly, top, celebrates with teammates after scoring her side’s second goal

Millie Bright kisses her medal as England’s players celebrate after their win

The Lionesses celebrate their win on the pitch at Wembley Stadium following the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final match between England and Germany

The England team celebrate with the trophy in front of the row of photographers

Pride of Britain: Lioness Chloe Kelly celebrates with teammate Jill Scott after the important their goal in extra time

Pure joy for England as they realise the third goal has catapulted them into the history books against the German team

England head coach Sarina Wiegman celebrates with the trophy following the win

England manager Sarina Wiegman celebrates after winning Women’s Euro 2022 finals after the extraordinary victory

Sarina Wiegman, Manager of England celebrate with Beth Mead after the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final

Fran Kirby of England celebrates with the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Trophy after their side’s victory

Ellen White celebrates after winning Women’s Euro 2022 after yellow cards peppered a highly-energetic match

England’s Ellen White celebrates with the trophy following this evening’s win against Germany

England’s head coach Sarina Wiegman (centre) celebrates with the trophy following the team’s win

Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly of England celebrate following victory

Fans celebrate the final whistle in Trafalgar Square with cheers for England’s Lionesses

The Spice Girls praised the Lionesses for their ‘girl power’ following their historic win against Germany.

Geri Horner and Mel C were at the game last night and posed in England t-shirts for photos celebrating the win.

The 48-year-old and 49-year-old Wannabe hitmakers nailed sports chic in football attire as they watched England’s Lionesses beat Germany.

Melanie flashed a peace sign as she and Geri posed for a selfie, which was posted to Instagram by the Watford-native alongside the caption: ‘At the final! @lionesses !’

The British girl group reshared a photo of the England women’s football squad celebrating on Twitter, writing: ‘Congratulations @Lionesses True GirlPower right there.’

Scoring the final goal of the match, Kelly’s sheer joy saw her rip her jersey off and wave it round her head – and get a yellow card for her trouble.

She said after the match: ‘Oh my God – look at them. It’s amazing! This is unreal!’

Kelly then abandoned the post-match interview to sing Sweet Caroline with her teammates.

When she returned she said: ‘This is what dreams are made of, as a young girl watching women’s football to this – it’s amazing. These girls are special.’

It had been almost the perfect start for England as Fran Kirby found Ellen White but she headed it straight to Frohms in the first few moments of the match.

Later England put Germany under extreme pressure in the 18th minute after a series of corners threatened on goal, with Lucy Bronze’s shot nearly squeezing past Frohms.

The Lionesses had peppered her goal with chances throughout the first half and fans may have been forgiven for wondering how they were not at least 2-0 up.

But Germany were not without their own threat, with one effort prompting a desperate goalmouth scramble to deny them a goal.

Spice Girls Geri Horner and Mel C celebrating at the women’s Euro 2022 final

‘Congratulations @Lionesses True GirlPower right there,’ the Spice Girls wrote on Instagram

Fans erupt into cheers as the game ends and women take the cup, having won the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final

Crowds went wild as the Lionesses scored a second goal during the penalties

Supporters cheer on England’s second goal being shown on the big screen as they watch the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final football match

Fans at Newcastle’s Central Park celebrate England’s win at the end of the match following Chloe Kelly’s victory goal

Spectators roar with joy as the game closes with an England win

Deadlock broken! Ella Toone of England celebrates after scoring their team’s first goal during the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final match

Ella Toone had a near-instant impact as she broke to fizz a shot past helpless German keeper Merle Frohms to score

Harry Kane was at Wembley Stadium to cheer on the England Women and was spotted posing up for a fan for a selfie

Fans in Trafalgar Square scream with joy as Toone’s goal goes in and puts England ahead at last in the huge football match

Supporters react to England’s opening goal being shown on the big screen as they watch the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final football match being played at Wembley Stadium between England and Germany, at the fan zone in Trafalgar Square

An England fan displays a banner in Trafalgar Square after Chloe Kelly scored their second goal

England fans celebrate England’s Ella Toone scoring their first goal as they watch the match at Boxpark Croydon

A crucial save by England’s goalkeeper Mary Earps stops Germany’s defender Marina Hegering’s shot in a period of pressure

Battling first half: Germany’s Sara Dabritz and England’s Georgia Stanway fight for the ball in the Women’s Euro 2022 final

England’s Ellen White in action with Germany’s Lena Oberdo in the early minutes of the game which almost saw an England goal

Dozens of ticketless fans were watching the match on their phones outside Wembley Stadium.

Supporters entering the stadium before 5pm had been largely positive and calm, with very little trouble for police.

However, those without tickets were still in the area after kick-off, opting to watch the match in nearby pubs or on their phones.

Craig Stephens, 58, and his wife Julie, 54, from Twickenham, south-west London, said: ‘We just wanted to be around Wembley while the game was on, it really is historic.

‘We’re really excited and hope England can do well, but we know that Germany has been a dangerous opponent in the past.’

This morning the Lionesses’ two biggest Royal fans had wished them luck and the future king was even there in person to cheer them from the stands.

Nerves at Trafalgar Square as the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final match between England and Germany hits extra time

England fans react while watching the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final match between England and Germany in extra time

It was almost the perfect start for England but the ball went straight to the German keeper who made an easy save

England expects: The Lionesses pose up for their team picture before kick-off the focus etched onto some of their faces

Pride of Britain: The Lionesses belt out the National Anthem moments before kick-off in front of Prince William in the crowd

England fans celebrate England’s Ella Toone scoring their first goal as they watch the match at Boxpark Croydon

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin (L) and Britain’s Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, applaud prior to the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final football match between England and Germany

England fans ahead of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final at Wembley Stadium, London, awaiting the historic match

The Duke of Cambridge posted a video to his official Twitter account this morning in which he and Charlotte shared their support for the Lionesses.

‘We both want to wish the lionesses the best of luck tonight, you’ve done amazingly well in the competition and we’re rooting for you all the way!’ Will exclaimed, before Charlotte chipped in: ‘Good luck, I hope you win. Bye!’

As the game got underway Prime Minister Boris Johnson showed he was tuning in with Romy and Wilfred with a post on Twitter.

Tens of thousands of fans had been seen around Wembley Stadium hours before the women’s Euros final as the nation prepared for the match yesterday.

Supporters turned out in force to cheer on the Lionesses by flying England flags, painting their faces red and white and donning Team shirts to cheer on the players as they prepared to face Germany at 5pm.

Excitement was seen throughout the sea of England shirts and flags, blowing horns and clappers.

Many of those attending live and in pubs and bars and live screens set up across the country were in family groups, made up of young women and girls.

Fans in Trafalgar Square, London, before a screening of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final held at Wembley Stadium, London

A spectacular opening ceremony from Becky Hill set the stage for the Lionesses to make history at Wembley Stadium

Conservative leadership hopeful Rishi Sunak celebrates England’s first goal as he watches the Women’s Euro 2022 Final with fans at the Bishops Mill pub

Prime Minister Boris Johnson showed he was tuning in with his young children Romy and Wilfred with a post on Twitter

England’s striker Ellen White (L) fights for the ball with Germany’s midfielder Lena Oberdorf during the hectic first 30 minutes

England’s Lauren Hemp blazes a trail during the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final at Wembley Stadium, London, this evening

Players of England look on during the warm up prior to the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium on July 31

Fans were seen waiving England flags as they come to cheer on the Lionesses’ at Boxpark Wembley before the match

An England supporter painted with a red cross and wearing a British flag was seen screaming in delight as she arrived for the final of the Women’s Euro 2020 soccer match between England and Germany at Wembley stadium in London

Fans arriving at Wembley Way before the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final before the action kicked off at 5pm

A fan is seen wearing a Lionesses’ mask in support of the England team outside the Wembley Stadium before the match

A family prepare to watch the action at Wembley Stadium while the young girl dressed as a lion holds a sign saying the Lionesses’ are ‘roarsome’ and another a woman stands nearby

Among the crowd was Emma Newman, 21, a student from Whitby, North Yorkshire, who said: ‘It’s a really nice atmosphere, people are just here to see the match and nothing else.

‘It’s right that fans aren’t causing trouble, these women are inspiring and deserve to be supported properly. I just hope they can get the job done.’

The Women’s team qualified for their first Euros final since 2009 on Wednesday night, as they demolished Sweden 4-0 at Bramall Lane.

England, who have never won the tournament, played their first and last final at home in 1984.

Back then, some players’ husbands were unable to join the crowd of 2,500 at Luton Town’s Kenilworth Road ground because they could not afford the transport.

The game only had halves of 35 minutes instead of 45 and a smaller ball than that played with by men was used. #

England fans outside Wembley Stadium have been getting louder ahead of the Euro 2022 final. Groups of young women were chanting ‘It’s coming home’, with fans outside pubs and restaurants joining in.

Young children were also seen leading chants as parents followed close behind. A small scattering of police officers, some on horseback, watched fans in the area ahead of kick-off.

The nearby BoxPark was also packed and noisy, with a performance from pop group from S Club 7. Chelsea Women’s football manager Emma Hayes was urging crowds to chant and cheer louder.

England fans made of girls are pictured outside the stadium before the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final at Wembley Stadium

Fans at Newcastle’s Central Park watching the Women’s England football team The Lionesses in the Euro 2022 Final against Germany. Pictured: Lia Harker aged 20 from County Durham

Wembley Stadium reflected in the sunglasses of an England fan prior to the UEFA Women’s Euro England 2022 final match between England and Germany

Fans along Wembley Park prior to the UEFA Women’s Euro England 2022 final match

England fans are pictured racing with the nation’s flag outside the stadium before the match kicks off at 5pm

Pictured left to right: Anna Benham, Laura Whitfield, Lia Harker and Megan Crystal watching the Women’s England football Euros final at Newcastle’s Central Park

Fans cheer at Boxpark Wembley before the kick off at 5pm when England faces Germany in the Women’s Euro 2022 final

England fans hold up a sign saying ‘bend it like Peckham FC’ as they are pictured inside the stadium before the match

England fans pose for a photo on Wembley Way ahead of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final at Wembley Stadium

England fans Gracie May, 8, and Amelia Lee, 6 pose on Wembley Way before the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final at Wembley

A woman holds a sign saying English professional footballer Beth Mead is ‘on fire’ and saying ‘your defence is terrified’ among several women also holding up England fans before the kick off with Germany

Fans gather for England v Germany in the Women’s Euro 2022 at Boxpark Wembley before the match

England fans hold up a ‘GOAL!’ sign in the stands before the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final at Wembley Stadium, London

An England fan all dressed up before Women’s Euros final at Wembley Stadium in London

England fan Edith, 11, poses on Wembley Way before the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final of England v Germany

A mother and daughter who are attending the final at Wembley together said the England team’s success has ‘helped grow’ women’s football.

Childminder Helen Charlesworth, from Orpington, Kent, said her daughter Darcey, 22, had enjoyed football from the age of eight and started playing with boys as there were no girls’ teams around.

She said: ‘I’m feeling nervous but excited. When we got the tickets last year it was a dream that England would be in the final and now it’s come true.

‘To be at a home tournament is amazing. The team is so strong and there is a real team spirit about them.

‘The fact that the women’s game is growing is amazing. This tournament has definitely helped grow the game and support for it,’ Ms Charlesworth added.

Supporters gather to watch the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final football match being played at Wembley Stadium between England and Germany, at the fan zone in Trafalgar Square

An England fan screams in support prior to the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium

A man holds a little girl on his shoulders as she holds a flag for the England team while also having her face painted at Wembley

England fans outside the stadium before the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final at Wembley Stadium

Up north, locals flocked into Newcastle’s Central fan zone to watch the Women’s England team take on Germany and were pictured in high spirits donning England shirts and flags.

Anna Benham, 30, an administrator from Newcastle said: ‘I’ve watched every single game and I’m excited for the final. It’s really great to see the support and how the country has got behind them.

‘I’ve came into the centre because it’s a fantastic atmosphere and we can all celebrate together when we win.’

Leah Harker, a 20-year-old sports science student from County Durham said: ‘I’m really excited for the game, I’ve been following along the entire tournament. It’s a really great atmosphere.

‘We’re going to bring it home today. It’s great to see women’s football leading the way and that people are getting behind it.

‘It’ll mean a lot to some people if the women can win the Euros after the men couldn’t.’

England fans in the stands holding match items before the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final at Wembley Stadium, London

Ayuma and Liane, right, kiss as they gather in the fan zone in Trafalgar Square to watch on a big screen

England fans in Trafalgar Square, London before a screening of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final held at Wembley Stadium

Fans arrive this morning to the UEFA Womens Euro 2022 Final football match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium, England

Jake Brown, a 24-year-old engineer from Newcastle said: ‘I watch every England game so I’m looking forward to the final.

‘It’ll be a really good result, I refuse to believe in defeat. It doesn’t matter that it’s women’s football to me. It’s football and it’ll still be a good game.

‘We came out last year for the men’s final and it was a great day so today should also be great.’

Charlotte Glass, a 23-year-old stay at home mother from Newcastle said: ‘I can’t wait for the game.

‘We came out to watch it with everyone else as it’s so much better than watching it from home.

‘We did something similar for the men’s Euros last year and it was great. I really hope they win.

‘If they do, more people will get into women’s football which would be great to see. People are already supporting it more after their results this year.’

England’s heroine of the hour: How Chloe Kelly went from the 92 bus and football practice on a gravel pitch in Ealing with her five big brothers to clinching victory for the Lionesses in extra time

By CHRIS WHEELER FOR THE DAILY MAIL and CHAY QUINN FOR MAILONLINE

Chloe Kelly would have found it hard to avoid football growing up. The youngest of seven children embraced the sport from the moment she followed her five brothers to a caged gravel pitch on the Windmill Park Estate.

Kelly was football-mad. As a youngster she even took the 92 bus from Ealing to go to Wembley on FA Cup Final day. Was she there to watch the match? No. She was there to collect a programme.

That yearly pilgrimage helped form the Lioness with the location taking on a whole new meaning yesterday: as she scored the goal at Wembley against Germany to bring England its first piece of footballing silverware since 1966.

‘I don’t think there are many who came up playing in a cage,’ says the 24-year-old. ‘I was always around the cage with the boys as soon as I was allowed, about the age of seven. My brothers included me even though they were older and playing with their friends.

Chloe Kelly, centre, celebrates with Lauren Hemp, left, and Jill Scott after scoring the winner in the Euro 2022 final for England

As a youngster Kelly took the 92 bus from Ealing to go to Wembley on FA Cup Final day to collect a programme

She suffered injury setbacks in the past few years including a serious ACL injury in 2021

Chloe Kelly has five brothers whom she used to with play football in the cages

‘The whole summer we would get out in the cage early mornings, go back for some food and be straight back there. A few years later, someone melted a bin in the middle. It wasn’t the best, but we had to make do with what we had!

‘Playing cage football really made me the player I am. It added a bit more creativity to my game and the physicality as well.’

Were the brothers protective? ‘Definitely not. They were probably the ones telling everyone to hit me harder. Get used to it. If I was on the floor, they would tell me to get up.

‘They never really felt sorry for me if I was getting knocked about. I think that was the way to go. If they made it easy, you would always think everything is going to come easy in life and that’s not the case. That’s how I’ve got so far today.

‘I was one of them. Looking back, I really appreciate that but less so at the time. I was a bit gutted going home and crying to my mum sometimes.’

Kelly grew up playing in Ealing’s football cages with her five brothers which she credits her physicality and creativity to

Kelly will now go down in historic alongside the likes of Geoff Hurst as having scored in international final for England

Kelly says her formative experiences on her west London estate helped improve her game

Kelly watches elder brother Jack and triplets Ryan, Jamie and Martin play local league football when she is back in west London.

‘Jack still says now that he’s better than me,’ says Kelly who has another brother, Daniel, and sister, Paris. ‘He says, ‘I’ve taught you everything you know, but not everything I know’. They don’t let me get too carried away. They always keep me grounded and that’s a great thing.’

After being scouted by QPR at a schools tournament – ‘it was my first real game because I was used to playing in the cages’ – Kelly turned professional with Arsenal. She took the bold decision to move to Everton, initially on loan, in 2016 even though it led to homesickness and regular calls to her mum Jane and dad Noel.

The England striker has revealed she often felt homesick after move to Everton in 2016

Kelly was top scorer in the FA WSL when the season was ended prematurely due to pandemic

‘If I hadn’t gone to Everton, I don’t know if I would be in the position I’m in now at City and pushing on in my career,’ she says. ‘I could have been satisfied with sitting on the bench at a top club but I needed minutes under my belt. I needed to show what I was capable of on the pitch, not just the training pitch. I don’t think a lot of people would make that leap of moving to a city I’d never been to before at such a young age.

‘It was very daunting. Because I was such a family girl, I got homesick and every opportunity I got I would be back, but I knew it was the best for my career.’

Kelly was fourth in the Women’s Super League scoring charts with nine goals for Everton when the season was ended. City, who were top at the time but saw Chelsea crowned champions on a points-per-game basis, signed Kelly in July 2020 and she scored an impressive 10 goals and made 11 assists in her first season in Manchester.

‘Once I found out City were interested in me it was a case of, ‘OK, when can we get it done?’. I can’t wait to get going,’ says Kelly. ‘There are a lot of England internationals here and that was massive for me. If I get another call-up, it’s easier going into that environment by playing with those players day in, day out.

The demons of missing out on England’s 2019 World Cup run have been banished by her heroics in the Euros final

‘I looked at playing with the likes of Steph Houghton and Jill Scott, learning, adding to my game. I’m ambitious and I want to be the best version of myself.’

She only made one appearance in the WSL last season after suffering a heartbreaking ACL injury which jeopardised her ability to compete in this summer’s Euros.

But she roared back and made Sarina Wiegman’s squad for the home tournament.

It was the latest rally back from injury that Kelly had to endure. She made her England debut in November 2018 as a substitute against Austria in a friendly but suffered an ankle injury that required surgery the following February.

It kept her out for six months and out of contention for a place at the 2019 World Cup, where new team-mate Ellen White scored six goals as England reached the semi-finals.

But the demons of missing out on that run have been banished by her heroics in the Euros final yesterday, following up on a spilled ball in the 20th minute of extra time to send England into dreamland.

England’s heroine of the hour: How Chloe Kelly went from the 92 bus and football practice on a gravel pitch in Ealing with her five big brothers to clinching victory for the Lionesses in extra time

Kelly was football-mad. As a youngster she even took the 92 bus from Ealing to go to Wembley on FA Cup Final day. Was she there to watch the match? No. She was there to collect a programme.

Chloe Kelly, centre, celebrates with Lauren Hemp, left, and Jill Scott after scoring the winner in the Euro 2022 final for England

As a youngster Kelly took the 92 bus from Ealing to go to Wembley on FA Cup Final day to collect a programme

She suffered injury setbacks in the past few years including a serious ACL injury in 2021

Chloe Kelly has five brothers whom she used to with play football in the cages

‘Playing cage football really made me the player I am. It added a bit more creativity to my game and the physicality as well.’

Were the brothers protective? ‘Definitely not. They were probably the ones telling everyone to hit me harder. Get used to it. If I was on the floor, they would tell me to get up.

‘I was one of them. Looking back, I really appreciate that but less so at the time. I was a bit gutted going home and crying to my mum sometimes.’

Kelly grew up playing in Ealing’s football cages with her five brothers which she credits her physicality and creativity to

Kelly will now go down in historic alongside the likes of Geoff Hurst as having scored in international final for England

Kelly says her formative experiences on her west London estate helped improve her game

Kelly was top scorer in the FA WSL when the season was ended prematurely due to pandemic

Kelly watches elder brother Jack and triplets Ryan, Jamie and Martin play local league football when she is back in west London.

The England striker has revealed she often felt homesick after move to Everton in 2016

‘It was very daunting. Because I was such a family girl, I got homesick and every opportunity I got I would be back, but I knew it was the best for my career.’

‘I looked at playing with the likes of Steph Houghton and Jill Scott, learning, adding to my game. I’m ambitious and I want to be the best version of myself.’

The demons of missing out on England’s 2019 World Cup run have been banished by her heroics in the Euros final

She only made one appearance in the WSL last season after suffering a heartbreaking ACL injury which jeopardised her ability to compete in this summer’s Euros.

But she roared back and made Sarina Wiegman’s squad for the home tournament.

It kept her out for six months and out of contention for a place at the 2019 World Cup, where new team-mate Ellen White scored six goals as England reached the semi-finals.

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