27 July 2023 , 15:35
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Trailblazing members of the first-ever England women’s football team hailed the game’s transformation half a century on from their inaugural international.
Janet Clark and Maggie Pearce were both part of England’s side that took on Scotland in Greenock on 18 November 1972 after the FA's ban on women's football was lifted, with the Lionesses overturning a 2-0 half-time deficit to run out 3-2 victors.
Both were in attendance at BOXPARK Wembley to watch England open their 2023 Women’s World Cup campaign with a nervy 1-0 victory over Haiti, as they bid to add a world title to the European Championships, they won last summer.
And the duo are now backing Sarina Wiegman's side to go all the way Down Under and grab a maiden World Cup title over 50 years on from their own history-making exploits.
Over 40,000 watched England's Group D opener in Brisbane on Saturday, a stark comparison to the smattering of attendees in 1972, and Clark praised the way investment from the likes of The National Lottery has transformed the women’s game.
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“I can remember our first game as if it was yesterday, the pitch was absolutely freezing, stood there for the national anthem feeling really tearful, it was amazing representing your country,” reflected Clark, who still works part-time as a postie.
“We won, were 2-0 down at half-time, got a bit of a roasting off Eric Worthington and came out and won 3-2.
“We had probably 300 watching us back in 1972 and that was a good turnout. What they are playing in front of now is absolutely amazing.
“It has changed immensely. That is thanks to the National Lottery putting £50 million into it in the last 10 years.
Georgia Stanway of England retakes the penalty to score her team's first goal between England and Haiti at Brisbane Stadium on July 22, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Maggie Pearce (far left) and Janet Clark (far right) alongside other trailblazing Lionesses (2022 Getty Images)“It really is tremendous for the youngsters now; the opportunities are there for all these kids now and if they are good enough, they will get picked up and follow the pathway.
“It would have been superb to have those facilities, but we didn’t, we all paid our own transport, turned up for training one day before the international, parents getting us down to London for training. We had no financial backing whatsoever but now it is fantastic what these young kids have got. It is amazing.”
After watching England's 1-0 win on Saturday, Clark added: “I thought we set off very well, I was a bit panicky after a while but at the end of the day, we got the result. If you think back to the Euros, it’s the same thing that happened at the Euros. Hopefully we are going to go forward now.
“The win is the most important thing, whether it’s 1-0 or 10-0 it doesn’t matter, we won. They will settle down and hopefully bring the cup home. I am really hopeful.”
The National Lottery and its players have transformed women & girls’ football in the UK, investing more than £50million over the last 10 years. This money has gone into facilities and clubs at community level to create more opportunities for women and girls all over the UK to play football, as well helping to develop the elite pathway.
National Lottery funding has also enabled nearly 200 new clubs/teams to be set-up across the country in the last year following the Euros win. And it is this investment in grassroots that Maggie Pearce, who was just 15 when she made her international debut in 1972, believes is the key for bringing through new generations of Lionesses.
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She added: “It is the grassroots football you have got to get down you. You find sometimes they forget about that because they look at the top players, but the Lionesses of today want to see the next generation come through.
“They need the financial backing and The National Lottery have been doing that for them. The facilities that they have got now to what we had, it is game changing and is thanks to The National Lottery money.
“Hopefully they will have a great run in the World Cup, even come home with it and that will set off more people to get involved with women’s football.”
National Lottery players have transformed women and girls’ football in the UK, with more than £50 million invested in the last 10 years alone. Find out how your numbers make amazing happen at: www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk #MakeAmazingHappen #ThanksToYou