England World Cup Lionesses Dad's Army 'on the beer for weeks' as they back team

20 August 2023 , 06:16

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Midfielder Ella Toone and dad Nick (Image: Ella Toone Instagram)

The Lionesses will be cheered on by a ‘Dad’s Army’ as they take on Spain in the World Cup final today.

Midfielder Georgia Stanway told how her loyal father Paul had been “on the beer for six weeks” as he enjoys England’s historic run to the final. He has been celebrating in the stands with Mario Russo, dad of striker Alessia, and Noel Kelly, father of Euro 2022 hero Chloe, whose rocket shot sealed the penalty shootout win over Nigeria.

Also in the stands are captain Millie Bright ’s dad Steven and full-back Lucy Bronze’s Portuguese-born father Joaquim, along with Nick Toone and Chris Carter, cheering on their daughters Ella and Jess. The dads are just part of a huge contingent of family members who sit behind the England dugout at every game and have visited the Lionesses at their HQ in Terrigal, New South Wales.

The ‘family vibe’ has been one of the secrets of manager Sarina Wiegman ’s success at the tournament. Georgia, 24, of Barrow, Cumbria, joked that her stepmum Linzi has been dressed ‘head to toe’ in England kit – even though she is Scottish.

England’s Keira Walsh with mum and dad Tracy and Peter

Georgia’s brother John Paul, 28, dad Paul, 57, step mum Linzi, 49, and mum Joanne have taken her out in Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide. The star told how the trips had taken her mind off football as she helped the Lionesses to a 3-1 win over hosts Australia on Wednesday.

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She said: “A lot of us have played together for years since we were in junior teams. My family has known the Russos since then and also the Kellys because we have played at under-17 and under-20 World Cups and they have always been on the road together. I think they have a good connection – they love getting together and being on the beers for the past six weeks. They will be ready to go back to England to have a detox.”

Mario Russo (in white at rear) with daughter Alessia Russo (giorgiorusso__/Instagram)

She added: “My family absolutely love it – I have eight to 10 of them out here, they love the country and love football. My step mum is actually Scottish and she is dressed head to toe in England kit for the games. They will do absolutely anything to support us, my mum has never missed a game. They come together in tournaments and they come together when football matters and they will always find that respect for each other.

“I think it is very special that I have an extended family; you look up in the ground and there are four on one side and four on the other, they are all together and I am so lucky to have them.” Georgia’s brothers, John Paul and Sol, joined Alessia Russo ’s brothers, Giorgio and Luca for drinks with Ella Toone’s boyfriend, Joe Bunney, in Adelaide, after England beat China 6-1 in their group game.

The Stanway clan, including Georgia and dad Paul (at rear in white)

Meanwhile, Millie Bright’s sisters Amy, 32, and Victoria, 35, are in Australia with Victoria’s children Vinnie, eight, and Harvey, six. Her mum, Nicola, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, said: “Millie turns 30 the day after the final and Amy celebrates her birthday the day after that. It is going to be quite a week.”

Lucy Bronze’s mum Diane, from Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, has covered thousands of miles with Joaquim, Lucy’s brother Jorge, 33, his wife Charis, and his children Freddy, three, and Zizi, two. She said she gets so nervous during tense moments of the Lionesses’ games that can only bear to watch them on TV afterwards.

Lucy Bronze with family including dad Joaquim

Stalybridge Celtic player Joe shared a sweet snap of himself hugging and kissing Ella on the pitch after the semi-final captioned “Proud doesn’t even come close... love you”. Midfielder Laura Coombs, from Gravesend, Kent, has posed with her proud parents, while substitute goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, from Birmingham, thanked her mum and dad for their support: “From driving me around countries for training and matches to a World Cup final.”

And midfielder Keira Walsh thanked her parents, Tracy and Peter, from Rochdale, saying: “Couldn’t have done it without these two”. The families will be joined by thousands of England fans at Stadium Australia in Sydney, with millions more cheering on from home. Tesco expects Pimm’s to quadruple in sales, while lager sales are up 35%.

Chief executive Jason Tarry said: “We are expecting BBQ favourites to fly off the shelves this warm weekend.” Aldi is expecting to sell more than one million packets of crisps and 250,000 cans of beer. And almost 3million people are set to head to pubs and bars for the 11am kick-off.

Jeremy Armstrong