Carlisle celebrates Lionesses European Championship win
The England women's team won 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out against Spain in the European Championships final, retaining their title.
The Lionesses were cheered on by more than 12 million people, including supporters watching on from Carlisle United's fan zone. One young girl said: "This is the best night of my life, and no one can defeat this night."
Another young girl added: "I'm really proud of them because they tried their best and they won."
An inspired fan told ITV Border: "It means so much, it's really special because we've won it two times in a row now, we really believe in these girls."
Peter Johnston manages the Carlisle United fan zone, he said: "What a fantastic evening, what a result, what a great celebration of football."
One man said: "It was a tough game, we had to be patient and we had to wait for our chances to come. We had to defend really, so long as you defend well you can get chances at the end."
Research carried out recently by the Football Beyond Borders programme found that many more young girls watched this year's tournament compared to 2022.
More than 40% of those surveyed say they have an emotional connection to the team, boosted by the squad's diversity.
Girls' youth football coach Nataly Mason believes the Lionesses' support has come a long way, she added: "But there's still a long way to go. Hopefully in a few years, there will be a lot more for the women's game."
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