Original Lioness Joins KIND Snacks To Deliver Messages To England Team

Forbes

a day ago

EDITORIAL USE ONLY Pictured: Janet Clark KIND Lioness Letters Wembley Stadium. Issue date: XXX. PA ... More Photo. Photo credit should read: Ed Hill/PA Media Assignments
Janet Bagguley, a member of the first-ever England Women's team who now works as a postwoman, is collecting and delivering messages of support to the current Lionesses.
As part of an initiative by KIND Snacks - a partner of the England teams - Bagguley will encourage supporters of the current European champions, England, to write words of encouragement to the squad. These so-called 'Lioness Letters' will be collected by Bagguley who is touring the country with a special postbox and then be delivered to the players at their base camp in Zürich ahead of their first game at UEFA Women's Euro 2025.
Bagguley, née Clark, was a member of the first England Women's team to play in an official international against Scotland in 1972. She was handed the legacy number of being the fourth woman to play for the Lionesses. Then aged 16 and working as an office girl in a purchasing department, Bagguley had run out of holiday to take but was helped out by her benevolent manager. He clocked her in and out of work for three successive days when she went to Scotland. Bagguley was still paid by her employer in spite of never showing up for her job.
The England women's national football team pose before England Women's Football Team sports bags and ... More a Mitre Multiplex football, alongside their British manager, and former footballer, Eric Worthington (1925-2006), for a team portrait at Wembley Stadium in London, England, 15th November 1972. The team (British footballer Lynda Hale (back left), British footballer Morag Kirkland, British footballer Julia Manning, British footballer Paddy McGroarty (back, fourth left), British footballer Wendy Owen, British footballer Sheila Parker (back, fourth right), British footballer Jean Wilson, British footballer Sue Whyatt (back, second right) British footballer Jeannie Allott (front, left), British footballer Janet Bagguley, British footballer Sue Buckett (front, third left), British footballer Pat Davies, British footballer Eileen Foreman, British footballer Sylvia Gore (1944-2016), British footballer Sandra Graham) are training ahead of the UK's first official women's football international against Scotland at the Ravenscraig Stadium, Greenock, on 18th November, won 3-2 by England. (Photo by Keystone/)
A no-nonsense midfielder playing for Macclesfield Ladies, Bagguley earned herself a reputation as the female Nobby Stiles, a member of the 1966 World Cup-winning England team. In those days, female players needed to be just as tough and uncomprising off the pitch. 'We didn't get a lot of support, not really," she told me. "It was hard work for us. We got no expenses paid. I've got three brothers and it was hard for my mum and dad to find travelling expenses for me to get to matches. They were always in London as a rule, the training. It was hard times.'
In 2022, shortly after England won the UEFA Women's Euro, Bagguley and the rest of the original Lionesses were invited to the current team's hotel to meet the European champions. Bagguley told me 'they applauded us onto the pitch when Sarina Wiegman asked us to come and meet them. We were all looking around and saying, 'what are they clapping for?' They said it was for us because without you, we wouldn't be where we are today, which I thought was lovely.'
TEDDINGTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 04: Players of England pose for a team picture alongside former ... More players during an England Women Training Session at The Lensbury on October 04, 2022 in Teddington, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
"When you see now what's been achieved and what facilties the Lionesses have got now, it's absolutely fantastic. It really is out of this world.' Bagguley has been working for Royal Mail for the past 16 years, something she shared with the current crop of Lionesses that day. 'They couldn't believe I was still working and walking 12 miles a day. They thought that was fantastic.'
Her role as a postwoman makes Bagguley the perfect person to now be delivering letters from fans to the England players. Royal Mail offered her paid leave to partcipate in the initiative by KIND Snacks. Bagguley will be joined by one of her former team-mates at Macclesfield Ladies, Sue Whyatt, who was also a reserve for that first England match. Whyatt eventually became the 17th woman to play for the Lionesses.
Bagguley admitted that 'I've not written my own personal letter yet, I will do. I'm going to wish them, obviously, all the very best. Enjoy themselves, because at the end of the day, it's all about the enjoyment and bring that trophy home once again like they did three years ago.'
Among those who have posted their message to the Lionesses are members of the England men's team. Reece James' sister Lauren is travelling to Switzerland as part of the England Women's team. He wrote "Good luck. I'm wishing you the best and I hope you bring it home again!'
Noni Madueke, Dean Gordon and Conor Gallagher display their "Lioness Letters"
Winger Noni Madueke said "Be yourselves and you'll be just fine. All the best, we're rooting for you!!' Midfielder Conor Gallagher added "Lionesses, you've made the country proud a number of times already, so keep doing what you've always been doing. We are all behind you! Enjoy every moment.'
A bespoke KIND van will travel the country collecting the messages, stopping at local women's clubs and the National Football Museum in Manchester on June 27 and The BOXPARK in Shoreditch on June 30. For those not able to get to the van in person, fans can also submit their message online on Instagram and TikTok.
'Kindness is part of our DNA,' said Audrey Arbeeny, UK Marketing Lead for KIND Snacks, "which is why Lioness Letters is something close to our hearts at KIND. To be able to get physical messages of support from the nation into the hands of the Lionesses is something very special – and we're honored to make that happen with trailblazers of the women's game like Janet and Sue too, literally passing down these heartfelt messages from one Lioness generation to another. Now, it's down to us to get as many letters as possible to the team ahead of July 5 – we can't wait to get started.'
Bagguley added that "these letters are more than words; they are a powerful show of unity from the country for the team, and I feel privileged to play a part in that with Lioness Letters.'