Wubben-Moy's "full-circle moment" of pride on school sport

BBC News

a day ago

Lotte Wubben-Moy embraces the power of her voice. The England defender has long used her platform to advocate for positive change. Some of her biggest wins have come away from the pitch."This role, as a Lioness, as an Arsenal football player, comes with a responsibility and I'm willing to take that responsibility and bring people on board with me," she said."There's so much power and unity within a group of women, and when we do it all together, I think there's no stopping us."Wubben-Moy was speaking to BBC Sport after the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visited the squad ahead of the defence of their European title in Switzerland and announced new measures to improve equal access to school sport.It's a cause close to Wubben-Moy's heart.Hours after winning Euro 2022, she spearheaded an ultimately successful campaign in which the Lionesses' squad wrote an open letter to the then government demanding equal access to school football for girls.Successive governments have now turned her words into action.After Wubben-Moy discussed the issue with Sir Keir she reflected on a "full circle moment"."It's not just about building or laying the foundations for future Lionesses to come through. It's about looking at sport and the power of football as a way to build positive physical or mental well-being" she said."The amount of lessons that I learned as a young girl having to communicate, raising my self-esteem - all soft skills that you don't pick up necessarily in the class from doing maths or English, you actually pick up feeling confident in your body."The government announced a new school sport partnership between schools, local clubs and governing bodies which they said would ensure that "all young people have equal access to high-quality sport and extracurricular activity."Girls will be given the same opportunity as boys to play sport at school, as well as equal access to those with special needs and disabilities, the government said.Wubben-Moy said: "The policy that's being implemented will ensure that every girl and boy can go to school and move - minimum two hours - play football, play whatever sport they want.""Equality is important and that allows young girls, young boys to live their lives starting off as confident young people."A Champions League winner with Arsenal, Wubben-Moy will be hoping to make her mark in a major tournament for England this summer. The 26-year-old was an unused member of the Euro 2022 and 2023 World Cup squads. She's seen first-hand how England has evolved."We've got a target on our back now as Euro winners," she said. " And I think that has allowed us to own it, be confident. "I think looking at the task ahead, every team is going to gunning against us. But likewise, are we going to gunning against every other team and I think with that comes a possibility for some of the best football you have ever seen at a Euros."It's some statement, but then Wubben-Moy is used to making those. On and off the pitch.
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