England Lioness Nikita Parris impressed by growth of women's football as Women's Euros gathers pace
Parris attend one of the first Big Football Day Powered by the National Lottery that saw over 100 women and girls take part in football activations in Newham.
Parris was joined by fellow Lioness Fara Williams at Central Park in Newham
(Image: 2025 Getty Images )
ENGLAND international Nikita Parris continues to be impressed by the growth of women's football and now the striker is predicting further explosion following the exposure and excitement of the UEFA European Women's Championships.
The Brighton & Hove Albion striker attended the Big Football Day this weekend in London – a grassroots football celebration delivered across England by The FA and supported by The National Lottery. The National Lottery have invested £6 billion into grassroots sport over the last 30 years – changing the game for women's and girls' football. The event is to celebrate EURO 2025 this summer and to increase female participation, with clubs being asked to open their doors to host a Big Football Day during the month of July. The day will bring the community together and people can pop down to their local clubs to get involved in female taster sessions for all ages, match screenings, fun football festivities and more.
It is vastly different from Parris' introduction to the game that saw her form her own girls' team as opportunities did not exist at the time.
'There weren't many opportunities like this, and I started my own girls' team for Kingsley United when I could no longer play with the boys,' the 31-year-old said. 'At that time when you were 11-plus, you could not play with boys, so I had to create my own with family, friends and whoever walked past the park with a dog, parent, I took them in.
'It is so nice to see so many girls' teams playing here. It is so different, it is lovely to see so many young people playing and they are all girls' teams. When I was younger it was mixed or lads I played with.
Nikita Parris missed out on the Euros squad having been part of the team that triumphed in 2022.
(Image: 2025 Getty Images )
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'It is so nice that there are initiatives happening all round the country and young girls playing, one of these could be a Euros star in the future.'
Parris missed out on selection for England's Euros squad having been a part of the triumphant team in 2022. And while she said there would always be mixed emotions for the Liverpool native, Parris is hoping they keep a hold of the trophy.
The 2022 victory saw the number of women and girls participating in football skyrocket, with the numbers more than doubling. The day began at AFC Leyton – one of the UK's biggest and most successful independent women's football clubs.
AFC Leyton has built everything from scratch, becoming a shining example of grassroots success and a proven talent pipeline, with players progressing to the likes of West Ham, Chelsea, Spurs and London City Lionesses. The afternoon continued at Central Park in Newham for a festival-style Big Football Day event, hosted by The FA and supported by The National Lottery.
Over 100 girls took part in a mix of taster sessions, recreational football, walking football and community fun – culminating in a live screening of England's match at 8pm, surrounded by DJs, activations, food, and more. And Parris hopes the same excitement, explosion of interest and growth will happen again for women's football in the UK, no matter the result for the Lionesses.
She added: 'To continue the legacy of growing women's football, women's sport across the country and across the world. We want the game to continue to grow at all different levels. We want parity in the game, that ultimately comes from time, resources, and support.'
Big Football Day is a grassroots football celebration delivered across England by The FA and supported by The National Lottery. Whether you're playing for fun, for fitness or for friendship, football is a place where girls can grow in confidence, feel part of a team and realise they're Made for This Game.
With the continued support of The National Lottery, The FA is working to ensure football is truly for all, with over £6 billion invested in grassroots sport across the UK over 30+ years – changing the game for women and girls' football. And the FA's National Development Manager for Women's and Girls' Pathways, Alice Kemspki said; 'Big Football Day is one of our key activations across the women's and girls' game to try and use the major tournament and harness the moment to drive participation locally and in the grassroots game.
'We have 200 plus clubs across the country opening their door to women and girls' doing a Big Football Day powered by the National Lottery in their own areas.'
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The FA's Big Football Day, powered by The National Lottery, will run throughout the Euros events to encourage more women & girls to get into football. Thanks to over £6 billion invested into grassroots sport by National Lottery players, the game is growing stronger from the ground up. For more info visit: //englandfootball.com/bigfootballday
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The Independent
19 minutes ago
- The Independent
Why do men like Jeremy Clarkson get so upset at women playing football?
The old dinosaur Jeremy Clarkson claims he likes women's football. In fact, he wrote a column about it for The Sunday Times, saying he found the Lionesses' Euros final 'exciting'. Great! Progress, right? Well… not quite. Because in the very same breath, he compares that excitement to what he imagines he'd feel watching cow racing in Sri Lanka. Yes, really. His exact words: ' It was exciting – in the same way that I'd be excited if I were in Sri Lanka and the locals invited me to watch some cow racing.' It's a thinly veiled pat on the head – the kind of backhanded compliment women in sport have heard for decades. Clarkson's message is clear: well done, ladies – that was 120 minutes of fun, in a novelty sort of way. Not real football, of course. Just a quirky spectacle for a Sunday afternoon. And that, right there, is the problem. Because even when some men say they like women's football, it's often delivered with a side of snark, scepticism or condescension. It's not quite "real". It's not quite worthy. It's the football equivalent of a try-hard indie band – enjoyable, but let's not pretend it deserves top billing. That mindset – whether shouted from comment sections of newspapers or whispered into broadsheet columns – is why women's football continues to be met with hostility. And it's going to take far more than England's back-to-back Euros win, a Downing Street visit and a street parade through the capital to convince men like Clarkson that women's football is worthy of their attention. What are they waiting for – a Bank Holiday in the Lionesses' honour? Nothing has stirred more bizarre, irrational rage in recent years than women playing football. Not climate change, not taxes, not even unfixed potholes. No – it's women daring to lace up their boots and play the same sport men have dominated for over a century. The horror! Now, don't get me wrong. I'm well aware there are thousands of men who have supported the Lionesses wholeheartedly through the Euros and through the trials and triumphs of women's football. Those men exist. In fact, I live with two of them. But what's also been impossible to ignore is the other group – a loud, seething contingent who foam at the mouth every time women's football gets airtime. Let's be honest. Some of these men don't just dislike women's football – they absolutely hate it. Viscerally and irrationally. As though women simply kicking a ball poses a threat to their very identity. Take Graham (real name, I believe), a caller I heard on LBC just the other day. He proudly declared – without a hint of irony – that he 'can't stand' women's football. Not just that he doesn't enjoy it. Not just that it's not his thing. No, Graham hates it. He can't watch it. He repeated several times that he can't bear it being 'shoved down our throats'. Shoved down our throats? Remind me… has there ever been a sport more relentlessly marketed, broadcast and worshipped than men's football? We've had 24/7 coverage for decades, wall-to-wall analysis of Premier League games, live transfer updates (snore) that border on obsession. Somehow, that's just normal. But when the BBC dares to air a Lionesses match? Now it's an outrage. Another gem came from a man I came across on a well-known sports account on Instagram who insisted women's football 'isn't the same sport' as men's. It's not as fast, not as powerful. Therefore, in his eyes, it's a different game entirely. Let's unpack that for a second. Two teams. Eleven players per side. A ball. A pitch. A goal at each end. A ref. Sounds like football to me. The only real difference? Some of the players have penises and some don't. That's not a different sport. That's just biology. By this logic, does he tell his son – who maybe plays under-12s on a soggy Sunday morning – that his football isn't real football because it lacks the speed and precision of the Champions League? Does he pat the kid on the head and say, 'Sorry son, it's just not the same sport'? Unlikely. The moment you challenge these men, even gently, the reaction is instant and vicious. I dared to comment on one of these videos, pointing out the obvious: it is the same sport. Cue the backlash. Within seconds, I saw replies accusing me of 'rage bait', clown emojis and insults I won't repeat here. The vitriol is astonishing – and sadly familiar, if you've ever spoken up for women's sport. But it begs the question: why does women's football cause such a meltdown in some men? Why this sport in particular? Why not women's tennis, where the stars earn millions and fill arenas? Why not rugby or cricket? Why this obsessive need to gatekeep football? 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The Herald Scotland
19 minutes ago
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Scottish Sun
19 minutes ago
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Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Lionesses will celebrate their heroic Euros win with a bus parade in the capital on Tuesday. England fans can share their joy with the team after they defended their Euros title in a penalty shootout win against Spain. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The victory parade will take place on Tuesday from 12-1pm along The Mall in London 3 The England team celebrated their triumphant win against Spain last night Credit: EPA 3 It will conclude with a trophy presentation at 12.30pm at the historic Queen Victoria Memorial Credit: Getty After a tense game that ended 1-1, the team went on to claim victory during a penalty shootout that scored them a 3-1 win. Now, the Lionesses are set to celebrate their achievement back on their home turf. While No10 have confirmed that the country won't be given a bank holiday to celebrate the win, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: "There should be a day of celebration". The victory parade This will come in the form of an open top bus victory parade on Tuesday July 29. Beginning at 12.10pm, the Homecoming celebration will travel along The Mall in London as the team enjoys their second successful European Championship win. Following the procession, the team will arrive at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace for a staged event at 12.30pm. The Lionesses will proudly display their trophy on stage, after music performances from the Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines Portsmouth, the Central Band of the Royal Air Force, and DJ CharStape according to Manchester Evening News. Football fans are encouraged to attend the free event as they watch the players bring the trophy home. While those watching at home can enjoy a live broadcast on the BBC, ITV and Sky between 12 and 1pm. Advice for attendees England Football anticipate that there will be "large crowds" in attendance, and have encouraged those taking part to follow its guidance. History-making Lionesses showed true English grit to win Euros and fully deserve the glory It has advised people to use public transport where possible, and to promptly move away from station exits and proceed to the designated route. There will be signage and stewards to assist where needed. The closest stations to The Mall are: Green Park, Piccadilly Circus, Victoria, Westminster and Charing Cross. Bus routes in the nearby area will be on diversion, with the underground providing the best access to the event. Nearby roads will also be closed within St James' Park between 7am and 6pm on the day of the event. England Football have also provided a comprehensive list of what you can and cannot bring to the celebration. They are keen for fans to go all out to celebrate the win, saying: "Please do bring your flags, whistles and horns to show your appreciation of our victorious England team." What to bring: Suitable clothing for the weather Sun protection Water bottle - there will be refill stations along The Mall Food and snacks - but please dispose of litter Flags, whistles and horns What not to bring: Stools or folding chairs - those with accessibility needs can pre-book a dedicated spot Smoke flares or fireworks Tents BBQs Glass items e.g. bottles or drinking glasses Drones The event is being hosted by The Football Association, with support from the government. It follows a reception at Downing Street today, hosted by Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock. The Euros final Fans across the country celebrated a joyous win last night after the Lionesses won 3-1 on penalties in a nail-biting final against Spain. The team made history as they became the first English side to win a major tournament on foreign soil - with the final held in Basel, Switzerland. Despite losing 1-0 in the first half, the Lionesses fought back to settle the match at 1-1 with a 57th minute header from Alessia Russo. They bravely held their nerve during a tense penalty shootout to win 3-1, successfully defending their 2022 title and avenging their loss to Spain in the 2023 World Cup Final. A heroic Hampton made two stunning saves before Chloe Kelly fired home the winner. Following the match, 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang received her award for Young Player of the Tournament while Spain's Aitana Bonmatí was awarded Best Player overall.
