Latest news with #BrandonGrovesAFC
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
‘She's an inspiration to the youngsters': the rapid rise of Michelle Agyemang
Four years ago, Michelle Agyemang was a ballgirl at Wembley stadium, witnessing the Lionesses' rule the pitch in a 4-0 victory against Northern Ireland. Now, at just 19 years old, she no longer finds herself retrieving balls that have veered out of play, but is an integral part of the team she once admired from the sidelines. The forward, who football fans hope will be showing off her on-pitch magic on Sunday as the Lionesses' face off against Spain in the Euros 2025 final, began her journey to the top of the sport in her Essex home town of South Ockendon. It all started at Brandon Groves AFC in 2011, where a five-year-old Agyemang took her first steps into the sport. She was talented, determined and, at the time, the only girl at the club, which has run in the area for 29 years. She played there for two seasons before being picked up by the Arsenal Academy. Colin Burnham, a coach at the club, called her success 'fantastic'. He told ITV News: 'She's an inspiration to some of the youngsters we've got here at the moment. It's nice to say that from grassroots level you can still go somewhere with football.' He said 'the players and the kids' will be watching the final where, they hope, celebration will be abound. 'Hopefully she'll come and visit us so we can celebrate personally with her,' he said. Another club representative said it felt 'amazing knowing we have a Lioness playing in the Euros', adding they were 'proud to say Michelle started at our club'. In April, she was called upon to join the Lionesses' after Alessia Russo suffered an injury. This is when her journey to the top of the sport really took off. She scored three goals in her first four England caps, including equalisers in the last two Euros matches. Her talents are not only athletic. She is also studying business management at King's College London, as part of its sport and wellness programme. She was 'brought up on gospel music' and is a keen piano-player. So keen, in fact, that after England's win against Sweden, she had it brought over. 'The kitman brought it over in a van. It's calm and relaxing,' she said. 'Lotte [Wubben-Moy, her Arsenal and England teammate] asked me to play for her – she came to my room and I played a few things for her, which was nice.' Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion It isn't only fellow teammates lining up to sing Agyemang's praises. Jason Carey, headteacher at Southend High School for Girls, where the footballer was a student, said: 'We are incredibly proud of Michelle. To see a former Southend High School for Girls student reach the highest levels of international sport is something truly special. Her dedication, resilience and pursuit of excellence were evident even during her time with us. 'Those qualities have clearly carried through in her sporting career. She remains an inspiration to current and future students, especially young women in sport. We can't wait now for the final.' As Sunday approaches, home town glory is heating up in South Ockendon. In the Knight of Aveley pub, posters are plastered on the wall calling on locals to 'get down and cheer on Michelle', who they called their 'very own South Ockendon girl'.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Michelle Agyemang's youth team hails Lioness as girls' football enjoys boost
Michelle Agyemang's former youth club has praised the England striker's impact on the next generation of young footballers ahead of the Lionesses' Euro 2025 final. The 19-year-old Arsenal forward, who scored dramatic equalisers in both the quarter-final and semi-final, began her footballing journey at Brandon Groves AFC in South Ockendon, Essex. Roy Enright, 45, who manages the girls' team, said her legacy has led to a surge of new recruits. He said: 'It's great for the girls to see someone like Michelle who's played at the same club, from the same area, and from her hard work made it to the highest level. 'When I set the girls' team up in 2022, I started with zero players. 'When Michelle was here, she even had to play on the boys' team. 'Now I've got a squad of 20 girls at my age group and that has all come from the Lionesses – especially their success at the last Euros. 'Given that Michelle is from the area, played for the club, and is doing so well, we're getting even more girls joining up. 'That's the legacy she has left for us.' Terry Tisdall, 40, who manages the boys' under-11s, said: 'The girls are so proud of her – she's the star of the show. 'They used to wear shirts with men's players' names on and now they've all got Agyemang on the back.' Agyemang left Brandon Groves for Arsenal's academy when she was around 10 years old before becoming one of the most highly rated youngsters at the Gunners. She recently invited the Brandon Groves players to St George's Park, the home of the England team, so they could watch the Lionesses train. Mr Enright said: 'It meant the world to them – it just goes to show how Michelle cares. 'She was fantastic – she took the time out to speak to all the girls, take selfies and sign autographs.' Agyemang has become one of the Lionesses' stand-out players this summer after netting in the quarter-final and semi-final. Mr Enright, who works as a tech consultant, said: 'The impact is fantastic – there's so much excitement with the girls.' Mr Tisdall added: 'The WhatsApp group chat was going crazy when she scored those goals.' Agyemang, who only made her senior England debut in April, is now expected to feature in Sunday's final against Spain in Basel. And the girls from Brandon Groves will be watching the final together at a local social club. Mr Enright said: 'Everyone's so excited – we're all behind Michelle and it's going to be a fantastic day.'
Western Telegraph
4 days ago
- Sport
- Western Telegraph
Michelle Agyemang's youth team hails Lioness as girls' football enjoys boost
The 19-year-old Arsenal forward, who scored dramatic equalisers in both the quarter-final and semi-final, began her footballing journey at Brandon Groves AFC in South Ockendon, Essex. Roy Enright, 45, who manages the girls' team, said her legacy has led to a surge of new recruits. Given that Michelle is from the area, played for the club, and is doing so well, we're getting even more girls joining up Roy Enright, Brandon Groves AFC He said: 'It's great for the girls to see someone like Michelle who's played at the same club, from the same area, and from her hard work made it to the highest level. 'When I set the girls' team up in 2022, I started with zero players. 'When Michelle was here, she even had to play on the boys' team. 'Now I've got a squad of 20 girls at my age group and that has all come from the Lionesses – especially their success at the last Euros. 'Given that Michelle is from the area, played for the club, and is doing so well, we're getting even more girls joining up. 'That's the legacy she has left for us.' They used to wear shirts with men's players' names on and now they've all got Agyemang on the back Terry Tisdall, manager of Brandon Groves boys' under-11s Terry Tisdall, 40, who manages the boys' under-11s, said: 'The girls are so proud of her – she's the star of the show. 'They used to wear shirts with men's players' names on and now they've all got Agyemang on the back.' Agyemang left Brandon Groves for Arsenal's academy when she was around 10 years old before becoming one of the most highly rated youngsters at the Gunners. She recently invited the Brandon Groves players to St George's Park, the home of the England team, so they could watch the Lionesses train. Mr Enright said: 'It meant the world to them – it just goes to show how Michelle cares. 'She was fantastic – she took the time out to speak to all the girls, take selfies and sign autographs.' Agyemang has become one of the Lionesses' stand-out players this summer after netting in the quarter-final and semi-final. England's Michelle Agyemang (centre) and team-mates celebrate after the Women's Euro 2025 semi-final at the Stade de Geneve, Switzerland (Nick Potts/PA) Mr Enright, who works as a tech consultant, said: 'The impact is fantastic – there's so much excitement with the girls.' Mr Tisdall added: 'The WhatsApp group chat was going crazy when she scored those goals.' Agyemang, who only made her senior England debut in April, is now expected to feature in Sunday's final against Spain in Basel. And the girls from Brandon Groves will be watching the final together at a local social club. Mr Enright said: 'Everyone's so excited – we're all behind Michelle and it's going to be a fantastic day.'
