In December, I had the privilege of being selected to attend a very special event at Wembley Stadium alongside our Club Secretary, Hannah Stephen. Hosted by EE in partnership with the Lionesses, the day was all about recognising the unsung heroes of grassroots women’s football and celebrating the people who quietly keep the game moving forward. Oh, and the filming of a Christmas video campaign for the Google Pixel with EE was part of the event too!

As someone who has been involved in women’s and girls’ football for years, both as a volunteer and a fan, it’s rare to see grassroots recognised on a stage like this. 

A day that put grassroots first
From the moment we arrived, it was clear that this wasn’t just a Christmas celebration. It was a genuine thank you. Grassroots champions from clubs across the UK were invited in recognition of the time, energy and commitment they give to the women’s game. We heard from Sarina Wiegman and Rachel Brown-Finnis, and then came a moment that caught everyone off guard: what started as a video call with Lionesses players Alex Greenwood, Lauren Hemp and Khiara Keating quickly turned into a live appearance. The room absolutely lit up. There was laughter, disbelief, a few happy tears and a shared sense of “this is pretty special”.

The day was rounded off with behind-the-scenes access at Wembley, which never loses its magic, no matter how many times you’ve been.

For me, this event recognised the reality of grassroots football. The late nights, the emails, the admin, the safeguarding training, the fundraising, the wet Friday evenings on cold pitches. The stuff that doesn’t make headlines but makes participation possible.

Women’s football is growing at pace, and the Lionesses’ success has rightly accelerated that. But growth without foundations doesn’t last. What EE and the Lionesses did here was shine a light on those foundations.

Hannah and I came away from the day energised and proud. Proud of the wider grassroots community, proud of the people at our club, and proud to be part of a game that is celebrating all levels of contribution.

Thank you to EE, the Lionesses and everyone involved in making the day happen. And thank you to every grassroots volunteer who shows up, week after week, because the game wouldn’t exist without you.

As another treat, through developing a relationship with EE, we were invited to take part in an EE activation at the Lionesses game against China. 30 of our members and their families were whisked to Wembley on an executive coach for pre-match fun.

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