Lionesses get their legacy with school sport funding for girls

England women’s football captain Leah Williamson has hailed the £600m government funding that seeks to create an equal sporting platform for schoolgirls.

Schools in England will be required to offer equal access to sports, including football, and deliver a minimum of two hours of physical education per week.

The £600m package, which will be delivered over two academic years comes after the 23 members of England’s victorious Euro 2022 squad wrote an open letter to government.

Williamson said it would be the catalyst to opening doors for young girls after their win at Wembley last year and commented that this will be their legacy as a team.

“A conversation led by [English footballer] Lotte Wubben-Moy and Leah Williamson on the bus from the Trafalgar Square celebrations has today delivered real change in society and the announcement is testament to their tenacity and excellent engagement with the Government,” said FA director of women’s football Baroness Sue Campbell.

According to FA figures, only 67% of all schools and 41% of secondary schools offer football equally to girls in PE lessons, and only 46% of schools provide the same extracurricular opportunities as boys.

Both school sport and after-school activities will be funded, with an additional £57m for opening facilities outside of school times. The School Games Organisers network will also receive £22m.

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said that last summer’s success could “live on” with a legacy that can impact the future of women’s football and change society.

• For more information, please visit https://www.thefa.com/