Grassroots clubs galvanised by Big Football Day during EURO 2025

Big Football Day, powered by The National Lottery, is in full swing with hundreds of grassroots clubs taking part in the campaign to show their support for the Lionesses whilst opening their doors to encourage more women and girls to get involved in football.

As the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 group stage came to a close, England players Jill Scott and Millie Turner joined the FA for two special Big Football Day celebrations in Manchester over the weekend.

First up, Big Football Day took to the iconic Coronation Street cobbles for a unique event which brought the grassroots community together ahead of the England v Wales match later that evening.

Seven National Lottery-funded grassroots clubs from England and Wales came together on Britain’s most famous street to join Jill for a kickabout, whilst highlighting the importance of driving opportunities for women and girls to get involved in football.

Current Lioness Millie then paid a surprise visit to Chadderton FC’s Big Football Day event, which saw over 450 women and girls engaged throughout the day. Big Football Day is more than about just playing on the pitch, with a whole range of other fun football activities on offer, including face painting, craft workshops, a DJ and watch parties.

With the number of girls playing football more than doubling since the Lionesses lifted the EURO trophy on home soil three years ago, Big Football Day aims to build on the momentum generated by England participating in a major tournament to continue to grow the women’s and girls’ game.

And Jill and Millie are the latest stars to join in with the celebrations and show their support for the growth of the game, following the likes of Nikita Parris, Fara Williams, Lucy Staniforth, Denise Lewis, Scott Mills and Suzi Ruffell.

"Events like this are so important, I remember growing up there was absolutely nothing like this," said Manchester United defender Millie.

"Seeing how many women and girls are turning up to show their support for the growth of women’s football is incredible. It’s so important for young girls that they can just go out there and enjoy it. Big Football Day events are a great opportunity to play with your mates, try a new sport and hopefully find a love of playing football, that’s what it’s all about."

Rachel Pavlou, Women’s history, heritage and EDI manager at the FA, who also attended the Chadderton Big Football Day event, added: “It’s so important that we do events like this because we know the power of a tournament.

"Since hosting the EUROs in 2022, we have actually doubled participation and that’s because all those young girls and women who have perhaps not played before, saw the EUROs and were inspired by role models that were out playing on the pitch. We’ve seen so many more women and girls come forward and say, ‘we want to be part of this’, and it’s not just about being on the pitch, it might be behind the scenes, or being a referee, a coach or as a volunteer in a grassroots club.

"We want every woman and girl to feel that this game is for them and that the doors are open in every community of England for them to be part of it.”

Big Football Day forms part of our Made for this Game campaign, which was launched to support the drive to unlock equal opportunities for all women and girls in football, whilst showing it is a sport where they belong.

It will be running throughout July, with clubs still able to sign up to take part and show their support here where they will receive a free festival pack to host their own event.

Big Football Day is part of the £6 billion investment The National Lottery has made into grassroots sport, helping create millions more opportunities for women and girls to play.