England players go back to their roots

The England senior women’s squad paid homage to where their individual football journeys began by wearing the shirts of their first clubs during a special event today at St George’s Park.

As the team continued their preparation for this summer’s UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, we surprised each player with a version of their first club’s shirt before they took to the Sir Bobby Charlton pitch. For each player, the shirt represents where they were made, paying a symbolic tribute to the coaches, volunteers and communities that nurtured their early talent.

A total of 26 grassroots and youth clubs were initially represented across the 23-player squad for the EURO and four standby players, with Esme Morgan arriving at St George’s Park on Tuesday after being involved in NWSL action.

The clubs across the country ranged from grassroots clubs such as Alnwick Town FC (Lucy Bronze), St Martins AC (Maya Le Tissier) and Brandon Groves AFC (Michelle Agyemang) to professional academies such as Villarreal CF (Hannah Hampton) and Queens Park Rangers (Chloe Kelly).

Over 150 coaches and current players from the players’ first clubs were also invited to attend the special event. The club representatives were given the opportunity to reunite with their former players and offer personal messages of support to the team.

Sarina Wiegman, England head coach, said: “I often say to the squad ‘go back to that young girl who first started playing football, think about the happiness those days provided you’. All of the players have had a different journey but their love for the sport will have started at their first club. For them to wear the shirt of their first ever club and to have many people who were key to their development at training is really special.”

James Kendall, Director of Football Development at The FA, commented: “This celebration of grassroots football is a reminder that the foundations of the game are built in local communities, by dedicated coaches, clubs and volunteers who give players the chance to fall in love with football. It’s those opportunities that shaped the Lionesses, and it’s those same opportunities we want to ensure every woman and girl has, showing that they are made for this game.”

The shirt tribute aligns with Made for This Game, The FA’s new campaign dedicated to unlocking equal opportunities for all women and girls to access, participate and thrive in football – both on and off the pitch - whilst showing it is a sport where they belong.

The shirts will also accompany the squad to their base camp in Switzerland, serving as a reminder of where their journeys began.

The full list of clubs represented includes:

• Alnwick Town FC (Lucy Bronze)
• Ardwick FC (Khiara Keating)
• Astley and Tyldesley (Ella Toone)
• Bearsted Girls (Alessia Russo)
• Brandon Groves AFC (Michelle Agyemang)
• California Girls (Beth Mead)
• Cambridge City (Lucy Parker)
• Chadderton Grasshoppers (Anna Moorhouse)
• Ecclesall Rangers (Esme Morgan)
• Elloughton Blackburn FC (Jessica Park)
• Epsom Eagles (Lauren James)
• Furness Rovers (Georgia Stanway)
• Mossley Hill (Missy Bo Kearns)
• North Walsham FC (Lauren Hemp)
• Northfield Sports Association (Alex Greenwood)
• Old Xavs (Grace Clinton)
• Olga Primary School (Lotte Wubben-Moy)
• Pearson Juniors (Keira Walsh)
• Queens Park Rangers (Chloe Kelly)
• Scots Sport and Social Club (Leah Williamson)
• St Martins AC (Maya Le Tissier)
• Villareal CF (Hannah Hampton)
• Warndon Villages Boys (Laura Blindkilde Brown)
• Warwick Juniors FC (Jess Carter)
• West Kirby United FC (Niamh Charles)
• Weston Colts (Sophie Baggaley)
• Wimbledon Little League (Aggie Beever-Jones)