The triumph of the England women’s football team in the Euro 2025 final has been heralded as a moment to inspire future generations in the sport and to promote health and wellbeing.
The Lionesses’ dramatic penalty shoot-out success over Spain in the final yesterday evening (Sunday 27 July) saw the squad become back-to-back winners of the European Championships after their initial triumph in 2022.
Among the team was forward Beth Mead who grew up in Hinderwell, near Whitby. The 30-year-old came on as a substitute in the second half of yesterday’s final in Basel in Switzerland.
North Yorkshire Council’s chair, Councillor George Jabbour, today paid tribute to the “talent and unbelievable commitment” of the squad following the 3-1 penalty shoot-out win after the teams remained locked with one goal apiece after extra time.
Councillor Jabbour said: “The England women’s football team’s win is truly inspirational in what was such a historic accomplishment.
“To win two European Championships in a row and to become the first senior England national team to ever triumph in a tournament on foreign soil is a remarkable achievement, and that is down to the talent and unbelievable commitment of every member of the squad.
“Everyone in North Yorkshire should be so proud of the whole team, including Beth Mead, who is from our county.”
The fortunes of the England women’s football team in recent years, which saw the players reach the World Cup final in 2023 only to lose 1-0 to Spain, has seen a dramatic rise in interest in the sport.
It is hoped that the latest success of the team will inspire younger generations of girls and teenagers to become involved in football, as well as helping to promote wider health and wellbeing.
A new sport and active wellbeing service has been launched under the Active North Yorkshire banner as the council brings all its leisure services in-house.
Active North Yorkshire is focussed on supporting everyone in the community to be active, with an increased emphasis placed on improving the physical and mental health and wellbeing of the county’s communities.
North Yorkshire Council’s leader, Councillor Carl Les, said: “We hope that the success of the women’s team will capture everyone’s imagination and help to promote health and wellbeing for all of our communities.
“Active North Yorkshire is aimed at ensuring just that, and to have moments such as the team’s triumph in Euro 2025 will be vital to helping to highlight the benefits of health and wellbeing not just here in North Yorkshire, but across the country as well.”
An open-top bus parade will be staged tomorrow (Tuesday 29 July) in London to welcome home the Lionesses after their win in the European Championships.
The squad will be on the bus on a route through central London to give fans the chance to cheer on the players and to catch a glimpse of the team's latest piece of silverware.