Creating the next Lioness

With the Lionesses’ Euro 2025 campaign well underway, Tameside School Sports Partnership recently organised a Euro’s themed girls football tournament at Curzon Ashton FC. 

The future lionesses event, which was organised in partnership with the FA, was set up with the aim of putting local girls on the map. 

Girls from across Greater Manchester, including Tameside, took part in the 3 v 3 tournament, which gave their students the chance to be seen by England scouts. 

Following the event, Emma Toone, the strategic lead for girls football in Tameside said: 

“I think this just shows the power of girls football, we did this a few years ago and didn’t have many schools that signed up, but this year we had 100 children take part. 

“That’s 100 girls that have had the chance to be looked at by someone professional. 

“We want to make sure girls growing up now get more opportunities than previous generations did, that’s our passion. 

“If we can inspire some of these girls to sign up for a local club through this, or take the next step in their career, for example try for an academy, then we’ve done our job.” 

Daniel Alogba, the FA regional women’s talent ID coach added: 

“It’s about giving the girls a platform to be seen. 

“Today was a chance for them to play with their peers, in a safe environment, which hopefully allowed them to play to their full potential. 

“We’ve managed to see girls play in a few different formats, which allows us to gather intel on players and hopefully get them on the England women talent pathway.” 

With the Lionesses’ Euro 2025 campaign well underway, Tameside School Sports Partnership recently organised a Euro’s themed girls football tournament at Curzon Ashton FC. 

The future lionesses event, which was organised in partnership with the FA, was set up with the aim of putting local girls on the map. 

Girls from across Greater Manchester, including Tameside, took part in the 3 v 3 tournament, which gave their students the chance to be seen by England scouts. 

Following the event, Emma Toone, the strategic lead for girls football in Tameside said: 

“I think this just shows the power of girls football, we did this a few years ago and didn’t have many schools that signed up, but this year we had 100 children take part. 

“That’s 100 girls that have had the chance to be looked at by someone professional. 

“We want to make sure girls growing up now get more opportunities than previous generations did, that’s our passion. 

“If we can inspire some of these girls to sign up for a local club through this, or take the next step in their career, for example try for an academy, then we’ve done our job.” 

Daniel Alogba, the FA regional women’s talent ID coach added: 

“It’s about giving the girls a platform to be seen. 

“Today was a chance for them to play with their peers, in a safe environment, which hopefully allowed them to play to their full potential. 

“We’ve managed to see girls play in a few different formats, which allows us to gather intel on players and hopefully get them on the England women talent pathway.”