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Jul 2023

Last Updated: 21/07/2023

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'Get behind Lionesses' call from Harrogate football fans

by Vicky Carr

| 22 Jul, 2023

Football fans from across the Harrogate district are being urged to get behind England's women as they prepare to begin their World Cup campaign.

The Lionesses – including Harrogate's Rachel Daly – are set to face Haiti in their first match this morning in the Australian city of Brisbane.

Because of the time difference, many of their matches will be played in the morning, but fans are still hoping there will be a celebratory atmosphere around Harrogate

For Harrogate personal trainer Lauren Randall, getting pubs to open their doors as they would for the men's world cup is an important step. She told the Stray Ferret:

"If it was the men's world cup, every bar would be having bottomless brunches and everywhere would be open.

"I've got a few friends wanting to go and watch it and we struggled to find somewhere that was going to be open. It should not be this tricky to find somewhere.

"The fact that we have got a local girl playing one of the biggest sporting tournaments in the world is great.

"She's going to have local friends and family and fans wanting to watch it.

"I've got clients saying, 'let me know where you're watching it, maybe I can bring my kids along'. How amazing would it be to come along and watch it together and enjoy that atmosphere?"

However, several local bars have now confirmed they will open their doors early to give fans somewhere to watch together.

The Harrogate Arms, The Alexandra and The Empress on the Stray have all said they will be open in time for kick-off at 10.30am today.

Rachel Daly opened the new cafe at her former club, Killinghall Nomads, this year.

As a pupil at Rossett School, Lauren played football with Rachel Daly, who was in the year above her.

Both girls earned soccer scholarships to universities in the USA, but an ankle injury put paid to Lauren's career a few years later and she trained to be a PT.

Rachel, meanwhile, went from playing for Houston Dash to moving to Aston Villa last summer, where she was named player of the season and won the golden boot.

She featured in all of England's games in last year's European Championships, which England went on to win.

Lauren said she hopes people will keep asking venues to show the matches this year, adding:

"The Euros changed the game. It has really come along.

"You can buy England shirts with women's names on the back and the players are being paid better too.

"Things like this – asking pubs to open up – is the only way it's going to get everywhere. If they don't know people want to watch it, why would they open?"

Meanwhile, another former Harrogate resident is also hoping to help build the fan base for women's football.

Maisie Adam, a former St Aidan's pupil, has launched a podcast with fellow comedian Suzi Ruffell.

In the first episode of Big Kick Energy, they discussed the positive atmosphere at women's matches and the inclusivity of the women's game.

Maisie tells listeners:

"Women's football isn't new. What's new is the attitude towards it. It's a really, really exciting time, which is why we've done this podcast.

"Whether or not you've historically loved football since day dot, or if you're somebody who's always felt that football isn't for you because everything is screaming 'this isn't for you because of who you are', now is the time to get on board. Football is for you."

From Harrogate to New York to the World Cup: Rachel Daly's 'whirlwind' career

Harrogate hails returning hero Rachel Daly

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'Get behind Lionesses' call from Harrogate football fans

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