Jordan Henderson has backed a campaign to celebrate six iconic players who have captained the England women’s team during the past 50 years – with Women’s Euro 2022 just 100 days away.
The Lionesses played their first game against Scotland in November 1972 and some of their finest servants are to be formally recognised with a series of plaques to be unveiled in their hometowns.
Former captains Sheila Parker, Carol Thomas, Gillian Coultard, Faye White, Mary Phillip, and current skipper Steph Houghton are the players whose feats for the Lionesses are to be honoured.
The “Where Greatness is Made” campaign, by Nationwide Building Society and England Football as part of their Mutual Respect Partnership, focuses on the communities, places and people that helped shape the players’ careers.
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'A new era for the underperforming Lionesses begins now'16 February, 2022Henderson, who has won 68 England caps for the men’s team since making his debut in 2010, tells i: “It’s a great campaign for women’s football and shines a light on some amazing players and what they have done over a number of years and will continue to do.
“Steph Houghton, Jill Scott and I are from the same area in the north-east so I speak to them and the likes of Lucy Bronze whenever I can.
“When they are at St George’s Park, we have a chat about how they are getting on. I follow their progress on social media and watch their games when I can, so I always keep an eye on them.
“The men’s senior team will definitely be supporting the Lionesses at the Euros this summer.
“I am a father of two young girls and the development of the women’s game in the past few years has been brilliant to see. It’s fantastic to see all the Lionesses captains of the past honoured in this way.”
On England’s World Cup ambitions
While Sarina Wiegman’s team are bidding for glory on home soil at Euro 2022, Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions aim to put the heartache of last year’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy behind them by winning the World Cup in Qatar.
There is trust and there is undeniable progress within the England camp under Southgate’s tenure but the national team have still not won a major tournament since their World Cup glory in 1966.
Henderson adds: “We’ve definitely been moving in the right direction with the culture that has been created within the camp.
“A lot of talented young players have come into the squad but they are experienced at the same time and have played a lot of games in the Premier League.
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“It’s not too far away now, so we need to use this time wisely and try and progress from what we’ve done. Yes, we’ve done good work and are going in the right direction but we haven’t won anything.
“Going one step further than we have been before has to be our drive and our ambition. We’ll always have belief and we have shown over the past few years that we can compete at the highest level.
“We need to use those experiences as best we can to try and get over the line and win a major tournament for England. Hopefully we can not only reach another final but go one step further by lifting silverware.”
On Liverpool’s quadruple hopes
Henderson is 32 in June but has been pleased with his form this season as Jurgen Klopp’s side pursue an unprecedented quadruple.
“I’ve felt good this season and that I’ve performed consistently,” the former Sunderland midfielder says.
“It helps when the team is doing very well and you’re winning games, of course, but I’m enjoying my football. It’s business as usual, so I just want to go out there and win every single game.
“I’ve felt very good in myself, physically and mentally, and will continue to improve all the time. Every single year, I try and get better. I feel as though I’ve done that again this season.”
As Liverpool gear up for a hectic run of season-defining fixtures domestically and in Europe, Henderson insists: “We can’t get caught up in what could be.
“For us it’s about going out and giving everything in every single game we play, no matter what the competition. That’s what we have done all season so we just need to continue that right until the very end and see where it takes us.
“It’s about keeping your feet on the ground, maintaining your work ethic, and performing at the highest level like we have been doing for a long period of time.
“If we do that, then we will have a good chance of being successful again.”
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