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After 18 minutes of half-paced chugging, flashes of life standing out because they were unusual, a game broke out at the King Power Stadium.

Five or six tackles were made in the space of eight seconds, roughly split equally. It seemed to wake up both Liverpool and Manchester City.

They were both happy with a non-competitive warm-up, but you can only match your opponent. If they try their best to win, you try your best to win.

The Community Shield is the ideal match for a football manager because it contains no pitfalls or hidden traps.

Win and you can pretend – to the media, your players and yourself – that this is some Supercopa, another trophy for the cabinet and a marker laid down ahead of the league season.

Lose and it’s a meaningless friendly played solely to raise money for good causes that will have little impact upon what will follow.

If that can make for a subdued, fatuous atmosphere, this is the perfect fixture to allay those fears.

You may have spent the summer being wooed by Arsenal’s transfer dealings, Chelsea’s statement signings or Tottenham’s promises of improvement and investment.

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But make no mistake: Liverpool and Manchester City have proven themselves to be the best. They will continue their titanic battles in at least two – and perhaps four – competitions this season.

For Liverpool, more old heads than fresh starts. The presence of Adrian, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino in the team, with youth left on the bench to change the game, this was Liverpool’s oldest starting XI since 1953.

If Liverpool stuck with what they knew, Pep Guardiola has good reason to get as many minutes as he has from what may be his first-choice XI. This has been a clearout summer at the Etihad, with four first-team players leaving.

Guardiola must build an attack around Erling Haaland and bring the best out of Jack Grealish with Raheem Sterling sold to a rival. It will take some time. But rustiness, unfamiliarity or age are not enough to reduce the fizz of the contest.

Not when Mohamed Salah is intent on running in behind a left back and Joao Cancelo is determined to play in three different positions at once. Not when Thiago Alcantara is showing off his passing range like a musician going through their scales and Kevin De Bruyne is recalibrating the radar.

In the battle of the new strikers, Darwin Nunez’s joyful celebration – with customary yellow card – suggests that he knows just how crucial it is to become a fan favourite at Liverpool. He has plenty in his favour.

This rivalry also generates a buzz. Liverpool fans booed “Blue Moon” and jeered Mike Summerbee; Manchester City supporters did the same to “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and Ian Rush.

One end boasted about being league champions; the other crowed about winning European Cups. The money may be eye-watering and the resources vast, but rivalries are fuelled by abhorrence.

These two would desperately want to beat each other at rock, paper, scissors. The goals still give you the rush, whatever the occasion.

Liverpool were far more fluent; perhaps no surprise given the lack of new faces in the team. Manchester City had the ingredients of a cohesive attack but no recipe.

In the second half, De Bruyne implored Haaland to make a more intelligent run when he had been dispossessed. He had two half chances, one saved and one miskicked, but the supply lines to him also regularly misfired.

There is also a continued problem whereby Grealish’s teammates don’t seem to know what he is going to do next with the ball.

That can work if it also surprises an opponent, but Guardiola is a coach who obsesses over control. He had that with Sterling, whose role was clearly defined. We are still to see it with Grealish. But problems will be ironed out. Relationships will blossom.

At the end of the season anyone who doesn’t support one of these two clubs will barely be able to recall the result of a match that is intended to whet the appetite, not make the mouth froth with anger or angst.

But one conclusion can certainly be drawn: however much any other team has improved or spent over the summer, these are your two most serious title contenders.

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Today at Trafalgar Square, England will celebrate the first major success for a senior international football team since Sir Alf Ramsey’s men in 1966.

The architect of this victory, the calm and steely Dutchwoman Sarina Wiegman, hailed England’s success in the Women’s European Championship as “incredible” and “society-changing”.

She paid tribute to the players who paved the way, and looked ahead to fresh challenges, but first, she added, “we party”.

As if on cue, the players burst into the lecture room deep in the bowels of Wembley, where press conferences are conducted, singing Three Lions, the Lightning Seeds anthem that has finally come to fruition, 26 years after it was composed.

Just your standard Sarina Wiegman press conference ???? pic.twitter.com/limPTQEJDT

— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) July 31, 2022

The players, still in kit with beers in hand and medals around their necks, conga-ed around the room with goalkeeper Mary Earps jumping on the desk. Wiegman looked very pleased, and mildly surprised.

She need not have been. Five yeas ago, in a much smaller room in Enschede, her Dutch players did something similar after they had beaten Denmark 4-2 to win this title. That had been an open, exhilarating game. Yesterday’s 2-1 defeat of Germany, after extra time, was a tenser affair.

“I think what we have done is really incredible,” said Wiegman. “I know all England is behind us, that is what we noticed when we came to the stadium, but over the whole tournament we had so much support from the fans. I am so proud of the team and staff.”

As Sir Alex Ferguson once noted, the curse of being a successful coach is you can never enjoy the view from the mountain top, you are always looking to climb a higher one. In this case the next peak is 385 days and 12,000 miles away, the final of the Women’s World Cup in Sydney, Australia.

“Now we have won the Euros, expectation will go through the roof again” recognised Wiegman, but she added: “First we will party – for the first time in years I had a beer – I don’t like beer but I drank it and enjoyed it. Then some time off. Then prepare to finish qualifying for the World Cup.”

It is an indication of how far the sport has travelled that among the topics being debated ahead of the Netherlands’ victory five years ago was the dismissal by Arnold Muhren of women’s football.

The former Netherlands and Manchester United midfielder had criticised the players’ speed and mindset, arguing any amateur team would beat them 20-0.

Five years on, England’s men have been vocally supporting the women, Manchester City’s Portuguese players were among those doing the same in person for their team, and men and boys across the country have been watching and cheering on the Lionesses.

“I think this tournament has really made a change,” said Wiegman. “It has done so much for the game, but also for society, and women in society in England and across Europe and the world too.”

Amid the joy there was poignancy. At the final whistle, before jumping into the arms of her coach Arjen Veurink, Wiegman had paused and kissed a wristband. She explained it was in memory of her sister who passed away in the build-up to this tournament.

“It was my sister’s,” she said. “I really miss her because she was my mate. I think she was here on the crossbar. She would be really proud of me and I of her.”

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WEMBLEY — England have won their first major title since 1966 with a dramatic victory over Germany at Wembley in the Euro 2022 final.

Ella Toone’s strike was cancelled out by Lina Magull before Chloe Kelly’s scrappy goal deep into extra-time sealed the historic win.

Here’s how every player rated out of 10…

England player ratings

Mary Earps 8: The Manchester United keeper kept calm during the goalmouth scramble in which Germany almost took the lead. That set the tone for a composed performance with some excellent handling – and a vital touch of fortune.

Lucy Bronze 8: Grown into the tournament after a slow start and delivered a strong performance defensively with her winger Jule Brand subbed at half-time. Added power and width to the attack. A target for England corners, helping to force winner.

Rachel Daly 7: Seen as a risk defensively but was quick to impose herself on Svenja Huth, who has been one of Germany’s most influential players at the Euros, and limited her impact. Huth disappeared to the other wing long before Daly was subbed.

Millie Bright 7: Strong in the air, firm in the tackle, usually well-positioned, Bright has had a fine tournament. However, having got away with allowing Tabea Wassmuth to skip past her early in the second half she didn’t spot Magull until was too late.

Leah Williamson 8: Had a heart in mouth moment when VAR checked handball after the first half scramble, during which she also made one of several key blocks. Calm and composed with some smooth passing but might have done better on the goal.

Keira Walsh 8: Often marked by Magull but made the most of it when she found space. Lovely pass to release Beth Mead early on, and an even better one to free Ella Toone for her goal.

Georgia Stanway 7: Early booking for fouling Sara Dabritz after poor first touch put her at risk of a red card. Played intelligently thereafter with some important interventions. She and Lina Magull will be a fearsome midfield combination for Bayern Munich.

Fran Kirby 6: The Chelsea playmaker has produced several key interventions just when England needed them in this competition, but she struggled to assert her usual influence in a crowded midfield. Replaced by Ella Toone in the 56^th minute

Beth Mead 7: Never looked like adding a seventh goal but was always a threat, drawing a yellow card from her marker Felicitas Rauch amid some rough treatment which eventually forced her off. Broke clear in the opening period but delayed her pass.

Ellen White 7: Led the line well, always available and never letting the German defence rest. Threatened with an early header. Shot over from her best chance after Mead cut the ball back in a move she launched. Replaced by Alessia Russo (56).

Lauren Hemp 8: So often a matchwinner for England she was this time kept relatively quiet on the ball. Value came in delivering a series of excellent set-pieces, including the key corner, and some diligent defensive support.

Substitutes

Ella Toone 8: An impact sub to define the genre. Six minutes after coming on she broke the German line to run onto Walsh’s pass and always looked like scoring, doing so with an audacious chip.

Alessia Russo 6: Was often left isolated and didn’t have her usual impact, but came close to scoring at the death.

Chloe Kelly 8: Few chances to run at the defence but good outlet, delivered useful crosses and came up with the winner from a corner she had won.

Alex Greenwood 7: Added balance on the left and made some important tackles.

Jill Scott 7: Calming influence, broke up play out of possession and rotated ball when in possession.

Nikita Parris n/a: Substitution to eat up a minute in closing stages.

Germany player ratings

Merle Frohms 7: Frankfurt goalkeeper continued her excellent tournament with a fine display of handling and coming for crosses. Made a fine stop from Russo to keep German chances alive late on. Unable to do anything with the goals.

Giulia Gwinn 7: Didn’t get forward as much as usual – though one dangerous cross fizzed across goal begging for a touch in a moment reminiscent of Gascoigne in 96 – but prevented both Mead and Hemp having their usual influence.

Katrin-Julia Hendrich 6: Quietly composed and the perfect foil for Hegering in a defensive partnership to match Bright -Williamson for England. But caught out when Toone went through for England’s first.

Lena Oberdorf 7: The official player of the tournament 8: Would have been the player of the tournament if Germany had won. Immense in the air and on the ground. Significant that England’s winner came after she was withdrawn but rarely plays 120 minutes these days.

Felicitas Rauch 5: Full-back had a difficult time dealing with Mead and was booked after clattering the Arsenal winger once too often. Set-pieces were far less dangerous without Popp to aim for.

Lina Magull 8: Outstanding display of midfield play capped with an excellently taken goal after hitting the post. Booked for fouling Stanway but missed after she was withdrawn – as she is most games, stamina may be an issue.

Lena Oberdorf 7: The young player of the tournament and showed why for a while but was less influential after her belated booking, Nevertheless, another solid performance from this talented youngster.

Sara Dabritz 7: A threat in front of goal and a driving force in midfield until but her influence gradually faded. Could have scored but for Bronze’s headed block.

Svenja Huth 6: Has been a major factor in Germany getting this far but the winger was quiet by the standards of her tournament. Had to switch flanks after failing to master Daly but got little change from Bronze.

Lea Schuller 5: It can’t have been easy being thrust into the team at the last minute after Alexandra Popp’s injury in the warm-up and it showed. Rarely looked like scoring and didn’t react quick enough when Magull’s shot rebunded off the post to her.

Jule Brand 4: In the team because Clara Buhl has not recovered from Covid-19 but would get into most international teams on merit. However, replaced at half-time having been easily controlled by Bronze.

Substitutes

Tabea Wassmuth 6: Took a liking for scoring against English teams in the Champions League but was denied by Earps when well-placed position do so here after skipping past Bronze on the flank. Set up Magull’s goal.

Linda Dallman 5: A regular substitute during the tournament for Magull but on this occasion was unable to replicate the latter’s influence.

Sydney Lohmann 5: A spat with Jill Scott, which underlined the tetchiness of this match, was her most notable intervention.

Nicole Anyomi 5: Replaced Shuller but while she was busy and put herself about rarely looked like scoring.

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England 2-1 (aet) Germany (Toone 62′, Kelly 111′ | Magull 79′)

WEMBLEY — Championed by a nation, champions of Europe. A feeling as glorious as the swirl of Chloe Kelly’s shirt around her head as she raced to Sarina Wiegman. As sweet as Ella Toone’s chip.

Wiegman likes to talk about “courage”. Imagine the steel inside Kelly, when England feel broken down, slogging through the pains of exhaustion. The ball falls to her for her first ever international goal.

Think of the ice in Toone’s veins. The 22-year-old Manchester United midfielder, barely a year into her Lionesses career and just minutes into her introduction from the bench, watches Keira Walsh’s sprayed pass up the pitch. Let it run, let it run. One touch, then the pause. The final execution, off the toes, just where you can feel the power of the shot inside the boot, past Merle Frohms.

Every one of these Lionesses will have been told countless times throughout their lives that nobody cares about their sport, they have played in near-empty grounds, travelled around on minibuses at great expense and time. This was why. Say it again: England are champions of Europe. And Wiegman is a double champion. Find a coach who thinks they can beat her at a Women’s Euros and you will have found a liar.

Wembley had still been rocking from Toone’s strike when Lina Magull, like a pin hovering perilously close to the balloon, rattled the post. Germany’s goal was coming – step forward Magull, England exposed by a familiar flimsiness down the left to give Tabea Wassmuth space to create the equaliser. It was some finish from Magull, too.

But this was England’s day. Here were 87,192 – the biggest crowd in the history of the Women’s European Championship – roaring them on to victory, backed by millions at home. What has Wiegman done to this country of cynics?

Ella Toone! What a moment! #BBCEuros #BBCFootball

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 31, 2022

For some, this will have been the first step of that journey they have taken in; they will not have been disappointed. It was gritty, Lena Oberdorf more guilty in hauling down Fran Kirby than Georgia Stanway was for the nudge on Sara Dabritz that prompted both a yellow card and a furious response from the slighted Bayern Munich midfielder.

They said every woman on the Wembley pitch would be a hero regardless of the result, but referee Kateryna Monzul did not feel like one.

???? OUR ENGLAND. OUR CHAMPIONS. ???? pic.twitter.com/gf4BHUd5fW

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 31, 2022

England did not want to entertain talk of what it meant to face an old rival. Still, they offered the needle the showpiece deserved. At least we were spared another 56 years of debating whether the ball was over the line in a Wembley final between these nations when Ellen White unsuccessfully tried to nudge Frohms into her goal after Lucy Bronze’s lob.

So too were most of Germany’s chances a little scrappy. Leah Williamson somehow got to a goalmouth scramble from a corner so chaotic that Mary Earps could not help but laugh when the ball eventually ended up in her arms. Dabritz had already tried the more glamorous route, Bronze mustering all her courage to produce a block so instinctive it almost grazed the top of her head.

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If you are an England fan, it is understandable to feel the stars never align. Germany will have felt it too, though, in the moments shortly before kick-off when Alexandra Popp emerged with a gold bib draped over the green of their change strip, ruled out with a muscular injury. It was in those stretching chances, the fleeting glimpses carved out so effectively by Germany’s wide players that she was missed.

Her nemesis for the Golden Boot, Beth Mead, had an afternoon that likewise ended in an early exit. With the temperature rising, just moments after Lea Schuller had left a foot in one-on-one on Earps, Mead plunged to the ground but came out of the challenge worse off.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS. ???? ????

England have done it! ???????????????????????????? ????

???? ???? ???? Watch on @BBCOne and @BBCiPlayer. Listen on @BBCSounds.#BBCEuros #BBCFootball

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 31, 2022

From the introduction of Alessia Russo – met with a deafening cheer – to the swap between Mead and Kelly, England will always instil fear into their opponents, even a seemingly unflappable Germany side. Even one which has won this tournament eight times. They have been here before and they will no doubt be here again.

But never has a final commanded the prestige of this one, the most spectacular day in the history of women’s football in this country. There are too many names to recount, but as the architects who made England’s run to the final possible have always said, “build it, and they will come”. A fitting occasion to cap a summer that changed the game forever.

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England women have reached the final of Euro 2022 at Wembley, with only Germany standing between the Lionesses and a historic triumph.

Sarina Wiegman’s players have become household names during their scintillating run to the final, with a 4-0 semi-final demolition of Sweden one of a series of memorable displays.

But with the financial rewards for women’s football still lagging far behind the men’s game, how do the prize money, bonuses and sponsorship deals attached to England’s Euro 2022 triumphs compare?

How much could England earn if they win the Euros?

If the Lionesses triumph against Germany in Wembley, each player will reportedly be paid a pre-agreed £55,000 victory bonus by the Football Association.

It is thought that England internationals receive a match fee of around £2,000 per appearance, which means any player who appeared in all six matches at Euro 2022 could expect to earn about £67,000 from the tournament.

These match fees are the same for both the men’s and women’s teams, the FA confirmed in September 2020.

A spokesperson said: “The FA pays its women’s players exactly the same as their male counterparts for representing England, both in terms of match fees and match bonuses. This parity has been in place since January 2020.”

However, even though Uefa doubled the overall tournament prize money up for grabs at the women’s Euros to €16 million, this represents a fraction of the sum on offer for the men’s tournament last year.

At Euro 2020, the overall prize money pot was €371 million, with the eventual winners Italy earning up to €34 million alone.

Furthermore, it was reported during last year’s tournament that England men, defeated on penalties in the final in heartbreaking fashion, were in line to earn individual bonuses of around £460,000 if they had won.

How will the Euros affect sponsorship deals?

Global brands such as Nike, Adidas and Pepsi will be on standby to offer multi-year deals to the stand-out Lionesses, “worth millions, not thousands” after the tournament, according to sports marketing experts.

However, winning won’t be the only factor which will have a “huge impact” on the sums they are offered.

Experts say the players’ achievements off-pitch will help to determine the size of the fees they will be able to command, from the size of their social media followings to how vocal they are about societal issues.

Star players such as Alessia Russo and Beth Mead will have their pick of commercial deals and other lucrative opportunities regardless of Sunday’s result, industry figures believe.

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Sports hydration drink brands, car manufacturers and food firms will be among those seeking to strike brand ambassador deals with the Lionesses.

However, the players will also field offers from e-sports and gaming companies, and broadcasters eager to have England’s athletes promote their products and front their sports coverage.

“Women’s football has hit fever pitch and a win for England on Sunday will put the rising stars of the women’s game firmly in the sponsorship spotlight,” said Rakesh Dhall, media and partnerships director at digital creative agency 20ten, which works with clients such as McLaren’s F1.

“We will see a major push from brands to invest into women’s football…[and] selecting specific players as brand ambassadors to front campaigns and channel new marketing initiatives.”

Even if England suffers a defeat at Germany’s hands, the players will have considerable earnings potential, according to Liam Hopkins, who leads the sports marketing arm at advertising agency Leo Burnett.

“Regardless of the result on Sunday, the Lionesses will have the opportunity to make significant earnings off the back of the competition as they have so heroically captured the hearts and minds of the nation,” Mr Hopkins said.

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Newcastle United would have to offer close to £60m to tempt Leicester into parting with star midfielder James Maddison.

The Magpies failed with an initial offer of £40m for the England international on Friday. Sources in the East Midlands have suggested that Leicester’s need to recoup transfer funds to finance their own recruitment drive mean that they would need a significant portion of any fee for Maddison up front – which is not how Newcastle would prefer to do business this summer.

i understands Leicester value Maddison closer to the £60m mark, a fee which would smash Newcastle’s current transfer record.

The Magpies hierarchy are considering whether to table another bid but Leicester do not appear to be encouraging further offers. The Magpies also have interest in Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemans and are actively trying to bring in another forward player before Saturday’s Premier League curtain raiser against newcomers Nottingham Forest.

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They have received encouragement from Burnley in their pursuit of Maxwel Cornet but the two clubs are still apart on valuation. The Ivorian missed the Clarets’ season opener at Huddersfield but may return for their game against Luton after negotiations surrounding his exit broke down.

It has been a frustrating fortnight for Newcastle, with Eddie Howe admitting over the weekend that the club had hoped to have a wide player and striker on board by the time the season started.

The Magpies are working with the parameters of financial fair play and are struggling to land their top targets, with offers for Everton’s Anthony Gordon and Jack Harrison of Leeds both turned down.

There is a general feeling the market is a tough one to operate in, with Newcastle far from alone in struggling to land the additions they want. With the season underway next week, there’s hope that the loan market will move up a gear.

Indeed i understands the club are in pole position to sign Timo Werner if Chelsea decide to sanction a move to a Premier League club. Newcastle have registered an interest and are prepared to pay a loan fee and a proportion of his wages – but the Blues are waiting on transfers of their own before letting the Germany international go.

Nearly 90,000 people watched back-to-back friendly wins for Newcastle over the weekend as they warmed up for the season by defeating Atalanta and Athletic Bilbao.

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As a young Chloe Kelly stood by the side of the pitch practising keepie uppies while her older brothers played, all the boys would look on in envy at the skills displayed by the football-loving youngster.

“Everybody in the team knew they were in the presence of greatness and even though Chloe was only about four then, her footballing skills had them looking on in wonder,” recalls Steve Pound, who was MP for Ealing North in London, in northwest London where Kelly grew up and where her family still resides.

The Manchester City player is the youngest of seven siblings, with five older brothers, including triplets.

Pound, whose son Pelham used to play football with Chloe’s brothers when younger – and still plays in a pub football team with her brother Jack – remembers Kelly practising on the sidelines and eagerly throwing the ball in whenever it came off.

“You could just see the frustration and longing to play on Chloe’s face as she stood by the side of the pitch wishing she was on it,” says Pound. “Chloe was absolutely extraordinary and from the moment she could toddle, she showed an incredible talent for football.

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“Even at a young age, the boys were envious of her footballing skills. Everybody in the team knew they were in the presence of greatness. That precocious talent was visible from an early age; not just when it came to footballing skills, but passion for the game.”

He adds: “Chloe’s brothers joke and say: ‘We taught her everything to do with football’. But I think it was the other way round and she certainly taught all the boys a thing or two!”

Like the rest of the nation, Pound has been watching the achievements of the Lionesses in the Euros with pride and describes Chloe as a “game-changing sub”.

“Chloe totally changed the game against Spain when she came on and it is wonderful to see her footballing talents go from strength to strength.”

He also praised the 24-year-old for her hard work and tenacity in coming back from a serious knee injury which ruled her out of the Olympics in Tokyo last summer.

“To come out of a bad injury like she did and train hard shows her great work ethic and persistence,” he says.

“I will never forget that little girl doing keepie uppies at the side of the pitch while her brothers and the other lads looked on enviously at her skills.”

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Ella Toone stood out “like a sore thumb” when she first began playing football as a young girl, her first-ever coach remembers, as her natural talent shone through.

“Ella was naturally gifted and stuck out like a sore thumb because she was absolutely brilliant,” says Lee Povah, who was the founder of Astley & Tyldesley FC and coached Ella in the girl’s team for around three years.

“Ella was quick on her feet, had a good first touch, was really skilful and had an eye for a goal. Our entire game plan as a team was to get the ball to Ella.”

Ella Toone is being hailed as one of England’s secret weapons in the Women’s Euro 2022 as the nation prepares for the nail-biting final against Germany.

Her former coach Mr Povah, who lives in Astley, Greater Manchester, near Ella and her family, says Ella was a youngster keen on football and came to train with them at around five years old,

“I knew Ella’s family and she wanted to play football and came to train with us,” he says. “It soon became apparent Ella was really good at football – she was mustard,” he says. “But at the time, we didn’t have a girls team.

“I was working for Wigan Schools Sports Partnership so I approached Wigan Football Development Forum and on the back of that, we agreed to set up a girls league.”

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Ella, who now plays for England and Manchester United and has previously played for Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers, is a normal girl who has never forgotten her roots according to Mr Povah, who still sees her regularly at matches for local club Hindsford AFC in Tyldesley, Manchester, where a lot of her family still play.

“When Ella came training with us, there were not any girls’ teams in the area, so we set up Astley and Tyldesley Girls and a league to get her and girls like her playing football because that’s what they wanted to do,” says Mr Povah.

“I can’t take much credit for Ella as a footballer as she did it all herself. She was so committed and played football all the time and was always kicking a ball about.

“Everything she and the Lionesses have achieved is brilliant. It is not just massive for girls’ football, but the sport as a whole as there’s been a huge interest in it because it is football competing at the highest level.”

Mr Povah says even though Ella is now a famous international player, she has stayed grounded and he sees her regularly watching Hindsford’s first team on a Saturday.

“Ella is a really nice, normal girl with a great sense of humour and there’s no edge to her,” he says. “She still comes back to watch local football and isn’t arrogant or bigheaded and just loves football.”

Lorraine Warwick-Ellis, head of women and girls development at Astley and Tyldesley FC, tells i the club is buzzing at the success of the Lionesses and the youngsters are full of pride to know Ella began playing grassroots football there.

She also revealed the rise of women’s football and the amazing achievements of the Lionesses have led to a huge increase in the number of young girls who want to play football.

“I used to run a girl’s team at the club when my daughter was younger, and there was a time when we struggled for players, and would ask any girls we knew who were even remotely interested in football whether they’d like to join,” she says.

“But over the last two years, we have had such an influx of girls wanting to play football, we are now running a team for training little girls under the age of seven who aren’t old enough to join a team yet, and they are called the Little Lionesses.”

Ms Warwick-Ellis says as Ella’s grassroots club, they were invited by the FA to watch pre-season training before the Euros in mid-June and around 45 children and 15 adults went along.

She added: “It was absolutely amazing and everyone was buzzing and it gave the young girls a massive boost about what is possible.

“Women’s football getting more publicity and attention has done a lot to inspire girls as if they can see it, they know they can be it.”

Simon Ellis, chairman of Astley and Tyldesley FC, says the club is immensely proud that Ella began her foray into football with them, and was one of the very first girls to join their girls’ team.

“I remember at the time hearing through word-of-mouth from her coaches that they had a cracking player who showed real promise,” he says.

“It is amazing that Ella now plays for England, and it is really positive that someone showed the determination and drive to succeed at a young age followed her dream and achieved success through hard work.”

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No matter how exhausted Mary Earps was after a match, she always found time to sign autographs and pose for photos with young fans.

The England women’s goalkeeper who has played a starring role in Euro 2022, first played football for West Bridgford Colts under 10s, before steadily rising through the footballing ranks, playing at Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Birmingham City, Bristol Academy and Reading, before joining the German club Wolfsburg.

Neil Evans, who was PA announcer at Bristol Academy’s grounds while Mary was there, tells i that Mary always got one of the biggest cheers when he announced her name, and was popular with fans and fellow players.

He strongly believes her kindhearted nature and team ethic has helped lead to her deserved glory as a footballer.

“After games, when Mary would understandably be tired and probably want nothing more than to head to the changing rooms, she would spend longer than any other player signing autographs and posing for pictures with young fans,” he says.

“The young girls just adored Mary and I am certain she will have inspired many of them to go on and play football. She was a delightful person.”

Neil, who was also Bristol Academy’s mascot Vicky the Vixen for a while, says he watched Mary warm up and train and was always struck by her confidence and the way she wasn’t afraid to take charge as a goalkeeper.

He says “Mary Queen of Stops” is a great nickname for her given her excellent goalkeeping skills.

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“Mary was very vocal and assertive and was fabulous at organising the players,” he says. “She was a really nice person off the pitch too and was good fun to be around.

“Although being a goalkeeper is a very individual position, she did not behave like she was an individual and was always part of the collective team.

“She helped and supported the younger goalkeepers and her understudies and never worried about her place being stolen as it was always about helping others and knowing it was a team game.

“The team meant everything to her and it was not about Mary Earps and that has carried on throughout her career and I think that’s why she is now playing for England.

“Goalkeepers often get blamed when things go wrong, but there’s also a lot of glory. I feel Mary deserves all the praise she is getting. It is great to see her making the most of her talent at England.”

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An all-female Royal Air Force crew will roar on the Lionesses with a spectacular flypast over a sold-out Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

Ahead of the historic women’s Euro 2022 final between England and Germany, a C-130 Hercules crewed by three women, flanked by two Typhoon fighter jets, will soar over the stadium at 4.57pm.

The planes are expected immediately after the national anthems are played, before kick-off, the Ministry of Defence said.

The Hercules will fly from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and both Typhoons will take off from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

In the Hercules cockpit will be Flight Lieutenant Lauren, who has been in the Air Force for 12 years.

She has deployed all over the world, including Afghanistan, where she helped train the first female Afghan pilots.

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Speaking about the flypast, she said: “I am proud to be piloting the lead aircraft for the flypast over Wembley.

“I’ve flown missions all over the world with the RAF, but this will be one of the most memorable.

“It’s been inspiring to watch the Lionesses progress and I will be loudly cheering them on as soon as I land back at RAF Brize Norton.”

Ahead of the match, the RAF and RAF Coningsby station Women’s football teams also sent good luck messages to the Lionesses.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace added: “I wish the best of luck to the Lionesses as they take on Germany at Wembley.

“It’s a landmark day for English football and women’s sport and it’s fantastic that the Royal Air Force will be marking the occasion with a flypast featuring an all-female aircrew.”

The Hercules has been supporting Nato exercises in Eastern Europe, airdropping supplies for the troops on the ground and the Typhoon Fighter Ground Reconnaissance Mk 4 (FGR4) has been flying daily on air policing missions.

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Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer have sent their support to the England team ahead of the women’s Euro 2022 final against Germany on Sunday.

As the Lionesses prepare for their date with destiny at Wembley Stadium, the Prime Minister and the Labour leader wrote open letters wishing them good luck before kick-off at 5pm.

Mr Johnson heaped praise on the team saying they had inspired “girls and women who know beyond any shadow of a doubt that football is not just for boys – it really is for everyone”.

Having already made history during the Championship, he wrote: “Your passion for the game, your tenacity in tricky spots and above all your astounding talent on the pitch have already created a summer of fantastic memories for millions of us.

“In any pride it is the lionesses who ruthlessly hunt as a team and bring their prize back home, and I am sure that will be the case against Germany.

“When the referee’s whistle blows tonight [Sunday], I hope that you are every bit as proud of yourselves as England is of you.”

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Sir Keir shared that the Lionesses performances on the pitch had inspired his daughter and while he would not be at Wembley he’d be watching with his family “hoping to see history made”.

His message said: “As a parent, I know how vital it is to see strong, successful role models in sport.

“What you and your team have accomplished this summer will not just be celebrated as a great moment for English football but as one that encouraged and inspired young women like my own daughter.

“For that, I want to pass on my heartfelt thanks. It’s coming home!”

The Euro 2022 final will air on BBC One, live stream on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

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Leicester have rejected Newcastle’s £40m opening bid for playmaker James Maddison.

The Foxes, who aren’t shy on offloading their star players at maximum value, are holding out for closer to £60m and would prefer to keep the 25-year-old.

Maddison has two years left on his contract at the King Power Stadium, having signed an extension in 2020. He joined Leicester from Norwich City in a £20m deal four years ago.

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers is yet to make any significant signings in this summer’s transfer window. The club needs to raise funds through sales in order to reinvest in new recruits.

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Maddison has been one of Leicester’s most influential figures during Rodgers’ reign. He made 53 appearances last season, and helped the club reach the Europa Conference League semi-finals.

It is not known if Maddison would favour a move to Newcastle but the big-spending Magpies are expected to muscle into contention for European places this season – perhaps at the expense of Leicester.

Sven Botman, Matt Targett and goalkeeper Nick Pope have already joined the Toon this summer. New boss Eddie Howe made a swathe of signings in January, spending around £60m on Kieran Tripper, Chris Wood, Bruno Guimaraes and Dan Burn.

Howe is tasked with hauling the team up the league this season. Poaching Wood from Burnley midway through last term effectively condemned the Clarets to relegation, while Howe was able to drag the Toon away from the bottom three.

Backed by Saudi Arabia’s billions but constrained in some ways by Financial Fair Play, Howe hasn’t yet been able to go gung-ho with his chequebook. Newcastle missed out on Leeds’ Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha, while another target Hugo Ekitike left Reims for Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

i understands the Magpies are eyeing a swoop for Chelsea’s Timo Werner, who has failed to justify his £45m price tag at Stamford Bridge since moving to the Premier League from RB Leipzig two summers ago.

Chelsea are undecided on whether to send Werner out on loan, or cut their losses with a permanent deal. Juventus are also interested, while the Toon are open to loan moves in the final month of the transfer window.

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It is a baking hot July late afternoon, the type on which watching other people do exercise from areas of dappled shade feels like the best way to cool down. At Cheadle Nomads FC, a sports ground on the south of Manchester, Stockport County’s players are training. Seven members of the coaching staff watch over three groups performing different drills.

Around the pitch, supporters lean on a fence and catch up on the summer break; most have been counting down the days anyway. On the halfway line, a large gaggle of young children gather either side of the low wall that marks the entrance to the clubhouse. They are reminded to come away from the pitch at irregular intervals, but they gravitate there anyway. There are no Manchester City, Manchester United or Paris Saint-Germain shirts here, only Stockport County. They support a Football League club again.

It could so easily have been different. Few at Stockport ever considered the club becoming extinct, but only because they could not bear to envisage such an eventuality. Four years after hovering around midtable in League One, they were bottom of the National League North, the sixth tier of English football, and basically broke.

The collapse of ITV Digital in 2002 had made life hard. The sale of the club in 2005, without Edgeley Park included, made it virtually impossible. Stockport were stuck paying rent with little means of generating revenue as they slumped down the pyramid.

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Mark Stott saved this club; his money was the difference-maker. He arrived like manna from heaven: local businessman, lifelong supporter, a vision to get Stockport back into the Championship and an acceptance that responsibilities must be delegated to experts.

But Stott’s best idea, the type that really leaves a legacy, was to bring Stockport County back into the bosom of the community that had stuck by it. He cherished people like Steve Bellis.

Over the last 40 years, Bellis has run like a seam through Stockport County. He has served as vice chairman of the Supporters’ Club, been on the supporters’ executive committee, written a sports column for the local paper, worked as the club’s marketing manager and headed the commercial department.

He played a crucial role in persuading the local council to purchase – and therefore protect – Edgeley Park. When attendances were low, he reached out to schools and community outreach programmes to rebuild broken links. Now Bellis is the club president.

At other clubs, presidency could indicate a ceremonial role. Not here. Bellis is emphatically hands-on. He has spent this summer taking the National League trophy around schools, community centres, care homes, children’s wards and pubs. His running joke is that he wants the town to see it for the last time. Stockport have served their time in non-league and have no intention of going back.

“If you do things the right way, it will come good. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t succeed. You have to believe in that,” Bellis says. “I’m usually cautious because I’ve seen the dark times, but I’ve never been as excited as I am now about the future of the club.

“There’s a huge thing about being in the 72 [the number of EFL clubs]. The town gets mentioned on Sky Sports every week. Lots of our fans didn’t ever think we would make it.

“We’ve been around for 139 years. There’s a lot to cherish (and a lot to forget). There’s a heritage there that is our duty to protect. We don’t do the community stuff for effect – we do it because it’s the right thing to do. And it makes so much sense.

“We have had people coming to buy season tickets and at the booth they say ‘the trophy came round to the kids’ school and now they want to come and watch games’. That’s our job, making that happen.”

Stott’s shrewdest move was appointing Dave Challinor as manager. It represented a coup: Challinor had just earned his fifth promotion in non-league football and taken Hartlepool United to League Two. He dropped back down to non-league because he believed in the potential of this club.

During our interview, he twice mentions taking one step back to allow several more forward. Now Challinor is the manager of the favourites for the League Two title.

“I had dropped down leagues before and people always told me I was mad,” he says. “But you have to give yourself the best chance of getting as high as you can. The infrastructure here gives me that chance.

“Everyone at this club knows that there’s an internal pressure to not settle. We want promotions and we want them quickly. We’ve all got things to prove and we all know we need to improve. But we do it together, and that gives us comfort.”

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There is some money to spend, enough to make a difference. There is an intention to build a new training centre in the local area; for now Stockport use Carrington, Manchester City’s former training ground.

Both Bellis and Challinor mention the need to expand Edgeley Park, if all goes well. There is vast potential here and nobody seems to be shying away from it. After years in the gutter, why wouldn’t you aim for the stars?

But underneath it all, the community is the jewel. Challinor speaks of his pride in rising attendances, a buzz around the town towards the end of last season like nothing seen in two decades. This is a football town with a huge population that was looking for a reason to be proud of its football club. Build a team and build momentum, and they will come.

“The work that Mark and Steve have done has given the football club back to the community. You look at the crowds last season, the excitement, the joy when we got promoted. This is a big town and in a big town you need people to support their local club. Ultimately every single person that lives close to the ground and likes football, we want them in Edgeley Park. We know how powerful that is.

“My staff and I are custodians of this club. The supporters will always be here, they are the only constant. This is their club. And we needed to make sure that they knew that. The community is our greatest partner.”

As the session finishes, the kids spill onto the pitch with their families; this is why they are here. Stockport have organised the open training so that players and staff can interact with fans. Players pick up toddlers and pose for photographs. A small game breaks out, with first-team players and kids passing the ball to each other.

One child, younger than primary school age, tells striker Connor Jennings that he is coming to the first home game of the season. “I’ll see you there, mate,” is the reply. The child beams a smile that could last until his next birthday.

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