“I would think that she’s about 30 years old,” Ella Toone says of her England teammate Michelle Agyemang.
The reality is she is still just 19, with only four international caps.
It is not so long ago, in fact, that the striker was playing for the boys team at Brandon Groves in Essex.
They are based in South Ockendon, not far from where a young Agyemang would spend her weekends between her local church and the small-sided pitches of a club that has trebled in size over the past five years.
Twice at Euro 2025, Agyemang has saved England from going out, equalising in the quarter-final against Sweden and then in the 96th minute of the semi against Italy.
ENGLAND ARE LEVEL IN THE 96TH MINUTE!
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 22, 2025
MICHELLE AGYEMANG HAS DONE IT AGAINpic.twitter.com/zToCOrbtVQ
Each time, she has raced away, socks around her ankles and defences in shock.
Back at home, the girls of Brandon Groves have come to idolise her – even emulating her style with their green and white kit.
“A few of them play with the socks down quite low with the small shin pads,” vice-chair and coach Roy Enright tells The i Paper.
“A lot of players are doing it at the moment, it seems the fashion. The girls are loving it. We have our own little team chat and it was going mad when she scored.
“The girls are really excited, it’s great for them to see someone who has played for their team can get to the Euros with dedication and hard work and of course, ability. Someone from their area has achieved so much – it’s very inspiring.”
Sarina Wiegman named Agyemang in her squad when she had only played one game for England, in which she scored within 41 seconds of coming on against Belgium in April.
Her impact this summer has been even more seismic.
But before travelling to Switzerland, the Arsenal forward met with the current players of her old side at the England base at St George’s Park.
“It was great to see how she took time to sign stuff, take selfies, speak to the girls, it was brilliant,” Enright says.
“She was very down to earth, relaxed with the girls, the girls were asking her questions, she took time to answer them, sign jerseys, sign footballs, there was no rush.
“She had plenty of time for everyone.”
Brandon Groves now have over 200 players on the books, which is partly as a result of the growth of its women’s side.
Agyemang was one of the only girls playing in the area when she was scouted as a six-year-old.
West Ham are the closest Premier League team, but it was Arsenal who first identified her and invited her to a trial.
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There are now 50 girls who have followed in her footsteps at Brandon Groves and they will gather in the clubhouse on Sunday to watch the Lionesses bid to win a second consecutive European Championship.
This year also brought the girls their first taste of silverware – the Washington Trophy.
“They were really proud of themselves,” Enright says.
“A lot of these girls would not have been playing football until two or three years ago. I started a team up with no girls and now I have a squad of 20.
“They love their football, it’s really taken off since the Lionesses won the Euros in 2022. We’re always getting enquiries from girls. And Michelle will be a catalyst for even more growth.”
from Football - The i Paper https://ift.tt/FYiMC9A
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