Reflecting on the Lionesses’ historic back-to-back Euros victory and the momentum behind women’s sport, we wanted to explore what this success means for communities in London, the urgent need to protect and invest in grassroots facilities, and how we can turn inspiration into lasting legacy for women, girls, and non-binary people across sport.
Chloe Morfey-Greenberg, London Sport’s Sport Welfare Manager, says:
The Lionesses’ second consecutive Euros win has captured hearts across the country, and rightly so. Their achievement is a testament to skill, dedication, and ambition, showing what women’s sport can accomplish with the right support. Alongside this, the excitement of the Women’s Rugby World Cup is another reminder of the growing profile and potential of women’s sport.
The recent Government announcement promising increased investment in women’s sport is a welcome step. It demonstrates recognition of the value of women’s sport and the impact it can have, not just at the elite level but for communities across the country. This will however, be balanced against the recent and concerning news about funding for facilities and council debt.
Investment at the top will only truly matter if it is matched by opportunity at the grassroots, where girls, women, and non-binary people first experience sport.
Why this matters for London
At London Sport, we see every day the barriers that prevent too many women and girls from accessing sport and physical activity. Our work focused on community sport and building active environments is focused on changing that picture, protecting the spaces Londoners rely on, ensuring they are inclusive and welcoming, and creating opportunities for more people to enjoy the benefits of being active. Whether through local clubs, schools, or community groups, these environments are the foundation that makes lifelong participation possible.
But those foundations are fragile. London is home to 16% of the UK’s population, yet only 8% of its playing fields. Since 2010, local government cuts have led to the sale of more than 700 football pitches across Britain. Meanwhile, 63% of sports halls and swimming pools are over 10 years old, with nearly a quarter not refurbished in more than 20 years. Without urgent action, the spaces that should nurture the next generation of Lionesses risk disappearing.
Partnership in practice
Outside my role at London Sport, I also run Beyond the Ball, an organisation I founded to give women and non-binary people the chance to experience football in a safe, welcoming environment. Here, we see these challenges firsthand. Many of our sessions face cancelled bookings because pitches are prioritised for men’s fixtures, and there is often a shortage of facilities available to book.
Despite these barriers, participants turn up week after week, some who have never played before, others who have moved to the UK and don’t yet have a social network. In these sessions, they build confidence, make friends, and discover a love for football. This is the real impact of grassroots sport, but it can only happen if there are places to play.
Turning success into legacy
The Lionesses’ success, and the growing excitement around women’s sport globally, has the power to inspire a generation. But inspiration alone is not enough. We need urgent investment in local facilities, stronger protections for community spaces, and a commitment to equity in access if we are to build a legacy that lasts.
The question now is whether we can create a future where every girl, woman, and non-binary person, no matter their background, can discover the joy of sport just as these champions did.
At London Sport, we are committed to making sure the answer is yes.
ENDS
For more information, contact [email protected]
Notes to editors:
About London Sport
London Sport is a charity helping all Londoners live longer, happier, healthier lives through being active.
As a strategic leader, advocate and convenor for London’s grassroots sport and physical activity sector, we collaborate with London’s local authorities and other organisations to ensure more equitable access to sport and physical activity.
As part of a national network of 43 Active Partnerships with a collective voice to influence nationally, our work aims to break the link between inactivity and inequality to improve health and wellbeing of those from the most deprived communities
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