Lioness Ella Toone unveils new soccer field named after her | British News
A new pitch has been unveiled to inspire the next generation of English footballers.
Ella Toone, who played a pivotal role in last year’s Euro-winning squad, was back on home soil this week to officially unveil the Ella Toone Pitch.
The space was named after the Lioness and Manchester United striker after the Premier League, FA and Government’s Football Foundation invested £7.6million in new facilities in Wigan.
The Ella Toone Pitch is one of 23 Football Foundation-funded pitches named after each lionesses in honor of their European Championship victory.
It is not far from Tyldesley, the football star’s hometown, and is due to open this summer.
Toone, who is set to face Manchester City in the Women’s Super League (WSL) tomorrow, said: “It feels like yesterday when I was a kid kicking a ball just a few miles from here, but with the women it’s already changed so much.” Game.
“It’s so exciting to see more and more women and girls wanting to play football and the fantastic new facilities here will enable them to do just that.”
“As a lioness, I feel an obligation to be a role model for the next generation and it is a great honor to do so with a pitch named after me in my hometown.”
“I’m very grateful to the Football Foundation for the opportunity to inspire local girls to fall in love with the game as much as I did.”
The Football Foundation’s HERe to Play campaign kicked off earlier this year with the opening of the Jill Scott Pitch in Jarrow, named after Ella’s former teammate.
Football Foundation CEO Robert Sullivan said: “Ella and the Lionesses are a great testament to the importance of quality grassroots facilities for women’s football.”
“Many of the UEFA Women’s EUROs squad, including Ella, started their rise to stardom in facilities funded by the Football Foundation. “It’s vital that the next generation has access to great playgrounds.”
The Ella Toone pitch, which will include a total of two full 3G football pitches (FTPs) plus a changing pavilion with a community cafe and social room, was made possible by a £3.7million grant from The Football Foundation with a £2.5million grant by the Wigan Council.
Councilor Nazia Rehman, the local authority’s cabinet member for Resources, Finance and Transformation, added: “Ella is a real inspiration and we’re delighted that a pitch has been named in her honor.”
“As a venue for UEFA Women’s EURO and also for Manchester United Women, Wigan Borough is very proud of their achievements.”
England’s Lionesses will travel Down Under this summer to take part in the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
The squad has been plagued by a number of worrying injuries, with captain Leah Williamson missing recently with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
For more information on The Football Foundation’s commitment to women and girls, visit:
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