The Lionesses made history, but women’s football still needs to tackle this one problem

Until recently, major training facilities for wannabee Lionesses were typically found in suburban areas rather than inner cities (Picture: Rob Newell/CameraSport/Getty Images)

When the Lionesses roared to victory in the Euro 2022 final, they clawed back years of negative attitudes towards women in sport. Sarina Wiegman’s squad had kick-started a ‘golden age’ of football.

But as the dust settled and the sound of Sweet Caroline faded, a problem arose.

The England team didn’t reflect a huge number of young women across the country who dreamed of following in their footsteps.

It’s an issue that was recently highlighted in detail by educational charity Football Beyond Borders. In a report, they revealed the Euros success of the Lionesses shockingly had ‘little effect on inner-city teenage girls.’

Former England player Alex Scott called for such a ‘disconnect’ to be addressed, while fellow Lioness legend Anita Asante wrote:‘Young girls who cannot see anyone who looks like they do lack heroines to emulate – and that matters.’

But not all hope is lost as England’s new generation of players have decided to take matters into their own hands, and boots.

For Janna Saliman, tucking in her hijab before a football match is simply part of her routine, like lacing up her trainers.

Janna Saliman, 14, at Leyton Orient’s Emerging Talent Centre, one of 73 across the country

Janna has been inspired by the likes of Nouhaila Benzina of Morocco (Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images)

During Ramadan, she’ll swap energy-draining sprints and intense-warm ups for a light jog and clinical passes. Being Muslim has never held Janna back from playing football, despite the lack of visible role models she’s had on a global stage.

Janna – who plays up front for  AFC Leyton U14 Wyverns team – is ready to create history on her own terms. The 14-year-old, whose mother is Moroccan and father from Palestine, dreams of going pro.

Janna tells Metro.co.uk: ‘I feel like girls can achieve anything. We can do whatever they want to do, no-one has the right to stop us just because we’re girls or because of our background. We all have the same potential. 

‘I am thinking of doing football professionally and I think I could do it if I work hard.’

At a five-a-side tournament at Leyton Orient’s Emerging Talent Centre (ETC), Janna poses for photos with the Women’s Euros trophy on her right and the Premier League trophy on her left. As a result of her leadership and teamwork skills, she’s just been crowned ‘Community Champion’ by England legend Rachel Yankey. 

It was an emotional moment for the former Arsenal player, who admits she ‘doesn’t have the words’ for what her younger self would think of the spectacle.

Rachel Yankey in action next to Kaylyn Kyle of Canada in 2013 (Picture: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Danielle Carter, forward for London City Lionesses, with Janna Saliman and Rachel Yankey

Growing up in Queen’s Park, London, Rachel shaved her head and used the name ‘Ray’ (an acronym of her full name; Rachel Aba Yankey) in order to join a boys team, where her true identity went unnoticed for two years.

‘There is a massive problem with diversity which has been highlighted a lot in women’s football in recent years,’ Rachel, 44, tells Metro.co.uk.

‘The solution is all about access. We want every young girl – no matter their race, religion or ethnic background – to feel welcome. There’s a place for everyone in football, that’s how it should be.’

Until recently, major training facilities for wannabee Lionesses were typically found in suburban areas rather than inner cities.

Rachel sees Emerging Talent Centres (ETCs) as a key way to boost diversity in sport and break down barriers. The centres offer increased playing time, varied football formats and professional coaching, opportunities that didn’t exist for the previous generation of Lionesses.

They’re central and often linked to pre-existing clubs with good facilities. Families can walk or take a bus there instead of needing a car.

Rachel adds: ‘It’s hard to put it into words what centres like this mean.

‘Ten-year-old me would have loved being down at something like this, seeing trophies, meeting role-models and seeing women’s football painted in such a positive light. It’s something we used to dream of.

‘Janna being awarded Community Captain today means, for one thing, she’s a good player. There’s one conversation here about football, but another about the confident, strong young women we are creating through equal access to sport.’

Rachel’s former team, Arsenal, are among the women’s clubs who have been questioned on diversity in recent years.

In a squad photo from 2023/24, it was highlighted that every player in the picture was from a white background.

England starting XI ahead of their clash with Belgium in the UEFA Women’s Nations League in 2023 (Picture: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

In a statement, the team insisted they were making it a ‘priority’ to ‘drive greater diversity and inclusion’ at all levels while ‘creating a sense of belonging for everyone connected at the club.’

Other English clubs, such as Everton, faced similar criticism in the past.

Nadia Rose, a Croydon-born rapper at Janna’s award ceremony, nods when the topic is brought up. She’s previously worked with the Women’s Super League on the ‘Kick it Up’ campaign – where she remixed her cousin Stormyz’s song ‘Shut Up’ – to highlight the fresh eyes on the women’s game.

‘I’m an Arsenal girl through and through, but even I sometimes think “blooming heck” at a game. I would love to see more diversity on the pitch,’ Nadia tells Metro.co.uk.

‘Representation matters everywhere, I’ve always said that. Things are slowly changing but it does take time.’

Nadia speaks while watching teams at the Leyton-based ETC take shooting practice, and interrupts herself to cheer when there’s a particularly good shot.

‘What could have been’, she jokes. Nadia, now 30, played football on the streets of Croydon growing up but never thought about playing professionally.

England’s Lauren James of Chelsea celebrates at Stamford Bridge on November 18, 2023 (Picture: Chloe Knott/Danehouse/Getty Images)

With the women’s game not promoted as widely as we see today, she didn’t witness the likes of Kerry Davis, Hope Powell or Rachel Yankey proudly wear an England shirt. If she had, her life could have been very different.

Nadia adds: ‘Football brought me a sense of community, a squad mentality that – today – I’m all about. 

‘In music you need a squad. A lot of people think you’re doing it alone, but you’ve got your management, a booking agent, family and friends who support you. That unity is something you learn in sport, even as a kid. The fact we’re giving more girls that chance to experience that and feel part of something really is making a difference.’

All eyes are currently on the Lionesses, who have travelled to Spain to take on Austria and Italy in international friendlies.

19-year-old goalkeeper Khiara Keating is among the names on the squad list, after an impressive spell at Manchester City. While it’s unlikely that Mary ‘Queen of Stops’ Earps will lose England’s number one spot, if the teenager does get minutes then she’ll become the women’s side’s first ever ethnic minority goalkeeper.

Rachel Yankey breaks out into a grin when Keating’s name is mentioned. 

Khiara Keating of Manchester City celebrates after beating Arsenal at Meadow Park, Borehamwood on February 11, 2024 (Picture: Andy Rowland)

Keating could inspire a wave of young girls to pick up gloves if she gets minutes over the next week

‘She’s fantastic’, she says. ‘She’s only 19, young girls will see that and get excited. The fact she’s Black might in turn inspire more girls to think “oh, that could be me. That’s something I’d like to do. That’s something I can do.” 

‘The goalkeeper position can be overlooked but it’s come on so much, we could have only dreamed of having a team of  goalkeeping coaches in our day.’

As the tournament at Leyton Orient comes to a close, Janna’s parents arrive to pose for pictures with their award-winning daughter.

The 14-year-old’s proud father, Mahir, speaks of the family’s dream: that Janna will be scouted and play for a national team. They’re keeping an eye on both England and Morocco, the latter where Janna – who also helps with football coaching at her school – would be eligible to play thanks to her mother’s heritage.

Mahir tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Janna is celebrating the diversity situation and is aware of the important boots she fills.

‘We saw the pictures of Morocco’s Nouhaila Benzina, who made history as the first player to wear a hijab at a Women’s World Cup. Players like Benzina are a driving force for girls like Janna.

‘But girls today also just think to themselves “I’m playing football, that’s it.” They have an innate power to do the best for themselves  and what they want to do, without thinking “is this for me?”

‘I think that is the way for the up and coming generation, both boys and girls. It’s natural to them. These barriers are being broken down and I think it’s the new generation that will really make a difference.’ 

The Premier League provides £5.25m funding for the FA’s network of Girls’ Emerging Talent Centres (ETC). Find out more, click here.