Haslingden Girls Football Club inspired by the Lionesses to achieve their dreams

Haslingden's Ladies and Girls FC say they have been inspired by the Lionesses to achieve their dreams

A girls' football team in Lancashire have said the Lionesses' success in the Euro final against Germany is a "wake up to the world".

The star players at Haslingden's Ladies and Girls FC in Bacup have said England's women's team have inspired them to "go out and discover our dreams".

The club has been going for 27 years and now has 260 members. The youngest members start aged just four - but they still have not got their own dedicated pitches to play on.

Stephen Ashworth, one of their coaches, says he hopes the Lionesses being crowned Champions of Europe will encourage more investment into the women's game.

The club has already had girls getting in touch to start playing for the first time, inspired by the winning England team.

He told ITV Granada Reports: "We are like Nomads. For 27 years we've played wherever we can, hired pitches, with 20 teams - we keep going every week and it's very difficult.

"The investment is just not there. I hope this win will really change that and bring money into the grass roots game".

Lola, Olivia and Ella, three of their star players, are passionate about football and the record-breaking Lionesses.

They were shocked to learn that when England won the World Cup back in 1966 women were banned from playing competitive games.

Lola told us: "I feel like that was so unfair and that contributed to people's mindsets about girls football now, that boys are better at it.

"I don't think they really are, they just have more opportunities to play."

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