Women's World Cup: Maidenhead women's player expresses pride over Lionesses reaching the final

A Maidenhead United women’s first team player has expressed her pride after the Lionesses reached the final of the Women’s World Cup.

This is the first time England’s women have reached the final and the first time since 1966 that an England team has reached this stage.

The Lionesses will be taking on Spain on Sunday at 11am and preparations and plans are already being made in the local area for the match.

But following their semi-final win, Maidenhead United Women’s first team striker Simone O’Brien believes the Lionesses’ success will continue to ‘push women’s football and sport in the direction it deserves’.

She said: “I feel so proud, it’s such a strange feeling of being so proud for players you’ve never met but you understand their desire to get where they are and how well they have done as individuals and [as] a group to get to [their] first ever World Cup final.

“It’s never been done, and they have done it. But not only reaching the final, the amount of people behind them along the way is amazing, filling out stadiums across the other side of the world is crazy.

“It makes me so proud to still be involved with women’s sports and it is such a great story to be able to share with these young girls growing up inspired to become a footballer.”

Simone added that while the

Lionesses Women’s Euros success was ‘huge’, some ‘might not still even know of this success’.

But she believes reaching the World Cup final will ‘continue to push women’s football and sport in the direction it deserves to be’ and to receive the support that it should have had ‘a long time ago’.

Simone added: “The game is getting bigger across the world. It is amazing seeing countries like

Jamaica, Colombia, [and] Ireland reach new stages on their World Cup journey, and the work they had to put in to get to this tournament – like Jamaica’s own GoFundMe page.

“With the growth of the sport this needs to be changed and hopefully it will show the world that women’s sport needs the backing across the world, not just in England.

“I’m really excited to see the game grow and grow in the right direction with more fans and the possibilities it will create for young girls following their footballing dream.”

Pubs and venues in the area are gearing up for Sunday’s final, ready to cheer on the Lionesses.

The Maiden’s Head in Maidenhead High Street will be welcoming people in from 11am to watch the game and both the bar and the kitchen will be open for customers to enjoy food and drink.

Over at Potion and Motion in Grenfell Island, celebrations will be kicking off in style, with bunting planned for the big day, as well as a host of promotions.

Doors will open from 10.30am and the game will be shown on two large projectors and all the screens in the venue.

A host of drink promotions are being put on at the venue, as well as 20 per cent off all drinks except for promotions.

Steven Hession, supervisor at Potion and Motion, said: “I think it will be a good, busy day and hopefully everyone will come out and turn out to support the ladies.”

In Twyford, the Duke of Wellington will be open on Sunday, ready to cheer on the girls.

Pub owner Jon Blower, said: "We’ve all been watching and cheering on the Lionesses here at The Duke of Wellington and can't wait to see the ladies lift the trophy on Sunday.”

Burnham Royal British Legion will also be open from 10.40am on Sunday for the match.