From FA ban to double Euros winners - Lionesses reach 500 games

The England women's team trained at Wembley Stadium before heading up to Greenock for their match against Scotland [Getty Images]

The moment it all began - officially.

Although an unofficial England side had played in front of 90,000 fans in Mexico's Azteca Stadium in a global women's tournament in 1971, this was the first proper Women's Football Association (WFA) England team.

It was November 1972 and England travelled north to face Scotland at Ravenscraig Stadium in Greenock.

In front of 400 fans, the Lionesses edged a thrilling game, coming from behind to secure a 3-2 victory.

A year later, the teams played again for England's first official home match and the Lionesses claimed a resounding 8-0 victory in Nuneaton.

First European final (1984)

The Uefa competition for national representative women's teams predated the Women's Euros [Getty Images]

England made their major tournament debut in 1984, competing as one of four teams in a Uefa competition that was a precursor to the Women's Euros.

After overcoming Denmark 3-1 over two games, they faced a two-legged final against Sweden.

The Swedes won the first encounter in Gothenburg thanks to teenager Pia Sundhage's strike, but Linda Curl's goal settled the second in England's favour at Luton Town's Kenilworth Road.

The trophy was decided by a penalty shootout, with Sweden prevailing 4-3 after Curl was unable to convert her spot-kick.

First Wembley fixture (1989)

England women played at Wembley Stadium for the first time in 1989, taking on old rivals Sweden to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the WFA.

The match was played prior to an England men's Rous Cup fixture against Chile, with about 3,000 fans arriving early to watch.

Sundhage opened the scoring, just as she had five years earlier in Gothenburg, before strike partner Lena Videkull made the victory safe for the visitors.

A record-low 15,628 fans attended the following men's match, which ended 0-0.

FA takes control of women's football (1993)

The WFA had been set up in 1969, but struggled to keep up with the sport's growth so the committee voted to pass control to the FA in 1993.

While the WFA had relied largely on volunteers, the FA had the resources and finances to develop and professionalise operations.

In 1994, the FA launched the first Women's Premier League (FAWPL), and was running the WFA Cup, National League and League Cup competitions.

First full-time England women's coach (1998)

Hope Powell served as England manager for 15 years between 1998 and 2013, managing 162 games [Getty Images]

In 1998, Hope Powell was appointed the first full-time coach of the England women's senior team as part of plans to develop the national game.

On the pitch she transformed the Lionesses, leading them to six major tournaments, culminating in final of Euro 2009 in Finland, which Germany won 6-2.

Off the pitch, Powell was a leading voice behind a wholesale restructure of the game, most notably helping to establish the FA National Player Development Centre, devising player performance strategies, and securing central contracts that allowed players to train and play full-time.

England host European Championship (2005)

Seventeen-year-old Karen Carney scored the winning goal against Finland in the Euro 2005 opener in Manchester [Getty Images]

The year 2005 was pivotal as England hosted a major women's tournament for the first time.

The European Championship demonstrated the Lionesses could attract big crowds, with 29,092 fans attending their opening game against Finland at City of Manchester Stadium, and further figures of 14,695 and 25,694 for games against Denmark and Sweden at Blackburn Rovers' Ewood Park.

It also illustrated broader interest in the women's game across the country, with the final between Germany and Norway attended by 21,105 spectators.

The BBC broadcasted all England's games and the final, with the Sweden fixture peaking at three million viewers.

Central contracts introduced (2009)

In 2009 the FA made another big move towards further professionalising the women's game by offering central contracts.

Initially 17 players were granted deals, allowing them to train and play full-time, and get adequate rest time, without the pressure of balancing football around alternative full-time employment.

"We hope this will allow our girls time to concentrate on helping England qualify for major tournaments on a consistent basis and competing at the very top level against the best teams in the world," said head coach Powell.

First podium finish at the World Cup (2015)

The Lionesses had not beaten Germany in 20 attempts leading up to their third-place play-off win in Canada [Getty Images]

England women won a medal for the first time at a World Cup when they finished third in Canada in 2015.

It was a superb campaign as the Lionesses surpassed expectations before being eliminated in heartbreaking fashion as centre-half Laura Bassett's stoppage-time own goal settled the semi-final against Japan.

Nevertheless, Mark Sampson's side rallied for the third-placed play-off, and Fara Williams' extra-time penalty ensured England beat Germany for the first time in 31 years to clinch the bronze medal.

Despite the time difference, the Lionesses were followed by fans back home, with up to 2.5 million watching each game and 11.9 million in total watching some part of their journey.

First major trophy win (2022)

In 2022, the Lionesses became household names as they won their first major trophy.

An edgy 1-0 win over Austria kicked off the campaign before they thumped Northern Ireland and two-time winners Norway to top Group A.

In the quarter-finals, Georgia Stanway's rocket completed a remarkable comeback over pre-tournament favourites Spain, before Sweden were swatted aside in the semi-final, Alessia Russo's backheel the pick of four unanswered England goals.

Like Sir Alf Ramsey's 1966 World Cup-winning side, Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses wrote their names into history at Wembley.

There were 87,192 in attendance as they defeated Germany 2-1 in the final in extra time courtesy of Chloe Kelly's toe-poke.

Raucous celebrations followed with goalkeeper Mary Earps leading a dance on the media conference tables and thousands flocking to Trafalgar Square a day later to watch the newly crowned champions parade the trophy.

First World Cup final (2023)

Lucy Bronze (above) and Alex Greenwood were the only two to feature in England's 2015 bronze medal match and the World Cup final against Spain [Getty Images]

As reigning European champions England headed to Australia as one of the favourites for the 2023 World Cup, albeit without injured captain Leah Williamson and striker Beth Mead, both absent with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.

After three wins from three in the group stage, they battled past Nigeria, Colombia and hosts Australia to reach the final in Sydney.

However, their World Cup adventure ended in heartbreak as they fell to a 1-0 defeat by Spain.

Successful defence of Euros title (2025)

After winning their maiden title three years earlier, and reaching a World Cup final in the interim, there was huge pressure on the Lionesses to deliver a strong European Championship defence in Switzerland.

It started badly, with a 2-1 defeat by fellow contenders France, but from that point on Wiegman's side accelerated.

Emphatic wins over the Netherlands and Wales granted access to the knockout stage, before a nail-biting shootout win against Sweden and a last-gasp victory over Italy secured a final rematch against world champions Spain.

It was another tight contest that went the distance, with Kelly's contribution once again proving decisive as she scored the final penalty in a shootout to defend England's status as European champions.

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