The National Lottery has given a grant of £1m ($1.3m) to 170 football clubs nationwide. Wyrley Juniors is one of 170 clubs across the country to collect a share of the £1m grant.
This grant comes as part of the National Lottery’s ‘women’s Euro's legacy new team grant’ which is an ode to the Lionesses' victory at the Euro's. The grant has also been given to clubs to encourage more female participation.
Walsall-based football club Wyrley Juniors has secured part of the National Lottery grant and, with the money, it is going to set up five new girl’s teams.
The club is one of the largest in Staffordshire and offers football for people of all ages with nearly 70 teams – soon to be five more.
With the 2023 Women's World Cup now underway in Australia and New Zealand, it is hoped that the number of women and girls wanting to take part in football will continue to grow.
Jo Johnson, Club Secretary of the Wyrley Juniors FC, said: "There was definitely a boost in girls’ football after the Euro’s and hopefully the Women's World Cup will have the same effect.
"We were grateful for a grant from The National Lottery which helped us set up the new teams to cope with demand. Girls were inspired to play football by the Lionesses’ win and now we have really been able to bolster our girls’ section.
“National Lottery funding in the past has also meant we were able to build a clubhouse with big changing rooms and toilets for everyone – it’s been brilliant.”
