St Helens named best UK town for girls' football ahead of the Women’s Euros 2025

New research from Outdoor Toys has revealed the top 10 UK towns and cities for girls under 12 to get into football, based on access to club teams, casual kickabouts, and elite training opportunities, as well as naming the most influential Lionesses.

Initiatives like the FA’s #LetGirlsPlay campaign, supported by FIFA, encourage schools to get as many girls playing football as possible through its annual Biggest Ever Football Session, boosting their engagement with the sport.

The Lionesses’ 2022 Euros win also massively increased the visibility and recognition of women in football and encouraged a grassroots movement.

Over the past few years, women’s participation in football has increased dramatically. Between 2020 and 2024, the number of women and girls playing football rose by more than half (56%). Schools have played a crucial role in encouraging participation, with over three-quarters (76%) offering equal access to the sport last year, meaning young girls are encouraged to get into the sport earlier in life.

The increase in equal access to football in schools could result from the £600 million in government funding after the Lionesses’ victory, enabling schools to get more football equipment, including goals and target sheets.

Participation off the pitch has also increased. The number of female coaches has risen by nearly (88%), and the number of female referees has more than doubled (113%) over the past five years.

Between 2021 and 2024, attendance at women’s games has more than tripled (239%), showing that interest in the sport has also risen. Search data also demonstrates this, with searches for women’s football and football training quadrupling (374%) the month after the Lionesses won the 2022 Euros. The increased visibility of the sport has helped inspire a new generation of fans, particularly young girls, to get involved in football.