Sport underwent a permanent transformation this summer when Leah Williamson and the Lionesses claimed the UEFA Women’s Euro trophy. The magnitude of their accomplishment was acknowledged in a toast last night at the 25th annual GQ Men of the Year in partnership with Boss by actor and Arsenal supporter Will Poulter and Williamson’s former teammate Alex Scott. “I am eligible to be here because I am an Arsenal supporter,” Poulter stated. “She’s basically lived and realised any footballer’s dream and it couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person.”
“You’ve used your time incredibly well so far,” he continued, “and I think I speak for everyone in here who hasn’t won the Euros, which is the majority of us.” Scott added, “This is one of my best friends, so I’m speaking from the heart.” You belong to a group of Lionesses who were able to give us all hope that everything would come home, and it did. Above all, my daughter, you do everything with such grace and charm.
Over the past year, women’s football has finally gained respect, and Williamson and her colleagues are motivating the next generation of young women in football and other sports. “When I stand in front of you all, I represent a group of people who have been overlooked for so long and the injustice hurts me every day, it’s what inspires me every day,” Williamson said yesterday night when he took the microphone.
Williamson talked extensively about her accomplishments and what they meant outside of sports in her most recent GQ cover interview: “There are many strong, inspirational women who aren’t necessarily football players that I’ve always admired,” he continued. “I didn’t want to be them, and I didn’t want to do what they did. They yet encouraged me to be myself. The important thing, in my opinion, is that the young girl should to learn that she may pursue her dreams; she does not need to want to be a football player. Almost until this summer, we’re doing something that still feels wrong.
Any notion that women’s football doesn’t merit the same level of publicity, attention, or financial gain as men’s football was dispelled by the Lionesses’ historic victory this summer. Williamson declared, “I’m a ‘prove it to deserve it’ person.” “When it comes to things that require investment before you see the results, I’m reasonable and practical. We now have the ability to request items. I’m bringing evidence.