The English Football Association has submitted a bid to stage the 2021 UEFA Women’s European Championships, with eight stadia forming part of the proposal.
The Amex Stadium (Brighton), Wembley (London), Stadium MK (Milton Keynes), Manchester City Academy Stadium (Manchester), Meadow Lane (Nottingham), ABAX Stadium (Peterborough), AESSEAL New York Stadium (Rotherham) and Bramall Lane (Sheffield) have all been put forward as prospective host venues for the national team tournament.
UEFA’s deadline for bids for the event is tomorrow (Friday), with a final decision on the host nation to be taken by the UEFA Executive Committee on December 3.
England’s national team has reached the semi-finals of the last two major tournaments and the FA is keen to capitalise on the growing interest in the women’s game.
The FA has proposed a country-wide spread of host cities and stadia, with varying capacities. The 90,000-seat Wembley Stadium has been earmarked to stage the final in July 2021 – a year after hosting the equivalent for the men’s Euro 2020.
FA chief executive Martin Glenn said: “Our bid to host UEFA Women’s Euro 2021 reflects our strong commitment to supporting and growing women’s and girls’ football in England.
“We have invested heavily in the women’s game in recent years and the opportunity to bring the tournament to England would represent a landmark moment for women’s football in this country.
“Our aim is to make UEFA Women’s Euro 2021 the biggest and best showcase for women’s football ever seen in Europe. We have not only the ambition, but the tournament-hosting experience, infrastructure and incredible spectator demand to ensure we would deliver a truly memorable tournament.”
Tracey Crouch, the UK’s minister for sport and civil society, added: “On behalf of the UK Government, I give our wholehearted support for the bid to host UEFA Women’s Euro 2021 in England. Our nation has a proud track record of successfully staging the most prestigious sporting events in the world.
“Having recently hosted the Women’s Hockey World Cup, last year’s Women’s Cricket World Cup and soon to host the Netball World Cup, we have demonstrated that the British public have a passion for supporting women’s sport at the highest level with record attendances.
“We are excited by the opportunity UEFA Women’s Euro 2021 presents, which will undoubtedly inspire thousands of women and girls to get active and take up football, whilst showcasing to the rest of Europe and the world our country’s capacity for delivering truly world class events.”
England also hosted the UEFA Women’s Euro in 2005 at venues across the north-west. The most recent edition was held last year in the Netherlands, with the host nation defeating Denmark in the final.
Image: Matt Churchill
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