Manchester United’s Mary Earps and Ella Toone took to the BBC Sports Personality of the Year stage in Media City tonight alongside their Lionesses team mates to talk about their Euro win and how it has changed the perception of the people about women’s football in the UK. .
As a reel showing their journey in competition played, Toone and Earps joined teammates Alessia Russo, Jill Scott, and Ellen White, among others, as they revisited those celebrations.
The United and England goalkeeper was asked about her decision to dance on the table at Sarina Wiegman’s press conference, a clip that has since gone viral: “I wasn’t really sure the table would hold me,” joked.
When asked how her life has changed since that win, Ella Toone said of being recognized on the street: “They just yell at Tooney like 10 times until I talk back to them.”
He continued: “We didn’t have as many footballers to look up to so it’s good to inspire the next generation and let it continue for a long time.”
Las Leonas won the Team of the Year award in what was a historic night for women’s sports.
Jill Scott, Queen of the Jungle, mentioned that it would now be normal for little girls to ask for football boots for Christmas while beaming from ear to ear.
While accepting the Team of the Year award, the Lionesses who were present remained on stage as manager Sarina Wiegman was revealed to have won the Coach of the Year award.
Wiegman delivered an emotional speech acknowledging what her team did for women’s sports last summer, backing it all up with facts and figures on how many people witnessed her team’s accomplishments.
The top prize went to tournament Golden Boot winner and player of the tournament Beth Mead, who managed to ditch her crutches and walk onto the stage despite having recently had surgery after tearing her ACL.
Through tears, she thanked her teammates and family and once again acknowledged the impact last summer had on the young women.
It was an unprecedented feat and another historic victory for women’s football to be recognized at such prestigious awards.
