Women’s European Championship tickets sell like hot cakes

Tickets for the Women’s European Championship final at Wembley this summer sold out within an hour of going on general sale on Monday.

A significant number of tickets had already been purchased through a pre-sale and ballot last year, with the remainder released at 8am to mark 100 days to go to the start of the tournament.

The final on July 31 was sold out by 9am, while organisers later announced that all tickets for the group matches between England and Northern Ireland in Southampton on July 15 and England and Norway in Brighton on July 11 had also been snapped up.

England also play Austria at Old Trafford on July 6, with the tournament on course to smash the previous attendance record for a women’s Euros.

The news comes a day after more than 20,000 fans headed to Old Trafford to watch Manchester United take on Everton in the first Women’s Super League match in front of supporters played at the famous stadium.

England sponsor Nationwide has launched a campaign celebrating 50 years of the national team’s captains, from Sheila Parker to current incumbent Steph Houghton.

Parker, Houghton, Carol Thomas, Gillian Coultard, Faye White and Mary Phillip will all have commemorative plaques installed in their honour in their home towns.

Parker’s plaque will be at the football ground in Chorley, and she told the PA news agency: “It’s really nice and a surprise.”

Parker captained England’s first official women’s team in their inaugural match against Scotland in November 1972 and made 33 appearances for her country.

She enjoys watching football on TV these days, and said: “As long as they play football for the joy of playing football, that to me is the main thing. It was marvellous with 20,000 turning up (at Old Trafford).”

England’s best performances at the Euros were runners-up finishes in 1984 and 2009. Sarina Wiegman’s side have made a positive start to this year, beating Germany to win the Arnold Clark Cup last month.

Parker is hopeful the hosts can perform strongly, saying: “Fingers crossed. If they play their football, get their passes correct, their shooting on target, not play the ball back too much, I think they should do well.”

Regarding the ticket sales, the Football Association’s director of women’s football Baroness Sue Campbell said in a statement: “I am delighted to hear there has been a great response from fans wanting UEFA Women’s Euro tickets today.

“The pleasing thing is it is not just England matches that have caught the imagination but also that there is interest in other competing teams.

“With 100 days to go, it brings home just how close we are to England kicking off the opening game at Old Trafford. I was with Sarina and the squad recently and there is real excitement within the group for what’s to come. We are all hoping it is going to be a summer to remember where we can celebrate the very best of women’s football.

“I can’t wait to see fans of all ages cheering the players on and hopefully all generations feeling inspired to get involved as a player, coach, referee or volunteer.”