Two Bedfordians who now live in Sydney, Australia say watching the Lionesses in the Women’s World Cup final was “like nothing else they have ever experienced”.
Jenny Harris, originally from Bedford, spoke to the Bedford Independent, after watching the England women’s national football team battle valiantly against Spain in their first-ever Women’s World Cup final, and the first football World Cup final England has reached since 1966.
“To watch England play in a World Cup Final having waited for this moment all 49 years of my life was incredible,” she said.
“To be there in person to support them was a real privilege and although the result was not what we wanted I am so grateful we could be there. A dream come true.”
Jenny Harris and her husband Tim, grew up in Bedford and lived in Brickhill and off Kimbolton Road, respectively. They met at The Old Bank Pub (now the Blue Monk restaurant) on Bedford High Street in their teens.
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Moving to Sydney in 2000 for what was supposed to be a few years, they decided to stay and now have four children, Cara, 17, Sam 15, and twins Harry and Ben who are 10.
“The atmosphere was truly amazing,” Jenny told us. “Like nothing else we have ever experienced and we went to seven women’s world cup games in Sydney.”
Having an international football tournament on their doorstep was a treat for the whole family but none more so than their oldest daughter, Cara.
“All our kids play football, but the one with real talent is Cara. I have to be honest though she is fully an Aussie and dreams of being a Matilda one day.
“I have no doubt though that when an England scout sees her play we’ll be able to persuade her to be a Lioness for sure.
“This tournament has been a huge inspiration to her. She was already an incredibly dedicated and hard-working player and this Cup, and the success of both the Matildas and the Lionesses, have ignited a fire in her and so many girls to continue to strive to be the best they can be.”
With both parents from England and the children being born in Australia, Jenny said it did make things a little interesting.
“The semi-final when England played Australia was a remarkable experience too. I have never been so outnumbered in a sporting crowd in my life,” she said.
FIFA say the 2019 tournament had a worldwide audience of 1.2 billion people, it is expected to reach 2 billion in 2023, but while full official worldwide figures have yet to be revealed, the England v Spain final did attract a record UK audience.
- The BBC said there was a peak audience of 12 million viewers on BBC One, higher than the men’s Wimbledon final in July which peaked at 11.3 million.
- Along with ITV, the combined peak audience hit 14.4 million on Sunday, which is the highest TV audience in the UK for a Women’s World Cup final.
- The record for a women’s game in the UK was set in 2022 when 17.4 million watched England win the 2022 Euros final
Jenny hopes the impact of the tournament will be lasting and inspire many more.
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“We absolutely hope this will have a lasting impact on women’s and girl’s football and sport in general in England, Australia and the rest of the world,” she said.
“In this country, the semi-final was the most watched sporting event ever. The country has massively got behind women’s football and it is amazing to see.
“The final was history being made for us and I completely believe the Lionesses will only get better and stronger and continue to inspire kids to play football.
“My twin boys have pictures of Earps and Kelly and Russo on their walls now. Who would ever have thought that would happen?”
The Harris’ weren’t the only ones who were watching the match from further afield.
Chris and Lucy Walker, who now live in Perth, Australia, took some time out from their holiday in Bali to catch the game.
Lucy said after the match, “They [the Lionesses] did so well, they should be proud”.
