Charlotte's euros 2022 Road trip
AF Leaguer Charlotte on getting into women’s football and attending a match on every day of the Euros.
Few people got as close to the action and experienced the buzz of the Women’s Euros as AF Leaguer and Manchester Laces player Charlotte Wilkins. And as a new season of football gets underway, we caught up with Charlotte to reflect on a beautiful summer.
Let’s start with the final. Just how amazing was that day?
Everytime I think back to Wembley and winning the Euros I just get emotional. Even back at work now, seeing our players on BBC Breakfast and things like that I just cry, like, wow, these women are now celebrities and household names, which they should be!
It was a tense match, what sorts of emotions did you go through?
The whole day just went by so quick. I was so nervous, I couldn't speak to people, I was so focussed in my mind thinking ‘are we going to win the euros? Are we going to win the euros?’. The first goal went in and I couldn't believe it, I started crying. Then Germany scored and I thought, ‘that's it, we’re not winning’. I just had a feeling. For Chloe Kelly’s goal I was up the other end so I didn't really see it, I just heard the crowd going and I thought ‘no, wait, don't celebrate, it’ll be VAR, somethings gonna happen’. The whole VAR thing is new to us in the women's game. I didn’t feel comfortable until the final whistle went and then it hit me. We were just crying and celebrating. I couldn't believe we had won the Euros. It was the best feeling.
What were those celebrations like? Who were you with?
I was with a mix of people, mostly from the Manchester City Women Supporters’ Club, then I saw a few people from Laces afterwards. I didn’t even leave my seat until an hour after the game, I was still processing it. I didn’t want to leave that moment. Then I went to meet up with friends in a pub but even along the way I kept meeting people and celebrating! I got there in the end and we were out till late, lots of singing and drinking. I stayed in London that night and went to the victory parade at Trafalgar Square the next day. It was so packed, we couldn’t even see the stage! I thought, ‘this is women’s football now’. It was amazing to see so many people celebrating the win. It was so emotional.
How did this all come about and how would you describe your personal journey through the tournament?
I booked all my England tickets last year and recently got my first car. I just wanted to see all these other countries and footballers that I've loved watching but never seen. Stars who had won the Champions League were coming to England. I wanted to go and see them. With my car I thought nothing can stop me, if I want to drive all the way to Southampton by myself I’m going to do it! I did go to quite a few games by myself. I’m quite a shy, introverted person but I told myself I’d make the effort to speak to people. As a result I feel I’ve grown so much, it really brought me out of my shell. I met people from other countries and learnt about their women's league and how their national team was doing. I even met a Swedish girl and recommended she go to the National Football Museum while in Manchester. She sent a photo of her next to the Manchester Laces jersey, which was a really special moment for me.
What was the atmosphere like at the matches?
The crowds were different at each game. Women’s football is so affordable, apart from the England tickets I didn't pay more than £10 for a ticket. Most games were not sold out so I could move around and sit with different people so it was quite flexible. The crowds at England games were just insane. So many families and young girls which is so important for the future of the women's game. It’s a different atmosphere to a men’s game - no racists, no homophobic - people. Even though we want to grow attendances, the most important thing for me is the family friendly atmosphere at games.
Did you get involved in any fanwalks? I saw some great videos of Netherlands fans singing and dancing.
The Netherlands fanwalk was so fun to watch. Their dance, the side-to-side one, was crazy! Iceland had a thunderclap, which was so interesting because we don’t have that in English football! To see different cultures, how they react to games and bring a different atmosphere. I really enjoyed it. In fact, the other countries’ were some of my favourite games. For England I cared so much, it was hard to enjoy the games because I was just so stressed!
Let’s take things back a bit. What are your early memories of football?
Growing up my parents were not really into football and neither were my siblings. I also went to an all girls’ school so we never played football in PE. I watched the men’s World Cup in 2018 and thought ‘I want to go see the women's World Cup next year’. I went to France and have been following women’s football closely since 2019. I’m still new to learning the rules and playing.
How did you find Manchester Laces and AF?
Lockdown was a lonely time so I wanted to do something active and social. In April 2021 Helen invited me to Manchester Laces. I’d never played football so I wasn’t sure if it was for me. I tried one session of Laces and got to know so many people and felt so confident in myself. It was a safe atmosphere which I really needed, especially working from home, to have an hour where you're not looking at a screen and you can just exercise, be social and be surrounded by people encouraging you to do your best. That's what I needed for my mental health after lockdown. And then through Laces the AF League was created and we signed up as individuals to form Newground United.
What does Newground mean to you?
I feel like they're some of my best friends and really support me in everything I do. They're the first to congratulate me for things in my personal life, and the first to support me if I score an own - goal which I've done quite a few of! It’s so good to have such a supportive team around me, which I didn't realise I needed until now. We’re not winning every game but we’re there to have fun, enjoy it, and improve our game.
How else has AF helped you?
It’s really helped me socially. I was quite shy and quiet, not talking much in games, but now I feel like I'm really shouty and loud! I’ve learned so much about the game. Whenever Paula blows the whistle I ask myself, ‘What can I do?’ ‘Where should I stand?’ I'm always asking her questions and she's the first to help me. Even the opposite team will say when you’ve made a great tackle or save. It's a great community that's helped me to grow my confidence.
And what is your advice for people wanting to get into women’s football?
Go for it! Book a ticket and come to a game and experience it. It’s such a happy experience and I hope after the Euros we can improve attendances at WSL games. Last season we barely had 500 to 1000 people. I hope people come to games and I hope they come and play football. I started playing at 28, it’s never too late. AF and Laces are safe, friendly environments to play football. Come and play and see how far you can get!