Esme Morgan says Sheffield football friendships are ‘enduring’

England defender Esme Morgan has said that the friendships she formed while playing junior football in Sheffield have “carried her through” her international career.

Morgan, now 24, played on a boys’ team for Ecclesall Rangers in the Sheffield & District Sunday League until she was 15.

She said the Lionesses’ celebrations in London on Tuesday after winning Euro 2025 on Sunday were “surreal”.

The team are “so proud” of the older women who have made it possible for the current squad to represent their country and play professionally, she added.

The former High Storrs School pupil thanked her childhood coach Martin Windle “so much” for everything he taught her when she played for Ecclesall Rangers.

“I love Martin to bits,” she said.

“He did such incredible things for me and all the young kids he coached because he just had this infectious enthusiasm, passion, love for football, and he spread that to all of us.”

She said “as the only girl on the team” it would have been easy for the club to dismiss her or treat her differently but “Martin just welcomed me with open arms”.

“He always encouraged me and just spread his love for the game to me and that has really carried me through.”

Many of the boys she played with at Ecclesall Rangers have been in touch to say how proud they were and her advice to girls wanting to play football was to “just enjoy it”.

“That’s all I ever did. Ecclesall Rangers were my team and they were my mates.

“Everyone’s journey is different but as long as you’re enjoying playing, that’s going to take you such a long way.

“Keep listening to your coaches and following your love for the game and eventually opportunities will come along and you just have to take them where you can.

“But for the most part, follow your love for football and enjoy playing.

“Because if nothing else, it brings you incredible friendships.”

Morgan joined Manchester City’s academy as a teenager and now plays her club football in the US.

She added: “I made friendships that are going to endure a lifetime and that’s the most special part of it.”