England Lioness Lucy Bronze’s dreams coming true, says aunt

Lioness star Lucy Bronze’s “dreams are coming true”, her aunt has said, after England retained their European title at Euro 2025.

Julie Tough said she was exhausted and “quite emotional” after watching the Lionesses defeat Spain during Sunday’s dramatic penalty shootout.

“Goodness knows how Lucy’s feeling, because I feel like I’ve played it with them,” she told BBC Radio 5 Live. “It was nail-biting. I watched every game with my mam. It was exhausting, but absolutely brilliant.”

It came after the Northumberland star revealed she had played in the tournament with a fractured tibia.

Nan Gloria Stapleton, who watched the match at Ponteland Leisure Centre, said she was “exhausted”.

“That was a tense game and I knew it would be a tense game,” Mrs Stapleton said.

“I’m pleased that it was an even game because they are both very good teams.”

Bronze, from Berwick-upon-Tweed, began her football journey as a child with Alnwick Town Junior Football Club.

Chairman Louise Jones said she still had a sore throat after cheering on the Lionesses on Sunday.

“It was wild. The amount of girls and boys that look up to her, especially the girls, it’s just amazing,” she said.

In the quarter-final against Sweden, Bronze was shown on camera self-strapping support around her right leg during a break in play.

On Sunday, she played 105 minutes in the tense encounter with Spain, before leaving the pitch in tears as she was forced off.

However, it was not until the end that she admitted she had played with a fracture the whole time.

Bronze’s mum Diane said the family and team’s medical team knew about the injury all along.

“And not a whisper got out,” she said. “[She] didn’t want anybody else to know.”

Her aunt said Bronze would not “let the pain get in the way”.

“Lucy wouldn’t damage her body but she’ll play through pain if she thinks she’s not gonna do anything worse to it,” she added.

Bronze – who plays full-back for Chelsea – has played more consecutive tournament football for England than any other player.

At 33 years, eight months and 30 days, she was England’s oldest player at Euro 2025 and played 598 minutes throughout, with only Keira Walsh, Alex Greenwood and Hannah Hampton playing more for Sarina Wiegman’s side.

Bronze’s nan said she wanted to play football from a young age.

“She was only three when she was kicking a ball around and she’s never wanted anything for herself, she’s never wanted fancy dresses, she’s never wanted fancy things,” Mrs Stapleton said.

“She just wanted to play football all the time and it’s been her dream and she’s followed it through. But she puts a lot into it, mind, she works hard, she really works hard.”

Bronze’s star potential was first noticed by Alnwick Town Juniors’ coach Ray Smith.

“He turned around and told her, ‘You’ll be playing for England one day’, and he was right,” Ms Jones recalled.

“He mentored her through the whole thing and he really did look after her, and he’d seen it straight away.”

Ms Jones said Bronze was “a proper North East girl, a proper rock”.

“She can prove anybody wrong. Absolutely crazy she’s done it, but she’s amazing.”

She added the Lionesses’ success had inspired more girls and women to take up football.

“When Lucy was with Alnwick Town Juniors, we only had boys teams. Now we have eight female teams,” Ms Jones said.

“It shows they all look up to her”