A Lioness super fan has already got her tattoo appointment booked for the faces of her football heroes.
Kayleigh Knipe Thompson is ready to dedicate her left calf for England’s women’s team, saying ‘she wouldn’t be here’ without her love of the game.
The 34-year-old travelled set off at 3.30am from her home in Sheffield, picking up other fans on the way, to make today’s trophy parade.
She told Metro: ‘I’m booked to get all of them on Friday, and have planned out the sketches. I just love football so much.’
Members of both the 2022 and 2025 victory teams are set to make an appearance on Kayleigh’s leg, including Mary Earps, Alessia Russo, Lucy Bronze, and Hannah Hampton.
They will sit alongside the Three Lions badge and a picture of the Women’s Euro 2022 trophy – with the 2025 date also set to be added underneath.
‘I’m also saving space for the World Cup,’ Kayleigh added. ‘I just love all football, and the girls deserve to be remembered for what they have achieved.’
Kayleigh, who is a trained UEFA coach, offered to give strangers a lift down to the celebration as she had room in her car.
She drove to pick up Ellie Green in Salford, who managed to make it over to Switzerland for the final, with the pair becoming firm friends despite meeting for the first time today.
Ellie said: ‘We had never met before but all of a sudden had a four hour drive down together, but we were just chatting easily the whole way down.’
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Kayleigh added: ‘All the Lioness fans are just like one family, I put the offer out there on a Facebook group because I had space in my car – everyone deserves to go if they are able.’
The Lionesses enjoyed a homecoming celebration today following their historic triumph at Euro 2025.
England supporters were able to get a glimpse of the team in an open-top double decker bus procession along The Mall – ending in front of Buckingham Palace.
At The Mall, one Spanish family have even come to celebrate while they holidayed in London – despite thinking ‘England got lucky’.
Francisco Del Rio, from Malaga, said: ‘The match was very 50/50, and England only one on penalties.
‘But the atmosphere is great, we have had a few people tease us but it’s been great.’
Nine-year-old Arlo Harris insisted he much prefers watching the women’s team rather than the men’s as the standard ‘was just better’.
His mum Sophie left their home in Plymouth with him at 4.30am to make sure they got a glimpse of the trophy.
She said, while dancing with Arlo on her back: ‘They are great role models for both boys and girls.
‘There’s such a sense of unity here. With everything sad going on in the news at the moment, everyone here of all ages is just happy celebrating England.’
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