Three Lions youth teamers achieve glory at World University Games in Russia
Nineteen England Women’s youth team players helped Great Britain win gold at the World University Games in Russia.
Led by our U15 Head Coach Kay Cossington, Britain crushed Mexico 6-2 in the final, aided by two goals from player of the match Fran Kirby, an Under-23 international and a student at Buckinghamshire New University.
Naomi Cole, Aileen Whelan, Dan Carter and an own goal from Cristina Ferral Montalvan completed the scoring.
Great Britain made it to the final by beating Brazil and Estonia in the group stage, either side of a 2-1 defeat to Japan. They then put eight unanswered goals past Ireland in the quarters before defeating Brazil once more, in the semi-final.
Five squad members helped England win the U19 Euros in 2009, including skipper Michelle Hinnigan.
And it came on a day when former England youth team star Toni Duggan made a name for herself in the senior set-up by grabbing an added-time equaliser against Russia at Euro 2013.
Cossington said: "It's a great achievement.
“Winning is what we came here to do, and thankfully we've achieved that.
"Personally, in terms of achievements, this is up there with the best of them. I'm completely overwhelmed.
“We've always known we have goals in us - it just takes for us to get one or two ahead and the floodgates open, we play with such confidence and creativity.
"[Fran Kirby] has had a tough time with a number of things, missed out on international football, and to see her receive that award [player of the final] was overwhelming because I know what journey she's been on."
Kirby added: "It's absolutely amazing, everything everyone dreams of when they come here.
“We knew what we wanted to do, but it's incredible that we managed to do it.
"We knew we could score goals second half, we found out what their weaknesses were, and used that to our advantage.
"It's been amazing. The staff have been wonderful and it's an experience I'm never going to forget."
Great Britain
Ashley Baker, Naomi Cole, Jemma Rose, Kerys Harrop, Demi Stokes, Kasia Lipka, Michelle Hinnigan (C), Isobel Christiansen, Danielle Carter, Fran Kirby, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk (Aileen Whelan, 59).
Squad in full:
Goalkeepers
Ashley Baker, Mary Earps, Dan Gibbons
Defenders
Sam Chappell, Naomi Cole, Kerys Harrop, Grace McCatty, Billie Murphy, Jemma Rose, Victoria Williams
Midfielders
Isobel Christiansen, Michelle Hinnigan, Kasia Lipka, Demi Stokes
Forwards
Danielle Carter, Beth Donoghue, Fran Kirby, Katie Stanley, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk, Aileen Whelan.
