Supporting The Lionesses’ Legacy: How FMG Is Powering The Rise of Female Football Clubs

​Few movements in British sport have been as inspiring as the rise of women’s football. Since the Lionesses’ historic UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 triumph, the sport has continued to surge in popularity, reshaping the landscape of community and elite football alike.

Now, following England’s dramatic back-to-back European Championship victory in 2025, the momentum behind the women’s game has reached unprecedented levels. The national team’s success, sealed in that thrilling penalty shootout win over Spain, has ignited a new wave of participation and ambition across the country.

County FA data shows that the number of female football clubs and registered teams in England has more than doubled in the past seven years, with further rapid growth projected. This surge reflects not just a sporting revolution, but a cultural one that demands facilities, investment and infrastructure capable of supporting the continued growth of women’s football in the UK.

A Decade Of Change For Women’s Sport

The UK Government has declared the next ten years a “decade of change” for women’s sport, setting out plans for the UK to become a global leader by 2035. Following the Lionesses’ back-to-back successes, there is a concerted effort to expand opportunities for women and girls from grassroots clubs to elite academies.

In June 2025, new funding was announced to more than double grassroots football slots for women and girls, backed by the Football Foundation and Sport England’s National Lottery investment. These initiatives are helping thousands of women and girls to play regularly, by ensuring that equal access to facilities becomes a reality rather than an aspiration.

The Football Foundation’s Local Football Facility Plans have been central to this mission, mapping out exactly where improvements are needed to deliver inclusive, high-quality pitches, clubhouses and changing spaces across the country.

Meeting Standards And Maximising Potential

As demand grows, clubs are finding that modern football facility development involves more than just providing a pitch. For teams aspiring to join or progress within the Women’s Super League (WSL) or Women’s Championship, facilities must meet specific technical and safety standards.

These include minimum spectator capacities, covered seating, compliant pitch dimensions, medical and welfare rooms and regulated floodlighting levels to ensure player and spectator safety. Meeting these standards ensures compliance, professionalism and sustainability as well as creating spaces where women’s football can thrive commercially and competitively.

For female football clubs, improving infrastructure offers a pathway to attract sponsors, build community engagement and develop local talent pipelines. But achieving that requires clear strategic planning which in turn involves balancing ambition with financial realism and long-term operational sustainability.

How FMG Consulting Is Helping Clubs Deliver The Future

At FMG Consulting, we’re proud to be playing a part in sustaining the Lionesses’ legacy through our work with female football clubs and local partners across the UK.

We’ve recently completed feasibility studies for women’s football clubs looking to develop or expand their home grounds, ensuring that new facilities meet Football Foundation and FA standards while supporting community use. Our specialist team provides end-to-end support for football facility development, from initial feasibility and business planning to funding applications, stakeholder engagement and operational modelling.

By combining demand forecasting, strategic site assessments and financial viability analysis, FMG helps clubs make informed, data-driven decisions about their future. Whether your goal is to enhance a community ground or deliver a new purpose-built complex, we work collaboratively to ensure each project is financially sustainable and aligned with the wider ambitions of the women’s game.

Partner with FMG Consulting to develop the infrastructure, insights and investment strategies needed to sustain your club’s growth and power the next chapter of women’s football. Contact Us

​Image source: Canva