World Cup legend says grassroots game is key to football’s future

Sir Geoff said the 2-1 loss to Spain was “bitterly disappointing”, but it was important to celebrate the team’s achievements and look to the future.

The 82-year-old, who was England’s ‘hat trick hero’ in its 4-2 win over Germany in the final of the 1966 World Cup, said, “It’s not about one game of football – it’s about the progress both the England men’s and women’s teams have made.”

Sir Geoff was speaking at an event at Youngs FC, a football club in London, highlighting the fact that The National Lottery is one of the biggest supporters of the grassroots game. Since 2021 – when the England men’s team also made it to the Euro finals – more than £47MMillion of National Lottery funding has been invested into the sport.

Since the first draw was held in 1994, more than £440MMillion of National Lottery funding has been invested in grassroots football in the UK. The funding helps clubs like Youngs FC get established and enables them to maintain and repair their facilities, provide coaching and kit and drive inclusivity in the sport.

Thanks to this investment by The National Lottery girls and boys have more opportunities to play the game and follow in the footsteps of heroes like Jude Bellingham and Mary Earps.

Watching young players being put through their paces at The National Lottery’s grassroots football event, Sir Geoff said, “It all starts here. The amazing thing about the England team is we’re the third youngest team [in Euro 2024]. The investment from the National Lottery that helps young players with their kit and their coaching is fantastic.”

16th July 2024