East Farleigh: England football star Alessia Russo’s Maidstone village where people are beaming with pride

Celebrations could be heard across Kent on Sunday evening (July 31) after the Lionesses beat Germany 2-1 in the Women’s Euro 2022 final. It was the very first time the country has won the competition, and it did so in style in front of more than 87,000 spectators at Wembley Stadium.

But one of the stars with a gold medal around her neck will be remembered for one of the iconic moments of the tournament. Alessia Russo ensured the Lionesses would get their place in the final after scoring a spectacular back-heel in England’s 4-0 semi-final win over Sweden.

It was a moment that put a smile on the faces of many people in the Maidstone village of East Farleigh, where she grew up. The 23-year-old began playing football nearby in Bearsted and has gone on to represent the likes of Charlton, Brighton, Chelsea and Manchester United.

READ MORE: The England Lioness football star from Maidstone who was always ‘absolutely superb’

KentLive headed over to East Farleigh on Monday (August 1) to speak to residents after the local heroine got her hands on the trophy.



Alessia Russo helped bring football home

‘It’s the first match I’ve ever watched’

As we walked along the path near the East Farleigh lock, the first person we encountered was Lynn Edler, 75. She was taking her dogs for a walk the morning after the final, and told KentLive it was the first football game she’d ever seen.

“It’s the first football match I’ve ever watched,” she said. “I tuned in at home with my daughter and granddaughters.

“I’d heard of Russo being a local here and it certainly made me more curious. It was such a tense game but I really enjoyed watching it.

“I think young girls can definitely be inspired by the journey Russo has been on. I live opposite the playing fields and I’m sure we’re going to have teams of girls over there. It’s always boys there but I’m sure things are really going to take off now.”

‘Our paths must have crossed at some stage!’



Norman Hickmott, 87
Norman Hickmott, 87

Norman Hickmott, 87, was outside his home doing some gardening, and said that he enjoyed watching the final on Sunday night (July 31) for one reason in particular. “They were a lot more positive to watch,” he told KentLive.

“It was clear that they were in there to win and they were always looking to go forward, that’s what I liked. Very rarely did you see any back-passing at all. I’d seen bits of the games throughout the tournament. I’d been a building inspector in Bearsted where Russo started playing, so our paths must have crossed at some stage! It’s nice to know that there’s somebody local in the team so that we can all get behind her.”

‘It sets a great example for the next generation’



Jennifer Barker-McCarthy, 34
Jennifer Barker-McCarthy, 34

As we headed back into the heart of the village, we saw Jennifer Barker-McCarthy, 34, outside The Bull Inn pub with her two kids. The local mum said she’d watched the final at home with her kids, and hopes the next generation can be inspired.

“We saw bits of it at home, we all watched it together,” she said. “There was a great sense of achievement and it was a really exciting watch.

“I’d heard that we had someone in the team from the Maidstone area, it certainly makes you interested when there’s that kind of connection there. The win shows exactly what hard work can achieve, it sets a great example for the next generation.

“It’s a good way to encourage young girls into football if they have role models and can be inspired, and it’s nice to see local footballers achieving so much!”

‘We hope there’s now that extra bit of promotion’



Mick Ives, 67
Mick Ives, 67

Back down at the lock, Mick Ives, 67, was taking a walk with his wife Sarah. They believe the Lionesses’ win will have inspired local girls to join teams and get involved.

“We watched the final at home and it was great to see them win,” they said. “We’ve watched women’s football before but I think this has really brought it to the forefront.

“As a family we like to do sweepstakes so we followed the whole tournament. We’d heard of the local connection with Russo which is always great, but we’d have watched it either way.

“I’m sure local girls would have been watching that and are keen to now get involved and join clubs. Maidstone have got a ladies team but we don’t think their games are necessarily as well promoted as the men’s games.

“Our daughter had even been to a rugby match where the women played after the men once everyone had packed up and gone home. I think it needs to be a bit more available and we hope that there’s now that extra bit of promotion.”

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Article Source: Kent Live