Rotherham United and Sheffield United hoping to stage top women's international football

Sheffield and Rotherham have been confirmed as hosts by the Football Association in its bid to win the rights to host the UEFA Women's European Championships 2021.
Councillor Mary Lea: Welcomed bid.Councillor Mary Lea: Welcomed bid.
Councillor Mary Lea: Welcomed bid.

Bramall Lane, home to Sheffield United, and Rotherham United’s AESSEAL New York Stadium are among nine venues chosen by the governing body.

Inclusion in the list of proposed cities and stadia reflects the growth of the women’s game in the South Yorkshire area, with Sheffield United Women recently granted permission to play in the second tier of the Women’s Super League.

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Councillor Mary Lea, cabinet member for culture, parks and leisure, said: “Sheffield’s presence, along with Rotherham, shows the growing support and involvement in women’s football across South Yorkshire.

“This is great news for the women and girls involved in playing football, and their families and friends, as their footballing heroes and role models could be heading for the city.”

The 16-team tournament was most recently held in the Netherlands in 2017.

The other proposed stadia included in the FA’s 2021 bid are: Amex Stadium (Brighton), Wembley Stadium (London), Brentford Community Stadium (London), Stadium MK (Milton Keynes), Manchester City Academy Stadium (Manchester), Meadow Lane (Nottingham), ABAX Stadium (Peterborough).

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The deadline for bids is Friday and England expect to face competition from Austria and Hungary when the decision is made by UEFA’s executive committee on December 3.

FA chief executive Martin Glenn said: “We have invested heavily in the women’s game in recent years and the opportunity to bring the tournament to England would represent a landmark moment for women’s football in this country.”