Two Blackburn-made professional footballers helped secure England a place in the UEFA Women's EURO 2022 semi-finals last night.

Ella Toone and Georgia Stanway, who both came through the youth set-up at Blackburn Rovers, each scored a goal at last night’s quarter-final against Spain at the Amex Stadium in Brighton.

Their goals secured the Lionesses a place in the semi-finals of the tournament, which will be played on Tuesday in Sheffield.

Last night, the tournament hosts looked in trouble after going behind to Esther Gonzalez’s 54th-minute goal, before Ella Toone drew things level with an equalising goal with six minutes of normal time remaining.

Lancashire Telegraph: Ella Toone equalised for England (Adam Davy/PA)Ella Toone equalised for England (Adam Davy/PA)

Georgia Stanway then sparked delirium among the 28,994 fans in attendance by scoring a stunning winner six minutes into extra time.

 

 

Chants of “football’s coming home” rang round the stadium and England fans went into full party mode as the final whistle confirmed the Lionesses’ progression.

The Lionesses, Euros runners-up in 1984 and 2009, will now face either Sweden or Belgium in the last four at Bramall Lane next Tuesday as they continue their quest for a first major piece of silverware.

Lancashire Telegraph: Georgia Stanway’s stunning strike sent England through to the Euro 2022 semi-finals (Gareth Fuller/PA) Georgia Stanway’s stunning strike sent England through to the Euro 2022 semi-finals (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Georgia, 23, started her career at Blackburn Rovers where she played through the youth system.

She eventually played six games for Rovers Ladies in 2014/15 before joining Manchester City in 2015, making her senior debut for them at just 16-years-old. She recently signed for German giants Bayern Munich.

Ella, 22, played at both junior and senior level for Blackburn Rovers between 2013-2017, making 20 appearances and scoring 13 goals while still a teenager.

Lancashire Telegraph: Ella Toone playing for Blackburn Rovers in 2016 Ella Toone playing for Blackburn Rovers in 2016

She briefly joined Manchester City before moving to Manchester United’s senior team in 2018, and has as been a regular in England women's age-grpup squads before breaking into the senior side.

There is one further Rovers youth product in the Lionesses; Keira Walsh came through the system at Blackburn before signing for Manchester City in 2014.