Le Tissier Highlights Commitment to Future Generations of Female Footballers

Manchester United captain Maya Le Tissier, who was part of the England squad for friendly matches held last month, stated that she views it as her “job to fight for the next generation” of female footballers. On Wednesday evening, Le Tissier visited Buile Hill Academy, a local school, alongside her team-mate Hayley Ladd. This visit was conducted as part of their involvement with the Manchester United’s foundation. During their visit, they participated in a training session with more than 30 school girls. Following the session, they addressed questions from the girls, signed shirts, and took photographs. Speaking to BBC Sport, Le Tissier remarked, “It’s our responsibility to take the game as far as we can. We’re very lucky to be in the position we’re in now.” She further added, “We can’t forget the work that other players did to fight for our generation. It’s my job now to fight for the next generation.” Le Tissier expressed her desire for young girls to witness their enjoyment of the sport, stating, “I just want [young girls] to see that we have fun and we love what we do. We play football to enjoy the game and to win. We can show them that they can too.” She concluded this point by saying, “It doesn’t matter where you’re from. There’s no reason why they can’t follow in our footsteps.” Ladd commented that the current facilities and opportunities accessible to young girls are “night and day” compared to those available when she began playing football. Ladd also noted, “It’s amazing to see how many girls are involved.” She emphasized the importance of enjoying the sport during school years, stating, “It’s so important to enjoy the game when you are at school. It really enriches your life. You can see there are careers in sport and women are doing amazing things.”