Lionesses celebrate with McDonald's, pub lock-ins and family reunions

Lionesses celebrate with McDonald’s, pub lock-ins and family reunions instead of bus parade and No 10 reception – as Liz and Rishi both say they WILL host them if they become PM (but not until autumn)

• The Lionesses’ departed for a well-deserved rest yesterday after their Euro 2022 heroics on Sunday night
• Ella Toone received a very warm welcome as she was serenaded with a chant about her and Alessia Russo
• Goalscoring hero Chloe Kelly, who won the match in the dying embers, met her hero Bobby Zamora on GMB
• There was no bus parade for the new champions of Europe as they made do with a party in Trafalgar Square

Members of the Lionesses championship winning squad celebrated with McDonald’s pub lock-ins and family reunions instead of a bus parade, and could have to wait until the Autumn before attending a function at Downing Street.

The squad, which had a hastily-arranged celebration in Trafalgar Square yesterday after their heroic exploits against Germany in the Euro 2022 final on Sunday, have been living life to the fullest over the last 48 hours.

Goalscoring hero Ella Toone was serenaded by patrons at her local pub as she returned home, while Beth England got the chance to relax with her dogs after a hectic few weeks and Leah Williamson treated herself to a well-earned McDonald’s.

Meanwhile Chloe Kelly, who scored the winning goal in extra time, was left speechless after meeting her hero Bobby Zamora on TV this morning. 

After partying the night away at their hotel in Teddington on Sunday night, England’s Euro 2022 heroes could be forgiven for taking it slow the next day.

There were some blurry eyes as they emerged from The Lensbury yesterday morning, although that didn’t stop the likes of Jess Carter having an early beer.

The team then headed Trafalgar Square in the capital, where they enjoyed a party atmosphere in front of thousands of adoring fans who had come out to celebrate the victory.

It was a little short of the open-top bus parade that is customarily granted to title-winning teams, with a source close to event planners suggesting it would have cost £1million to put together and would have needed to be planned months ago.

And the group might have to wait until the autumn for a meet and greet at Downing Street after both Tory leadership contenders – Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss – said they would host the team if they became Prime Minister in September.

Ella Toone celebrated with a trip back to her local pub in Tyldesley, near Wigan, with friends and family, where she was serenaded with a song by patrons

Leah Williamson and Beth Mead treated themselves to a well-earned McDonald’s yesterday after their trophy-winning exploits on Sunday

Bethany England poses for a photo with two of her dogs, with one of them even wearing her winners medal, after she returned home yesterday

The Lionesses’ haven’t let these events get them down though, and they have since gone their separate ways to enjoy the celebrations with their families and friends.

Some took the chance to enjoy the simple pleasures – Leah Williamson and Beth Mead went for a meal made for champions by picking up a bite to eat at McDonald’s as they headed home.

In a post on Instagram, Williamson shared an image of Mead cradling two bags of McDonald’s with the caption reading: ‘Couldn’t be more deserved could it?’

Meanwhile Ella Toone, who scored the first goal in England’s 2-1 victory, ended up with family and friends in the Union Arms in Tyldesley, near Wigan, her local pub.

 In a video posted on her Instagram, the 22-year-old Manchester United forward can be seen singing a song about herself and team mate Alessia Russo to the tune of ‘Rocking’ All Over the World’ by Status Quo.

Striker Bethany England had a lovely reunion with her pet dogs, even hanging her well-earned winners medal around one of their necks after arriving home yesterday.

Posting the adorable picture on Instagram, she wrote: ‘I’m home and so is football.’

The sound to the video was muted, but Ms Kelly showed family members and friends gathered outside as they celebrate the Lionesses win

Ms Kelly took to her Instagram on Monday to passionately share with fans that she is ‘still buzzing from yesterday’ before posting a video outside in the sunshine with her family and friends

Chloe Kelly, who scored the winner in extra time on Sunday, spent her Monday evening in a slightly more relaxed environment by chilling out with family and friends.

This was followed this morning with a dream come true, as she spoke to her hero, QPR and England striker Bobby Zamora. 

Kelly, who is a fanatical QPR fan, was almost lost for words as Zamora appeared on Good Morning Britain, where he congratulated her and called her a ‘national hero’.

There was disappointment in some quarters that there was no open-top bus parade for the new champions of Europe, but a source close to the event planners suggested the mooted £1million price tag had been taken into account when deciding whether to host one.

It is understood that the parade would have had to be planned months ago and the money spent, even if England had lost, raising concerns it would be safer to spend it elsewhere such as on grassroots football and facilities. 

The source added there were no double standards, as the same decision had been made that even if the England Men’s team had won it’s European Championship final against Italy last year, there would also be no parade. 

 However, they enjoyed a party in Trafalgar Square instead, where around 7,000 supporters went wild.

Many of the players were wearing dark sunglasses after MailOnline revealed that they were dancing and singing in their hotel until 4am – but roared on by the crowd they proved they were ready to celebrate again this afternoon.

Addressing the huge crowd in central London today, captain Leah Williamson raised the trophy and said: ‘We’ve partied more than we’ve played football in the last 24 hours’.

She added: ‘What we’ve done for women and young girls that can look up and inspire to be us. I think England have hosted an incredible tournament and we’ve changed the game in this country and hopefully across Europe and across the world. But we said we wanted to make our legacy about winning and that’s what we did’.

England’s matchwinner Miss Kelly, who serenaded the crowd with a rendition of Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline before dancing wildly on stage, said: ‘I ain’t stopped dancing, my feet just keep going. Everyone’s absolutely buzzing. We had a good night last night but some of us were a bit worse for wear this morning’. 

England players including match winner Chloe Kelly sing Sweet Caroline on stage during a fan celebration to commemorate the historic UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 triumph

England’s Lionesses go wild with their staff as they celebrate the country’s first major title since 1966

Ticker tape explodes as Leah Williamson raises the trophy aloft at the Euro 2022 victory party in Trafalgar Square

Rachel Daly then took the mic and began belting out Tina Turner classic River Deep Mountain High as her teammates danced around her.

The women will now get some well-deserved time off, before the prospect of a meeting with the new Prime Minister next month.

Tory leadership contenders Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss have both pledged to host a reception in Downing Street for the Lionesses if they become the new prime minister in September.

A spokesman for the Truss campaign said: ‘The Lionesses have been an inspiration to our nation.

‘Liz will host a reception in No10 if she is Prime Minister in September and her government would ensure the Lionesses are recognised for their historic victory in a suitable way.’

Mr Sunak’s team made the same pledge. He has already said he wants the UK to host a women’s World Cup and grow the game domestically.

In an image that will live long in the memory, Chloe Kelly swings her shirt over her head after scoring the winning goal and securing the title

Leah Williamson and Millie Bright of England lift the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Trophy after their sides victory during the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final

There has been anger though that the team who captured the hearts of a nation will have to wait that long, with questions as to why current Prime Minister Boris Johnson is unable to host them in the meantime.

Downing Street said the PM would be at the funeral of Northern Ireland peace process architect Lord Trimble on Monday, and would then be taking leave from Wednesday to Sunday. 

Shadow Culture Secretary Lucy Powell MP said: ‘Frankly, women’s football is used to this level of disrespect, which says everything about this zombie government and a Prime Minister who has checked out. 

‘The Lionesses deserve equal treatment and Boris Johnson should honour their fantastic victory with a Number 10 reception.’

Lionesses set to be given honours by Boris Johnson, No 10 confirms – but there will be no new bank holiday after win

Boris Johnson will ‘definitely’ want the Lionesses to receive ‘the recognition they right deserve’ after England’s historic Euros triumph, No 10 has said.

Asked if the Prime Minister will back damehoods for the team following their win, his official spokesman said: ‘The Prime Minister would definitely want to see the team receive the recognition they rightly deserve for their historic victory.

‘On honours specifically, there is obviously a process that is a matter for the independent honours committee, but clearly the public want to see (the) Lionesses receive recognition.’

Asked why Boris Johnson did not watch the Lionesses’ match at Wembley, Downing Street said he was following the game from home. His official spokesman said: ‘The Prime Minister did watch the game at home along with, I think, 17.4 million other (people).’

There are ‘no plans’ to add a new bank holiday following the Lionesses’ victory, No 10 said. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘Obviously we all want to celebrate the Lionesses’ win, but there are no plans to change the current pattern of public bank holidays.’

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