Geoff Thompson at the draw for the 2005 Women's European Championship.
By Joe Bernstein. Thursday, 20 January 2005.
FA Chairman Geoff Thompson sees Euro 2005, which will be held at grounds throughout the north-west, as a terrific opportunity to boost the public awareness of women's football, which is already the biggest participant sport among females.
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"The tournament is a key priority for The FA," Thompson said whilst at the draw for the summer's Championship. "There will be a series of festivals and road-shows around the tournament which will provide an opportunity for everyone to get involved in women's football.
"The last final in Germany drew a crowd of 18,000 and I hope our fans will come and watch it. Women's football really is good now. International women's football is particularly good, it is an entertaining game and great sport.
"The growth of women's football has been phenomenal in recent years. I am sure if we can get more youngsters playing, England can do well internationally in a short space of time."
Mr Thompson can see a professional women's league in the future.
"It has taken off in America, I was there in 1999 when President Clinton came to a match at Pasadena.
"Here, traditionally football has been a man's game - The FA is 140 years old. It is only comparatively recently that we have recognised women's football, we have addressed it and there is nothing better for education than team games.
"It is a game but it has to be able to develop sufficiently to justify becoming professional. Fulham went professional for a short while. I think this may be the opportunity. If money comes into the women's game, it could become professional."
Sports Minister Richard Caborn was also at the draw for the 2005 Women's European Championship, which will be staged in England this summer.
And he is already looking forward to leading the way in making the tournament a family spectator sport.
"I saw the USA play Brazil in the Olympic Final and it was a fantastic event," he said after watching Sven-Goran Eriksson help pair England and Sweden in Group A!
"I will be definitely attending games and I am sure my two children will also be there. I have a daughter who is very sporty - we've run a half-marathon together."
The European Championship will feature eight nations including England and take place between June 5 and June 19. Matches will take place in Manchester, Blackburn, Blackpool, Preston and Warrington. Manchester City's Eastlands Stadium will host England's opening match with the final taking place at Blackburn's Ewood Park.