The FIFA Women’s World Cup has begun. My kids have their wallchart up, England shirts dusted down, and the Lioness’ debut game beating Haiti 1-0 on Saturday morning proved a solid start.

Given England’s spectacular success in the Euro’s, the anticipation for this biggest of all  tournaments is profound. Over 50 million people tuned in to watch the Lionesses beat Germany last year, and it’s no exaggeration to say that one match changed the face of women’s sport in this country forever. I remember the choruses of Sweet Caroline and It’s Coming Home joyfully echoing down Stalybridge canal path after that big win. After decades of defeat and disappointment in the men’s game -peppered with exhilarating near misses- seeing an England team lifting that cup was a game changer.

Girls’ participation in sport really is important. It is character building, wellbeing boosting, and teaches the pursuit of excellence, skills which are also in the workplace. From an early age, boys are indirectly set up to succeed in a working environment, and without the same encouragement, the playing field is uneven from the start, and not just on match days.

Evidence shows that girls and women involved in sport have higher levels of confidence and self-esteem, as well as a more positive body-image. However, even in the UK, some schools still direct female students to more stereotypical sports, like netball and hockey. Access to the women’s game is restricted, and funding for it remains in a different ballpark, although several great organisations are doing brilliant campaigning work on both fronts.

The arrival of the Women’s World Cup, with all eyes once more on our brilliant Lionesses, opens up these conversations again. Football World Cups create the defining memories, dividing childhoods and youths into four yearly chapters. The fact that in this generation those memories are now becoming generated by the Women’s game too is really encouraging.

Sometimes progress takes the form of legal rights, as in the tenth anniversary of the equal marriage act I was pleased to celebrate this month. Sometimes it is the Barbie movie smashing the patriarchy in pink, popcorn-fuelled pride. Sometimes it is a family cheering in unison as Chloe Kelly hits the back of the net on mainstream TV.

I’d like to thank my recent work experience student, Phoebe Mason, for her help in drafting this week’s column. I’m sure that Tameside Reporter readers will agree that “this girl can”.

Come on, England, we’re all behind you.