Although England's top leagues were shut down for the international break this weekend, we were active following a match in the women's leagues.
On a partly rainy day we were invited to see a match of the Millwall Lionesses. Our friend and reader Gianluca Sardi sponsors one of the players in the squad: the English woman with Italian origin Stefania Paci.
St. Paul's Sport Ground: a field overlooking Canary Wharf skyline
Millwall's women's team plays at St. Paul's Sport Ground, a football ground located in the Bermondsey district near Rotherhite station, which the Millwall Lionesses share with Fisher FC's men's team, who plays in the Southern Counties East Football League.
One thing that struck us about this field is that it is possible to admire the skyline of the economic-commercial area of Canary Wharf, with the buildings of the Head Office of JP Morgan and HSBC on display.
Millwall Lionesses faced Dartford FC Women today, in a match valid for the English Women's Fifth Division Championship.
Pre-game in the Clubhouse with Sponsors and pre-game photos with the girls
Welcoming us at the entrance we find Kelly Webster, ambassador of Millwall Community Trust and true soul of the Millwall Lionesses, who introduces us to the representatives of the team sponsors.
We kill time with them in front of a hot coffee by talking and exchanging views on English and Italian football. They also told us a series of anecdotes about players such as Vialli, Zola and Ravanelli, who thrilled and enthralled the fans of both nations. Before the pre-match warm-up, the sponsors invited us to join them in midfield for a picture with some of the team's female players.
Close to kick-off Stefania Paci also joined us, who despite being out with a ligament injury came to support her teammates, and she made a photo with us in midfield and we also talked about women's football in England, with some anecdotes also concerning his parents of Italian origins.
To our surprise, before kick-off, the Millwall Lionesess management presented us with a shirt signed by all the players present today. An unexpected gift that made us really happy.
Victory of the Millwall Lionesess
The match between the two teams is very hard-fought, and the teams face each other without sparing each other. However, the Millwall Lionesess are more cynical and thanks to goals from Charles and a penalty from Joyce they win the match 2-0.
Also decisive for the result was goalkeeper Williams, who saved a penalty and further sealed this victory against the girls from Essex.
With the final whistle, this beautiful football day in South London ends, which introduced us to a beautiful football reality within a neighborhood that is gradually removing the prejudices of a neighborhood at risk.
We thank Gianluca for inviting us to this beautiful event and Ms Kelly for her hospitality, which made us feel as if we were at home.
Alberto Zingales
