Former Albion women’s coach and West Ham footballer George Parris has spoken about how fantastic the Lionesses’ success and the upcoming World Cup have been for the community game.

George, now a consultant for Whitehawk FC’s women’s team, called the boom in exposure in recent years “inspiring” for the next generation of players.

Now, ahead of the team’s upcoming first season with their new women’s set up, the former footballer has spoken about how important the sport is socially for players at all levels.

George, who spent time as Whitehawk’s manager in 2008 and then managed the Albion women’s team from 2016 to 2017, said: “I think the main thing is that the Lionesses did a fantastic job in the Euros and are inspiring the next generation of girls and women to get into the sport.

“I have been involved for quite a few years and seen it go from grassroots to now with this platform. The exposure for the World Cup is so much greater than two or four years ago.

“There seems to be more women involved now and its not just about the football side of it. This season will be about getting the right people involved in the club and we’ll just take it from there.”

Whitehawk previously had a pioneering women’s team that ran until from 1993 until 2011 and reached the fifth round of the FA Cup.

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The club will now play with a Women’s first team again beginning from next season and are currently recruiting players.

George added that the team were inspired by the work of Lewes FC, currently playing in the FA Women’s Championship and the first club to pay their men’s and women’s teams equally.

He added that the club were a set-up that “all Sussex sides are aspiring to”.

The new set-up comes as the Women’s World Cup began earlier this week and England played their first game against Haiti.

Information on how to find your local club can be found on the England Football website.