Much more can be done for women’s football, says Carney, as she is made an OBE
Karen Carney, who played for Birmingham City as well as the Lionesses, was honoured for her services to association football.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Former England international Karen Carney said “so much more” can be done for women’s football, as she was made an OBE at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.
Carney, who played for Birmingham City as well as the Lionesses, was honoured for her services to association football.
She was previously commissioned by the Government to conduct a major review on the future of the domestic women’s game.
The review recommended wide-ranging reform at the elite and grassroots level of domestic football, to fully capitalise on the Lionesses’ Euros success.
Speaking after being honoured by the Prince of Wales, she said “the sky is the limit” for women’s football.
“Part of me receiving my OBE was because of the review I conducted into women’s football, and I think we’ve still got a lot more to do from grassroots talent pathway all the way to the elite level,” she said.
“But if you look at the stats, if you look at the data, the game is absolutely thriving.
“Imagine what it could be if we gave it more, and that’s why I, and so many of us, have to champion it on a day-to-day basis, to keep demanding more for the sport.
“Then the sky’s the limit.”
Carney said she had “some banter” with William, whose team, Aston Villa, plays hers later on Wednesday.
“To be brutally honest, a lot of people know I’m a Birmingham City fan, there’s a big game at Aston Villa tonight,” she said.
“Obviously with Prince William being a Villa fan I thought there was a good opportunity for some banter with him.
“He was really gracious, he’s going to the game, which is cool.
“So we just chatted about football really which is I think the common language for everybody, I think everyone can talk about football which is really good.
“I’ve met him previously with the Lionesses, he’s a football fan for both the men’s and women’s game, which is really cool.”
She said days like Wednesday “were more actually about your family”.
“For me, days like today, are actually to give back to my loved ones,” she said.
“To say thank you for supporting me on my journey, both playing football and after football and to enjoy and make them feel special for the day.”
She said she is “always championing” women’s football.
“I’ve still got big aspirations for our sport,” she said.
“It’s incredible, we’ve seen the lionesses win the European Championships, we’ve seen them reach the women’s World Cup final, in a short space of time.
“The dominance of the team has been fantastic.”