The summer’s biggest international tournament is coming to England next summer and Rotherham will be right at the heart of all the action!
Having been selected as one of eight host cities, the AESSEAL New York Stadium will see three group stage games and one quarter final at the UEFA Women’s Euros 2022, with excitement building for an unforgettable summer of sport in our town.
Footballing powerhouses France and Italy will lock horns at AESSEAL New York Stadium on 10th July 2022, with Les Blues taking on Belgium at our home four days later, before Group D is wrapped up with a tie between Iceland and France.
Rotherham United Chief Operating Officer Paul Douglas, who is just one of many key staff at the club constantly striving to enhance the supporter experience at AESSEEAL New York Stadium, believes that this will be the biggest sporting event to ever come to Rotherham.
“It is fantastic, I was saying to Val Hoyle [Chairman of RUWFC] that when we built this place, we wanted to host international games, but we only thought really we’d get, perhaps the odd Under 17s or Under 19s match, he told www.themillers.co.uk.
“I think the fact that those games were so well received in Rotherham – with a fantastic turnout from the town – is what stood us in good stead for what now is, without a doubt; the biggest international event to ever hit Rotherham."
“We’ve drawn some really exciting football nations, I’m convinced they will bring fantastic support over with them and it’ll be great for Rotherham to host these countries. It means everything. I go all the way back to Millmoor and loved Millmoor, the saddest thing ever was that we left without knowing we’d played the last game there.
“We had the period at Don Valley and we’ll be forever grateful to the city of Sheffield for hosting us, but the dream was obviously to come back here. It gave us time to design a stadium that we thought would be a fitting beacon of esteem for Rotherham and it has been that.
“We’ve had some great nights here, we’ve had Play-off wins, promotion games and derby wins. Some fantastic evenings and days.
“This will be in many ways different to that. People coming from all over Europe to witness top-class elite women’s football. We’re confident the stadium is a fitting venue and we’re confident we’ll put on a great show.”
Having seen the country come together to cheer on the England men’s side all the way to the final of Euro 2021, it is hoped that the women’s instalment of the competition will again capture the heart and imagination of the nation.
The Millers’ Chief Operating Officer heaped praise on club Chairman Tony Stewart for putting the foundations in place to build such a state-of-the-art arena, which has been chosen to host top-class international football.
And the excitement is building for what should be a historical summer of football in our town.
“It will be marvellous, we’ve had our fair share of ups and downs in Rotherham over the years, but I would like to think that the club has provided people with good entertainment and a bit of pride as well,” Paul Douglas said on the thought of the tournament coming to Rotherham.
“I think that will be taken to a new level now and we’ll see people coming from all over Europe to watch these games and – I’m sure – comment on how great the facilities are here.
“I have to give credit to Tony Stewart, because this came through him deciding the club needed a home fitting for a club with the pride and ambition we have.
“He built this, and you look at it now – 10 years after it was built – and it looks as new and amazing as it ever did.
“As I say, I can’t begin to express how excited I am. When we see the ticket sales and people walk down New York Way, wow, it’ll be amazing.”