Maidstone United manager Tori Campbell on the rise of women’s football and a career that’s taken in spells at Charlton Athletic and Ipswich Town en route to the Gallagher Stadium

Maidstone United manager Tori Campbell believes the sky is the limit for women’s football.

Campbell, who’s led the Stones to the FA Cup first round and a tie at Plymouth next weekend, has seen big changes since her early days in the women’s game.

Buoyed by England’s double European Championship success, the sport is in a great place.

“Growing up as a kid, it was a popular sport, it was heard of and it was about, but not as much as it is now,” said former Charlton and Ipswich striker Campbell, 31.

“I grew up with the likes of Rachel Yankey and Kelly Smith, so they were my idols.

“They got the media attention but now, coming off the first Euros win, that’s when I really noticed it take off.

“It was getting publicity everywhere, Sky Sports are now showing it, it’s shown on terrestrial TV, and it’s huge.

“It’s been really nice to grow with the game.

“I’m a big advocate for young girls getting into it, so for them to have the opportunities they now do, it’s fantastic.

“There are so many academies out there for girls and I never had that growing up as a kid.

“But for the young ones now to be able to go and join a girls’ academy and study their love for football, it’s brilliant.

“I’d love for it to be as big as men’s football, I think that’s every woman footballer’s dream.

“That all comes down to money and stuff like that but at the moment it’s in a really good position.

“It’s got a huge opportunity to go further in terms of how popular it is.

“I know in America it’s huge, it’s a massive sport over there and they do their scholarship programmes, which is really popular with English girls.

“I know a lot of my friends went over there to study.

“I think it is going to carry on growing.

“With the success of winning the Euros again,