How the Lionesses' Manchester heroes have transformed England's outlook on women's football

Although the flag is yet to drop on the start of the new Premier League season, there is already a buoyant mood sweeping its way through the Manchester football scene.

The Lionesses, inspired by the heroics of Manchester United's Ella Toone and Manchester City's Chloe Kelly, have done something no England team has done since 1966 and won a major tournament. It has secured the Lionesses their place in history - something that can never be taken away from them or the country.

With 87,192 people shuffling their way through the Wembley turnstiles, making it the most attended European Championship final in history, either for men or women, and a peak TV audience of 17.4million tuning in either at home, down the pub or at one of the various fan parks littered across the country, Sarina Wiegman's team turned to their most reliable weapons to send the country bonkers on the final Sunday of July - their togetherness and spirit. After Toone saw her outstanding chip cancelled out by Germany's Lina Magull with just 11 minutes of normal time remaining, extra time beckoned and the dreaded thought of a penalty shoot-out began to enter millions of nervous minds.

READ MORE: Manchester wins Women's Euros for England as United and City stars make the difference vs Germany

But following a tight and tense opening period of extra time, England launched one last knockout blow within five minutes of the start of the second, with Kelly, on as a substitute to replace Golden Boot winner Beth Mead, delivering the all-important punch. At a second attempt, she stabbed the ball over the line. Eruption. Not just inside Wembley but across the whole country. The determination and spirit of this group shone through yet again.

11 minutes later, the