Janet Bagguley says she was stunned when players applauded her after hearing she had delivered letters for 16 years since hanging up her boots
An original Lioness who now works as a postie is delivering good luck messages to the current England team to inspire them to Euro 25 glory.
Janet Bagguley was a midfield enforcer in England women’s first international against Scotland in 1972.
Then aged 16 and working as an office girl she had run out of holiday to take but was helped out by a kindly manager who clocked her in and out for three days while she earned her first cap in a 3-2 victory.
She went on to play 11 times for her country and was awarded the No4 legacy number as the fourth ever member of the national team.
After hanging up her boots she became a postwoman and has been chosen to tour the country with a special postbox collecting messages of support to the current Lionesses.
She will deliver them to the players at their base camp in Zurich, Switzerland, ahead of their first game at the Women’s Euros against France next weekend.
Janet, 69, said the support the current team was getting was off-the-scale compared to the battle she had to fight to put her boots on.
“We didn’t get a lot of support, not really," she said. It was hard work for us. We got no expenses paid. I’ve got three brothers and it was hard for my mum and dad to find travelling expenses for me to get to matches. They were always in London as a rule, the training. It was hard times.”
Applause
Shortly after England won the 2022 Euros Janet and the rest of the original Lionesses were invited to the current team’s hotel to meet the champ. "They applauded us onto the pitch,” she said. “We were all looking around and saying, ‘what are they clapping for?’
“They said it was for us because ‘without you we wouldn’t be where we are today’, which I thought was lovely. When you see now what’s been achieved and what facilities the Lionesses have got now it’s absolutely fantastic. It really is out of this world.”
She said the current players were stunned when they heard she had worked for the Royal Mail for 16 years to make ends meet after football. “They couldn’t believe I was still working and walking 12 miles a day. They thought that was fantastic,” she said. Royal Mail has offered her paid leave to participate in the good luck letters scheme. Janet will be joined by one of her former team-mates at Macclesfield Ladies Sue Whyatt who was a reserve for that first England match.
Sye eventually became the 17th woman to play for the Lionesses. Bagguley admitted she had not written her own letter to them team yet but `will do’. “I’m going to wish them, obviously, all the very best. Enjoy themselves, because at the end of the day, it’s all about the enjoyment, and bring that trophy home once again like they did three years ago,” she said.
“These letters are more than words. They are a powerful show of unity from the country for the team and I feel privileged to play a part in that with Lioness Letters.”
'We're rooting for you'
Among those who have posted message to the Lionesses are members of the England men’s team. Chelsea star Reece James, whose sister Lauren is part of the current England squad, wrote: “Good luck. I’m wishing you the best and I hope you bring it home again!”
Winger Noni Madueke said: “Be yourselves and you’ll be just fine. All the best, we’re rooting for you!!” Midfielder Conor Gallagher added: “Lionesses, you’ve made the country proud a number of times already, so keep doing what you’ve always been doing. We are all behind you! Enjoy every moment.”
Audrey Arbeeny, UK marketing lead for Lioness supporters KIND Snacks which came up with the letters scheme, said: “Kindness is part of our DNA which is why Lioness Letters is something close to our hearts.
“To be able to get physical messages of support from the nation into the hands of the Lionesses is something very special. We’re honored to make that happen with trailblazers of the women’s game like Janet and Sue too, literally passing down these heartfelt messages from one Lioness generation to another.”