To celebrate England’s appearance in Sunday’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final, The Lightning Seeds and David Baddiel will be joined by singer-songwriter Chelcee Grimes to play a special gig staged by The National Lottery.
To mark the Lionesses’ fantastic run in the tournament, there will be a unique performance of the fan favourite, Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home) with David, Chelcee and the band supported on stage by Lioness legends from the past ahead of the final on Sunday..
The performance will take place at the end of a set by the Lightning Seeds at Camden’s iconic Electric Ballroom on Saturday 30 July at 2pm. Entry will be via ticket only. Tickets are £5 and available from 10am on Friday at https://ticketmaster.co.uk/lionesses. National Lottery players will be able to buy two tickets for the price of one as a thank you for their support.
Also performing the anthem on stage will be former lionesses Fara Williams, Rachel Yankey and Faye White who share over 390 caps between them for England. The Lioness legends will help get the audience in a celebratory mood in anticipation of the team’s historic appearance in Sunday’s final for what’s sure to be an electrifying performance.
While Frank Skinner is unable to physically join the group on stage this Saturday due to unforeseen circumstances, he will be cheering on from the sidelines. Frank said: “The Lionesses are playing some of the most exciting football I’ve ever seen from an England team. I’m gutted not to be there on Saturday but I know David, Lightning Seeds and Chelcee, with those Lionesses who’ve pulled on the shirt in the past, will deliver a unique performance that celebrates their run to the final.”
David Baddiel said: “It’s a great honour that Football’s Coming Home remains such a fan favourite twenty five years on and it feels fitting that we reflect the amazing achievements of the Lionesses with a unique performance of the anthem at this very special National Lottery gig. And very happy to be part of a one-off performance by the Lightning Seeds with a new double act – Baddiel and Grimes…”
Chelcee Grimes said: “This weekend is a dream come true – not only are the Lionesses in the final but I am getting to sing the legendary Three Lions anthem in their honour. I am passionate about women’s and girls’ football and every National Lottery player has helped propel the game to the point where England can win a major trophy. Sport really has the power to bring people together and grassroots clubs and organisations play such a vital role in giving young people the time and space to realise their full potential. I hope the excitement of this amazing tournament, and the success of the Lionesses, encourages more women to give it a go at their local club!”
Fara Williams, the most capped England player of all time, said: “It’s a dream come true to see the Lionesses make the final. The level of talent has never been higher. As well as talent at the top, there are also more opportunities than ever for women and girls’ to play football at grassroots level, and that is in large part thanks to National Lottery players who have made possible the over £50 million investment into the game in the last decade. The National Lottery are also ensuring the Women’s Euros legacy lives on, by investing £1 million, through Sport England, into the host cities to get more women playing once the tournament is over. This is a pivotal moment in time for women’s football and whilst I would love nothing more than for England to lift the trophy, the real success, in my eyes, is showing girls up and down the country that football can be for them.”
