England v Switzerland: Football match experience

Did you expect to see a second football match experience here on the blog again this year? Me either.

I’ve got a lot to thank the Lionesses for. I’ve previously shared how they helped me find my love of women’s football once again, but I never imagined that I’d get to see them on the pitch. Supporting your favourite club is special. Yet there’s something even more special about supporting the team of your country.

Since then, it’s safe to say I haven’t looked back. Women’s football is a permanent presence in my life now, something that won’t be going anywhere. I’m sure my family and friends would tell you that it’s part of my personality at this point.

 

When the Lionesses announced that their final matches of the year would be on home soil, I eagerly waited for the news where they would be. It announced that they would consist of two prestigious fixtures at Wembley with Germany and the USA respectively, alongside South Africa in Coventry, and Switzerland in Sheffield.

Luck was on my side. An opportunity arose where providing I was successful in getting tickets, I could potentially make the final fixture of the year against Switzerland at Bramall Lane, the home of Sheffield United. Despite being international friendlies, each game was set to be an exciting one. Experiencing a match against the Women’s Euro 2025 hosts was sure to be a good event.

The teams haven’t met since a 4-0 England victory just before the 2022 Euros, so it’d be great to see the showdown this time.

 

Booking tickets

Like I usually do, I set out to do my research into how to purchase accessible tickets and the accessibility on offer at the stadium.

I got in touch with Sheffield United’s Disability Liaison Officer to ask about the process for purchasing accessible tickets for the fixture, given that it wasn’t a standard Sheffield United match. I received a reply within less than 24 hours. The support I received was faultless.

I must note here that having a dedicated accessibility contact made the customer service even better.

The page for disabled supporters is full of lots of useful information on purchasing tickets, access around the stadium, parking, information on the sensory room and where to find the disabled supporters lounge.

Not only that, they have also partnered with AccessAble to create detailed access guides for lots of areas throughout the stadium. This is incredibly useful when planning your visit. Being an AccessAble ambassador I’m of course a massive fan of the work they do. Even still, the guides are my go-to when visiting anywhere new.

When planning football matches, I always have a look at Level Playing Field who have some handy information for disabled supporters.

I was extremely excited to see the availability of audio commentary, something I hoped would be available at the match. To my delight, I was told that it would be!

 

I kept up to date with the on sale dates and times, so when priority tickets were available for people who were signed up to My England Football, I got in touch straight away to see if accessible tickets were available. To my delight, I received a response pretty much straight away. One phone call later, and I had purchased my tickets for England v Switzerland at Bramall Lane on 3^rd December 2024. I couldn’t quite believe I was seeing my favourite group of girls in action.

Once again, the customer service I received was top notch.

 

Now that my tickets were purchased, I sent across an email to reserve a headset for the audio commentary, and was given instructions on how to collect it ahead of kick-off.

 

The match

Matchday was here, and a feeling of excitement filled my belly. We’d booked our travel well in advance, deciding to opt for the train.

 

The ground was around a 10-15 minute walk from the train station. Upon arrival at the stadium, we headed to the reception where we collected the headset for my audio commentary.

 

Once inside the stadium, we spotted the accessible kiosk which was handy should we need to buy any refreshments.

We made our way to our seats, with staff being on hand if we needed any assistance, asking if we were okay finding our seats.

As soon as we entered the stadium, you could feel the buzz of the crowd.

 

We arrived just in time for the team warm-ups. My dad informed me that he could see a few of my favourite players, including Mary Earps and Alessia Ruso. That prospect made me feel giddy.

It was time for the team news to be announced. I hadn’t had chance to check social media, so I eagerly awaited the announcement.

England Manager Sarina Wiegman made 10 changes to the squad who drew with the USA 3 days earlier, bringing on some fresh new talent. She’d promised an experimental squad, and she delivered with a young, youthful set of players who were raring to go.

Millie Bright was named captain, a fitting occasion for a local gal. I don’t want to give any spoilers away yet, what I will say is what an excellent job she did.

Although Mary Earps will always be my number one, it was brilliant to see Hannah Hampton in goal. Hannah’s own experience of having an eye condition herself resonates with me, so I always feel a connection to Hannah there.

It was Manchester United FC, as 4 of my beloved team made the starting 11.

There were also two senior debuts, Ruby Mace and Laura Blindkilde Brown receiving their first ever senior Lionesses caps.

 

A lightshow and fireworks later, it was time for the national anthems.

I was informed that my audio commentary would start 5 minutes before the game. Headset on, receiver poised, I suddenly felt a sinking feeling in my chest when we were part way through the Switzerland national anthem and there was no sound coming through my headset.

I’d luckily brought a set of my own earphones in case I needed them. It’s a good job I did! After a quick change over, I could hear the commentary crystal clear. I was just in time to hear part of the team line up, and the colours of the kits the teams were wearing.

Panic over, and the match was underway!

 

The sound of the England band echoing throughout the stadium, with ‘Sweet Caroline’ being the signature song throughout the match. I may or may not have had a singalong…

It didn’t take long for the two debutants to take their first touches of the ball.

Eight minutes in, there was an England goal! Millie Turner’s header came off the post, and was tapped in by Grace Clinton. Can we take a moment to recognise that Manchester United link-up please?

“Goal!” the commentator announced through my headset. We were off to a good start. The two people doing the commentary describing the brilliant goal. The crowd roared. The atmosphere was even more exuberant than before.

It was Grace Clinton’s 3^rd goal in 5 appearances for the Lionesses. What a superstar.

There were further chances within the next few minutes for Maya Le Tissier and Gabby George, sadly they weren’t meant to be.

 

Grace Clinton seemed to be pulled down by a Swiss player, although officials thought no fowl needed to be given.

A number of players seemed to have a lively start, particularly some of the younger players. It was impressive stuff.

Another shot by Maya Le Tissier which was saved by the Swiss goalkeeper Elvira Herzog sadly didn’t put the hosts 2-0 up.

The “ooohs” from my audio commentary suggested that a good linkup between Jess Park and Aggie Beever-Jones was a solid effort.

They well and truly kept the energy right until the end of the first 45 minutes, with a charge from Millie Bright not letting play slow down.

England dominated possession in the first half, with the audio commentary trying to work out how much possession they’d had, echoing my thoughts. Although Switzerland seemed to have good controlled defending, there were few attempts or chances to go for goal for the visitors.

After a dominant first half for England, the half time whistle was blown.

It was a promising start from the Lionesses, even if there was the one goal in it, despite numerous attempts. This young squad meant business.

Grace Clinton, Aggie Beever-Jones, Gabby George and Jess Park showed some real standout moments.

 

During half time, like the majority of the stadium it seemed, we went inside to warm up. It was what you could only describe as a bitterly cold evening at Bramall Lane. That wasn’t going to stop me enjoying the match though.

 

It was soon time for the second half, My audio commentary promptly sprung back into action. There was a change of main commentator this time, with the second person remaining the same.

There were also some team changes; Alessia Ruso replaced Jess Park, and Switzerland made 3 changes. I was excited to have Alessia on the pitch! You can’t deny the fact that Park put on a fantastic display throughout the first half.

Speaking of Ruso, within the first few minutes she headed a wide ball from a Gabby George cross. A few minutes later, Ruso set up Beever-Jones and Blindkilde Brown, the Swiss goalkeeper denying any sort of chances though.

We also have to talk about a couple more shots at goal from Grace Clinton to double the score. She was on top form!

 

Within the first quarter of the second half, Hannah Hampton had to make a couple of saves from the Swiss. They were showing that they’d come to attack in this second half. Their gameplan and mindset seem to have shifted.

 

My audio commentary gave me some great detail about the placement of the ball on the pitch, alongside the smart moves from the players.

I was also told of the substitutes warming up, which was immediately announced across the stadium. Ruby Mace and Gabby George were to make way, with Keira Walsh and Beth Meade to come onto the field. There were big cheers all round the stadium.

 

England were far less dominant in the second half. Switzerland had turned up the gears. It felt like a different half compared to the first.

Their switch was proved by another save by Hampton, tipping it over the crossbar after a shot from Terchoun.

 

The end of the match was nearing closer. There was still time for more England subs with Laura Blindkilde Brown, Aggie Beever-Jones and Millie turner to come off and make way for Georgia Stanway, Jess Naz and Jessica Carter.

Stanway was determined to make her mark on the game, with a couple of attempts at goal in extra time. She found the side-netting, then rattled the post seconds later. The commentators were getting excited, as so was I.

And that was it, the full-time whistle blew. That took the commentators by surprise, them commenting that they didn’t realise the game was coming to an end. They were probably just as absorbed in the action than I was, for which there was plenty of.

That was it, a 1-0 victory for England, ending the final game of 2024 with a win. We couldn’t ask for more.

Grace Clinton was announced as player of the match, truly deserved indeed.

What a match full of energy, young talent and hopes for the future.

 

We slotted ourselves into the crowd to exit the stadium, handing in my headset on the way out. We didn’t get home for almost 90 minutes later than planned thanks to typical train delays, but it was worth every minute.

 

The audio commentary

I have to say, I was really impressed by the audio commentary. I’m very glad I took my own headphones with me, but other than the slight teething issues, it was excellent.

The commentary is provided by Sheffield Sports Commentaries – a charity who provide live commentary for football and rugby matches across Sheffield, both within the stadium and on hospital radio.

The commentary felt like a mix between standard audio commentary, and audio descriptive commentary (something I’m desperate to try). It gave me some of the extra detail on the colours of the kits, movement of the players and placement of the ball, something that would otherwise have been missing from standard audio commentary. I’d have liked to have had even more detail. That’s possibly because I get so engrossed that I want to know everything that’s going on.

The charity does wonderful work, and I’m really grateful to them for taking on the commentary for the England v Switzerland match. It’s more than commentary for blind and visually impaired fans like myself; it opens up the doors for us being able to attend the match in the first place.

 

Overall, I had an unforgettable evening at Bramall Lane. The accessibility was fantastic, and the Lionesses put on an excellent performance. I couldn’t ask for anything else.

Bring on the 2025 Women’s Euros!

 

Have you attended a football match for your country? If you have, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

 

Holly x