The demand for the Lionesses kit has gone through the roof as Google searches for shirts have skyrocketed by a massive 3,981% ahead of the 2023 Women’s World Cup finalthis weekend.
The England women’s team reached the World Cup final for the first time in history this past Wednesday following a tense semi-final victory against host nation Australia and, as a result, the clamour for this year’s kit online shot up by nearly 4,000%.
As per research carried out by popular online retailer, Boohoo, Google searches for ‘Lionesses’ kit have absolutely exploded as fans are preparing to pull on their colours for WHEN, not if, we win on Sunday.
Sarina Wiegman‘s side will be playing in the blue away shirt they were in the semis as they take on Spain in red. Can’t lie, the nerves have started already.
According to their findings, not only did searches for the Lionesses kit shoot up massively but so too did ‘Lioness shirt’, which have increased by a whopping 3,617%.
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Meanwhile, more general searches for ‘England shirt’ have also risen by 2,220% as the both the men’s and the women’s current set of kits have gone down a treat over the past year or so — even if they are a bit pricey.
Nevertheless, using data from their Google Trends analysis, the most in-demand Lioness shirts are Man City‘s Lauren Hemp, followed by captain Leah Williamson and Man United‘s Mary Earps following Nike’s female goalkeeper kit controversy.
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Sadly, while plenty of people will donning some kind of England shirt on Sunday, fans still won’t be able to wear an Earps kit after the United Women’s star called out Nike for not refusing to put the women’s putting the female keeper shirts on sale for the World Cup.
Thankfully, plenty of fans have been going out of their way to show support for England’s no.1 by purchasing outfield shirts and putting her name and number on anyway — just goes to show the love for this team and how much the nation has rallied behind them.
As for direct shirt sales themselves, it is estimated that they shot up by more than 700% online following their semi-final victory and we suspect countless more fans have been copping kits in person.
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The Lionesses kick off against Spain in the final at 11pm on Sunday and you know Manchester will be packed with fans cheering them on every step of the way.
Tommy Fury announces huge fight against former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall
Daisy Jackson
Tommy Fury has announced his next major boxing match – against a rather unlikely opponent.
The Manc boxer and former Love Island star will face Eddie Hall, who once reigned as the World’s Strongest Man and was the first person on the planet to deadlift 500kg.
The match, billed as Beauty vs The Beast (we’ll let you decide who’s who…), will take place at the AO Arena this summer.
Tommy Fury and Eddie Hall will be facing off in Manchester as part of the Misfits Boxing series, a sports promotion company founded by YouTube sensation KSI.
26-year-old Fury – younger brother of heavyweight legend Tyson Fury – remains unbeaten, seeing off all-comers in the crossover boxing world.
As for 38-year-old Eddie Hall (nicknamed The Beast), he retired as a strongman competitor, where he’s previously been crowned the World’s Strongest Man, and has now pivoted into combat sports.
The pair have collaborated recently on several videos online, taking on challenges like a One Punch Knockout and a breakfast eating competition.
But this will be the first time they’ve publicly faced off in the ring.
Misfirst Boxing has once more delivered the biggest match-ups possible in the crossover boxing space, with Fury vs. Hall promising to be a titanic tussle that will captivate fans around the world.
Tommy Fury vs Eddie Hall, Beauty vs The Beast, will take place on Saturday 13 June at the AO Arena in Manchester – you can get tickets HERE.
Corey Blackett-Taylor ruled out injured for the rest of the season
Danny Jones
Bolton Wanderers winger Corey Blackett-Taylor has been ruled out for the rest of the season following injury.
With not that long left in this year’s campaign and the playoff scrap set to ramp up even further in the coming weeks, it’s an unfortunate twist of fate for the Trotters.
Despite still being only a relatively recent signing, having just joined Bolton in the most recent January transfer window, it didn’t take long for him to make a good impression.
Scoring on debut in a 1-0 away win against AFC Wimbledon, the 28-year-old is now set to miss the remainder of the 2025/26 term, letting supporters know the news on Friday, 27 March.
Blackett-Taylor was forced off in the game against Rotherham United after pulling up in the wake of taking a shot, ultimately being subbed in the first half.
It was quickly confirmed to be a thigh injury, and while the specific nature and severity of the damage haven’t been fully detailed, he has now informed fans that his season is over.
Writing on Instagram, he said: “Instantly from arriving at the club, I felt the passion and support from the fans, club, staff and players.
“I have no doubts [about] the club achieving their targets of promotion – I want to say a huge thank you for making me feel so welcomed and comfortable. Unfortunately, my season is concluded due to my injury, but I’ll be here supporting the team to the very end.”
He isn’t the only impactful League One player at a side eyeing up the Championship to have been hampered by setbacks on the physio bench, with rivals Stockport County also confirming an absence at this crucial point in the campaign.
Not ideal for either of the Greater Manchester hopefuls.
Once again, while the recovery period for both of these players has already begun, the exact timelines for their return remain to be seen.
That being said, chances are we’ll see the Derby County loanee back in action before Hills, though we’ll have to wait to find out whether it will be at the Toughsheet Stadium or back with his parent club.
Who do you think is going to clinch that third promotion place at Wembley come this May?
Danny Jones -
18th August 2023 
