Football comes home again – the Lionesses with the European Championship trophy outside No 10 Downing Street on Tuesday [Alecsandra Dragoi / No 10 Downing Street]

THE Lionesses took the European Championship trophy to the front door of a famous Gooner on Tuesday – as their glory–glory celebrations continued all week.

As more than 60,000 people cheered their trip towards Downing Street, the team relived stories of their famous penalty shootout victory over Spain in Switzerland on Sunday night.

Arsenal fan Sir Keir Starmer wasn’t at Number 10 – he has been with US president Donald Trump this week – and the prime minister’s deputy Angela Rayner instead hosted the party in its rose garden.

He was, however, no doubt proud that it was the players from north London who played the pivotal roles in the success that has triggered a nationwide party – and a hope that women and girls will no longer feel excluded from the beautiful game.

England manager Sarina Wiegman with Leah Williamson [Alecsandra Dragoi / No 10 Downing Street]

Manager Sarina Wiegman had the Gunners’ Michelle Agyemang and Chloe Kelly to thank for rescuing England with late dramatics in the semi-final against Italy last week. Then it was Kelly again – some are already calling her the standout candidate for the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year prize ­– who helped turn the final after Spain had gone ahead.

The Arsenal winger crossed for her north London teammate Alessia Russo to head in a vital equaliser. Kelly then scored the decisive spot kick in the shootout, leading Arsenal captain Leah Williamson to lift the trophy – the first time any England captain has collected a major championship prize on foreign soil. What a year it has been for the red and white Lionesses after Arsenal also claimed the European Champions League in May.

Chelsea fans, meanwhile, can be proud of their keeper Hannah Hampton, who was big and bold amid the nailbiting tension.

Ms Wiegman said: “We know winning the Euros makes change. It inspires people. Young kids, but also you see so many more people that you inspire, not just little girls but little boys and grandads and grandmas, whole families.”

With crowd sizes growing, all of Arsenal’s home matches in the Women’s Super League will be played at the Emirates Stadium for the first time next season.