Cast your minds back to July 31 this year, and the footballing heads out there are bound to start beaming all over again. It was the 110th minute, England needed goal in the final of the European Championships, and up stepped Chloe Kelly.
The Manchester City forward, who hails from Ealing, etched hers and the Lionesses names in the history books. securing the England National Team’s first taste of glory at a major tournament since 1966.
Chloe Kelly’s goal had special significance, too, taking place at Wembley Stadium where she would ride the bus to in her youth on FA Cup final day to purchase a matchday programme, even if she didn’t have a ticket.
Now, TfL have decided to name that very bus route after her. The double decker 92, which runs from Ealing to Brent, going past the stadium itself has been christened “Chloe Kelly”, 92. Not a bad squad number, if you ask me.
Should you ride the bus, which is a zero-emissions and hydrogen powered model, between now and October 1, you might just catch an announcement of “Wembley Stadium, home of the Lionesses”. Posters have also been scattered around Wembley bus shelters to honour the striker, which are sticking around until September 15.
Speaking to MyLondon, Kelly said: “It’s amazing! These are my roots and this is where I’m from. I used to get this bus to Wembley so to be here today with a bus named after me is amazing!”
“When I come home, I like just being with my family. This is home for me. I still say to my mum ‘I’m coming home’ and I love it here. This is where I grew up, a place I’ll never forget and to be part of its history now is amazing and I’ll never forget where I come from.”
Chloe Kelly began her footballing career at west London’s Queen’s Park Rangers, before spells at Arsenal, Everton and Manchester City. And this summer, she’s slotted home a winning final goal, had a bus named after her, and been given the freedom of the borough of Ealing. Not bad, not bad at all.