Friday 8th July saw Aylesbury Vale Dynamos Girls travel to Stadium MK to watch Finland play Spain in UEFA Women’s EURO 2022. Dynamos player, Oliva Walker, was chosen by Just Eat to be the official match ball deliverer for the game and a contingent of Dynamos players and coaches were on hand to show their support on her big day.
A record-breaking crowd of 16,819, the highest at the time for any non-host match in Women’s EURO history, cheered on Olivia as she walked onto the pitch to hand the match ball to the referee. As she did so, the advertising hoardings around the pitch displayed "OFFICIAL MATCH BALL DELIVERY BY OLIVIA". After handing the ball to the first official, Olivia joined her fellow Dynamos in the stands to watch the match.
It was a doubly-historic game for women’s football. As well as the record attendance, the match saw the fastest goal in Women’s EURO history when Finland’s Linda Sallstrom scored after just 49 seconds. Spain, one of the tournament favourites, quickly recovered from the shock goal and dominated the rest of the game to win 4-1. To top off their matchday experience, the Dynamos Girls posed for photos with Finnish number 10, Emmi Alanen, after the final whistle.
"It was an amazing experience," said Olivia’s mum and coach, Katie Brown. "I’d like to thank Just Eat and Berks & Bucks FA for giving Olivia a day that she will never forget."
Click here to view the photos of the game.