From Furness Rovers to double European champion, Stanway's journey is celebrated by her old teacher.
England star Georgia Stanway's success is "truly inspiring" for students at her old school looking to make the most of their opportunities, the footballer's former PE teacher has said.
Emma Armstrong said the midfielder, from Barrow in Cumbria, had fought for her dreams as she travelled long distances to develop her game while studying for GCSEs.
Stanway, one of the double European Championship winners being celebrated in a central London bus parade on Tuesday, began her journey to the top of the game at Dowdales School in Dalton-in-Furness.
Ms Armstrong said former Furness Rovers youth Stanway is proof "somebody from the little town of Barrow" can go on to achieve global success.
It is the second Euros victory for 26-year-old Bayern Munich star Stanway, who scored the winner against Spain in the quarter-final of the 2022 tournament.
She played most of this year's final before coming off in extra time due to injury.
Ms Armstrong said of her former pupil: "She's done absolutely fantastic. She's done us all proud, as have all the Lionesses.
"It's truly inspiring and it is achievable. She did it, didn't she, but you have to fight for your dream and she got there.
"The inspiration that she has for these younger students to see that somebody from the little town of Barrow can go on and do that internationally is living the dream, and it shows them that dream is alive."
Listen: Georgia Stanway: 'Barrow made me who I am'
Graham Fraser, a former Furness Rovers coach, said "everybody in the town" would be very proud of their famous ex-player and the boost she has given the grassroots game.
"I think it's just going to take girls' football that much further forward," he said.
Eddie Williams, who coaches the Newlaithes Ladies' Team in Carlisle, said the Lionesses' back-to-back wins had "really captured the imagination".
And Ms Armstrong said England retaining the trophy would give the women's game "speed and motivation" to keep growing.
"It shows it wasn't just a one off, it's got momentum and that momentum is carrying and pushing it forward."
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