Stepping Into Europe (2001-2005 retrospective)

The second era section of the retrospective, covering 2001 to 2005, book-ended by European Championships. It describes slightly better coverage through newspaper columns, teletext pages and Eurosport, Arsenal as the team to beat followed by Fulham’s professionals, and the magazine’s own near-death as She Kicks was halted by its owners before Fair Game appeared. The year pages log Arsenal’s 2001 Treble before a record 13,824 at Selhurst Park, England’s first Euro finals since 1987, Fulham’s 2002 and 2003 successes and full professionalism, WUSA’s collapse, Germany’s golden-goal 2003 World Cup win through Nia Kunzer, Julie Fleeting’s arrival at Arsenal, and Euro 2005 in the North West, where a European record 29,092 watched England’s opener. Bend It Like Beckham’s 2002 release is covered, She Kicks appearing in the garden scene.