A campaign has been launched to dress-up Rotherham this summer, as the town prepares to host matches for the Women’s EURO 2022 tournament.

Rachel Stothard, 42, is in charge of overseeing fan experience across the matches, and is working on Knit Off to Kick Off alongside local crochet groups.

Rachel Stothard, 42, will be overseeing fan experience across the tournament

The target is to knit 5,000 crochet flowers to be wrapped around and hung from trees across the centre, to highlight the fact that Rotherham is 70% green.

She said: “The response so far has been absolutely fantastic.

“We’ve had really good engagement from our Knit and Natter groups within libraries.”

Ms Stothard said the pandemic had forced some of the groups to stop, and hopes this campaign will give them a reason to get back out there.

One of the designs to be crocheted by volunteers

Knitters and crocheters can choose from four different flower patterns, with directions available on the Rotherham Town Centre website.

Rotherham will host four matches across the Women’s EURO tournament, with three group stages and one quarter-final being held at the New York Stadium in July.

Ms Stothard said: “We’re getting a lot of people visiting the town centre who have never been before, and it’s a really nice story for us to be able to tell.”

The creations will be available to see for around two weeks over the summer.

As an opportunity to give back, the council will be working with Sheffield and Hallam County FA to offer taster sessions to those who take part in a variety of activities such as Soccercise and Walking Football.

“The sessions will also help some people to be a bit more active”, Ms Stothard said.

The matches to be hosted in Rotherham.

The first group stage match in Rotherham between France and Italy will take place on 10 July.