England's Lionesses get hero's welcome as they land back in UK after Euros glory

The Lionesses landed back in England this afternoon to an amazing welcome. The plane carrying the team arrived at Southend airport in Essex.

The FA tried to keep the airport they were arriving in secret, for security reasons, but hundreds of fans managed to find out and arrived to cheer their heroes.

Some waited for over two hours in the warm sun waiting for the flight to arrive from Zurich. Many brought St George flags which they draped over the fences outside the tiny private jet terminal. FA staff also attached several of their own flags to welcome the team home. Chloe Richardson, 19, from Basildon said: “I saw on a local website that the England plane was coming in and I rushed here from home.

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“They have done so well. They’ve made the nation proud. We are so pleased they came back to Southend.”

The only hotel next to the airport, the Holiday Inn, put up St George flags on their windows of the restaurant which the players could clearly see when they landed.

Several supporters sat in the bar supping beers as they followed the Titan Air flight on tracking apps. The champions then headed off to a reception at 10 Downing Street. Tomorrow will see a victory parade through central London.

Today was certainly a far cry from the last time I went to an airport to cover the arrival of an England team. It was 35 years ago way back in 1990.

Hundreds of thousands of people descended on Luton airport to welcome the men’s team returning from the Italia ’90 tournament.

It was a vastly different era - Paul Gascoigne was wearing a pair of fake breasts. Gazza was in his element in scenes that just wouldn’t happen today.

In 1990 England fans had been starved of success; they celebrated like they won the World Cup when they got knocked out in the semi-finals on penalties by Germany.

Last night’s Lionesses of course showed great composure and won their big match on penalties.

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