Jacqui Oatley: Now it’s your turn to show women’s football some real support

The dust has now settled somewhat on England’s horribly cruel Women’s World Cup semi-final exit.

We thought penalty shoot-outs were sickening, but a stoppage time own-goal? Gut-wrenching.

Believe it or not, some real positives have come out of poor Laura Bassett’s despair. Everyone knows her name, thousands of people want to give her a hug and tell her she’s a heroine. With their courage and determination, Laura and her fellow Lionesses have reignited a passion in English football and, perhaps more significantly, increased awareness and respect for the women’s game nationwide.

My Twitter feed tends to inform me in no uncertain terms how the public — and public figures — feel about the game at any given time.

Passing interest three weeks ago has turned into genuine passion and emotion. Fans, political figures, comedians, musicians, professional footballers and journalists are amongst those who have been gripped by the Lionesses’ attitude and desire. But it would be criminal if it were to end here. Interest spiked at London 2012 but did not translate into sustained swelled gates at domestic matches. That must change this time.

I suggested on air that the best way to cheer Laura up and show genuine appreciation for the players’ efforts at the World Cup is to go onto the FA’s website and buy tickets for the Women’s FA Cup Final on August 1. Laura’s Notts County will play Chelsea in the first women’s final to be held at Wembley.

I’ll be presenting live coverage on BBC1 but a large turnout will prove there’s an appetite, not just for women’s football on television, but for buying tickets to watch these players in the flesh. The England squad should be invited to do a lap of honour at half-time to help cement that relationship with the fans.

The new-found supporters of the women’s game should also go onto the FAWSL website and find their nearest team. Do Evening Standard readers know that Chelsea Ladies — with Eni Aluko and the PFA Player of the Year, Ji So Yun — are top of the Women’s Super League and play at Staines Town FC? And that Arsenal Ladies, in second place, play at Boreham Wood FC?

Next Sunday, the FAWSL season resumes after a break for the World Cup. Chelsea take on Bristol Academy at 2pm — it’s £5 for adults and £3 for kids.

Arsenal host defending champions Liverpool Ladies at 6pm. It costs £12 for a family of four and you can see several World Cup stars, plus our BBC pundits Rachel Yankey v Natasha Dowie!

WSL 2 clubs Millwall, London Bees and Watford would also welcome you with open arms, no doubt about that.

Buying tickets and jersies, swelling the crowds — these are all ways of showing corporate enterprises that they should invest in these role models, whose fans will in turn invest in them. At the same time they would signal to media chiefs that there is a demand for coverage. The Lionesses have inspired a nation. Now the nation can return the favour.