Chelsea Ladies star Eni Aluko believes England's continual success since coming third in the World Cup in Canada last year has helped change the demographic of the sport.
The current Super League champions saw their gate numbers double after the World Cup and with England going top of their Euro 2017 qualifying group after a 5-0 win against Estonia, that progress is set to continue.
Aluko, left out of the squad against Estonia and for Tuesday's game with Belgium, said: "Our attendance after the World Cup doubled, it had a huge impact.
"A lot of people realised that there is so much quality in women's football and it is so cheap for people to watch. Hopefully the crowds are going to keep growing.
"It is great to see how many more people are coming to domestic games.
"The demographic has changed as well. It is not just young girls coming to watch but young boys and families as well.
"The game is really in a good place to move forward and the girls growing up in women's football have an exciting future and an exciting pathway ahead of them."
Aluko is part of SSE's Dads and Daughters campaign and she believes that her family's influence and enthusiasm as she was growing up helped her develop.
She said: "Football is really important in terms of confidence.
"For me, my dad was obsessed with football. It was always a normality for me to see it on the TV or see my dad playing so it felt okay for me to play as well and my dad supported that.
"He was delighted (when I told him I wanted to play football), he was really happy.
"I think it is very much a gift in our family. My brother (Sone Aluko of Fulham) is a professional and my dad used to play too, he was very supportive and still is now.
"My mum drove everywhere when I was younger. The support of parents is crucial really. If parents don't encourage you then you will immediately think it is something you shouldn't do but my parents didn't care.
"My mum is the one who sacrificed the most, taking me everywhere and coming to games and putting a lot of time into my career.
"There was an element of people thinking I was a tomboy but it never outweighed the positive comments I used to get. A lot of teachers supported me."
As part of the campaign, Aluko went to meet a young girl with Tourette’s she said: "I am Daisy's favourite player and it is all very inspiring for me.
"It is a reminder of why I play football, to positively impact other people. I went to surprise Daisy, it was amazing to see her face when I surprised her."
:: Eni Aluko is supporting Women's FA Cup Sponsor SSE's Dads and Daughters campaign. To watch the Lioness surprise Daisy in her story, visit www.sse.co.uk/about-us/sponsorship/sport/eni
Source: PA-WIRE
