We saw it last year, England making it to a major tournament final - streets bellowing 'it's coming home'.

Well same place one year on only this time it was the England women's representing the three lions in a tournament final.

I went to watch the game from the Ashes sports bar in Maidstone hoping to soak up some of the atmosphere and hoped to see it packed but the place seemed as busy as you'd expect for a normal Sunday evening.

Few were donning the red white of St George and there seemed little excitement for the piece of history that would follow - perhaps that's because the bar billed the Rangers Celtic derby above the final according to their sign.

This could've been as a precaution as England's place in the final wasn't cemented until last Monday but it would have been an easy fix.

The same bar had hosted an event for the FA Cup final at the end of last season and according to the people I shared a bench with, that day was packed from wall to wall.

At least Wembley was a sell-out crowd with it setting a record attendance for any European final at 87,192 people under the famous arch.

The team was unchanged as everyone expected, with Maidstone starlet Alessia Russo hoping to make an impact from the bench - despite scoring one of the most memorable goals of the tournament against Sweden.

The first half seemed to fly by relatively quickly with England dominating, but no one in Ashes seemed too bothered and were just happy to watch the game during breaks in conversation.

Occasionally passers by would stop to watch the TV placed outside but were soon on their way again.

Maidstone town centre was also as busy as a normal Sunday evening.

Last year the streets were swarmed by hooligans fighting for ground against officers looking to calm down the situation.

This year I wondered if something similar would occur but it was not the case - even the police weren't expecting the same carnage as when asked they said that they had no plans for any added presence.

By the time the second half started it had seemed to have gotten a little busier but many seats were still available.

Germany came out the better team after half time but no one initially appeared to lift their lips from their drinks to notice.

But the crowds soon had something to grab their attention when Ella Toone found herself one-on-one with the German goalkeeper, chipping her to give England the lead.

The atmosphere shifted at this point with some even drawing the St George's cross on their cheeks.

With every minute passing the excitement of actually winning seemed to grow but this was quelled when Germany equalised in the 78th minute - this was met with a collective sigh of frustration.

The referee blew the whistle for the end of the match, taking it to extra time and it could be felt people were worried of another England Germany penalty shoot-out.

Conversation's died as the extra 30 minutes were played and more eyes were glued to the screens.

Faces appeared to grow more nervous as penalties seemed all but confirmed - that was until Chloe Kelly battled to put the ball in the back of Germany's goal for the final time of the match sending the bar into elated celebrations.

Normally nerves would settle in again but this didn't seem the case - it felt most were now in the belief that England had won even with five more minutes to play.

Now all eyes were fixed to the big screen with certain factions cheering every tackle, clearance and block England made.

Though she hadn't scored Russo was now doing her bit to bring the win home by protecting the ball in the corner.

The seconds seemed to tick by slowly and everyone was growing anxious.

But this anxiety turned to adulation from everyone at Ashes when that whistle was blown; confirming England had won its first piece of silverware since 1966.

There is something incredible about this team ending the 56 years of hurt England has faced in major tournaments, with the last time England winning something, women were banned from playing football but now they have brought it home.

People filtered to the outside area for a small celebration and some even broke into a chorus of Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline.

But for most the final whistle was the end with the crowd gradually filtered out of the bar.

I initially stayed to see if there would be any action after the game but crowds were tame and happy and so it was clear that the events of last year weren't going to recur.

Maidstone town centre remained just as quiet with no sign of any uproar - it just seemed like any other evening only now England were European champions.

Though streets were quiet social media erupted in unison to congratulate the team.

MP Tracy Crouch tweeted: "Omgomgomg!! I'm in bits. Not just for the @Lionesses, who were phenomenal, but for every person who believed in women's football long before it was trendy.

"Thank you to them. And thank you to this inspirational squad of superstars."

Others also celebrated England's win across the county with Dreamland in Margate and the Goose in Gravesend playing host to the game and its celebrations.

Sittingbourne Ladies under 10's and 11's squads also enjoyed watching England's victory.

From Ashes to Dreamland, bar to couch, the pride of what these women have achieved is felt everywhere with July 31 2022 now being written in this country's sporting history.