BBCEileen Foreman, from Warminster, Wiltshire, was 17 when she was selected to play for England in 1972.
It was only a year after the Football Association lifted its 50-year ban on women playing on men’s professional pitches.
“When we started there were crowds of just 100 people,” said Ms Foreman.
“So to go around the pitch and have 80,000 people cheering for us felt lovely.
“It’s fantastic because this is the start now of young girls being able to see a pathway in football.
“They can go as far as they want with it,” she said.
Getty ImagesMs Foreman learned her skills by playing football with the boys in the park, as she wasn’t allowed to play football at school.
Her team made history playing Scotland in an international match on 18 November 1972.
The presentation at the England vs USA match left several of the original Lionesses in tears.
“We were taken down to the changing rooms and all of our shirts were hanging up with the original numbers,” she said.
Sarina Wiegman, England Women’s head coach, said: “We’re all grateful to the former generation of players who have paved the way for today’s growth and success.
“All of them represented their country with so much talent but also fought so hard on and off the pitch to break barriers and make the women’s game what it now is.
“It is great we can say thank you to the Lionesses legends.”
