Ahead of Friday's Tillies match against China, CityMag visited a community group inspired to get on the soccer field because of the Matildas momentum.

Roaring laughter and ‘Bad Girls’ by M.I.A can be heard from the brightly lit soccer pitch in North Adelaide on a Monday night.

“Was that out?” “Did that goal count?” Nothing is too serious on this pitch.

The players dart around a luscious green pitch, erupting in cheers and high-fives as a goal is scored.

This group would not be here if not for the Matildas placing a record-breaking fourth in the FIFA Women’s World Cup last year.

Their loss against England in the semi-final didn’t change their impact on young women who previously thought sports were not for them.

Grace Tulysewski would have never played soccer if not for the Matildas. She began playing socially with her friends last year after the tense shoot-out between France and the Matildas sparked an idea.

“I realised how valued and sort of fun and exciting it would be to play something like that,” Grace says.

“And seeing all the excitement in all my friends was really cool ’cause everyone was sitting up on the side of the couch like gasping for air because it was so nerve-racking.”

The very next week, eight friends laced up their runners and headed out to a pitch with a soccer ball and a newfound enthusiasm to slide around on the muddy ground.

Grace (centre, wearing neon yellow) and her Bad Gurls. This picture: supplied

As the weeks progressed, friends invited new friends and siblings, some purchasing soccer boots and the skill level slowly improved.

Some people have played before while others have never kicked a ball, but all are keen to learn and have a bit of fun.

In last year’s World Cup semi-final between the Matildas and England, people filled pubs and living rooms where 424,000 South Australians – nearly half the state – tuned in to see the Matildas fight for a place in the final.

OzTAM reported the game reached 7.13 million Australians around the country, a figure that does not include those watching in pubs, clubs and stadiums.

While the Matildas may have lost, they won the hearts of Aussies around the country and inspired people like Grace to give soccer a go.

It began as a joke; “We could play in the Olympics next year”. But that idea grew into a social soccer game every week, now known as Bad Gurl Soccer.

“There’s absolutely no way this would have happened if it wasn’t for the Matildas game. It was super genuinely inspiring,” Grace says.

“I’m not someone who’s watched sport ever, like I’m a dance gal. I haven’t done team sports, I’ve never played team sports ever in my life and I’m 26, which is insane.”

Grace used to think joining a team sport was not an option for her, and she found the idea very intimidating.

“I think [the Matildas World Cup performance] kind of squashed a lot of negative assumptions around sport, that it’s not for everyone,” she says.

“All of the sort of press around that, the people in the Matildas, how diverse they are, how accepted and friendly and lovely and super skilled they all are – it was just super inspiring.

“It just broke down a lot of the barriers for the idea of playing sport.”

Bad Gurl Soccer is a team with almost no boundaries to joining, allowing anyone to get involved no matter their gender, sexuality, physical abilities or financial situation.

“I guess the only rule was that it was completely accessible to people who might not normally be invited to something like that including non-male presenting people I suppose,” Grace says.

“So that beginners could come and not feel intimidated or like they shouldn’t be there, so still open to dudes with the understanding that it’s Bad Gurl Soccer and that you can be a bad girl even as a dude but you have to embody that; the mindset of a Bad Gurl.

“It’s such a utopia for sport within that group.”

Grace says Bad Gurl Soccer is a good way for friends to hold each other accountable while being “a fun way to exercise, not have to spend money and be outside … they’re all my favourite things”.

“It is super popular and continuing on, it’s been like months now and it’s still super fun.”

Grace and her Bad Gurls are not the only people inspired to get out on the soccer pitch after last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup. Meg Riley returned to the sport after quitting due to being time-poor in 2014.

“The sense of pride that you get from watching the Matildas play is very inspiring because it reminds you what it’s like to be on the pitch yourself,” Meg says.

“There’s probably an extra level of connection that I feel watching women’s sport compared to men’s sport.”

Meg in action.

Meg made her return to the pitch with her team, Supermassive Fat Goal, at the Mount Barker Sevens competition last October.

Anyone can register a team of their mates to play seven aside soccer one night a week in the summer, making it an accessible choice for newbies.

“The low barrier to entry was essential for me. Twilight games were really easy because, you know, you could just play after work,” Meg says.

She plans to continue playing in the Mount Barker Sevens league when the season starts up again this year.

“The fun atmosphere is such a joy. I would definitely encourage anyone who has been missing the sport to get back involved in whatever capacity is the easiest,” Meg says.