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23 February 2012
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Sport Features

Rachel Unitt during Euro 2005

Women's football popularity on the rise

By Jaskirt Dhaliwal
Women's Football has never been so popular, site user and footy fan Jaskirt Dhaliwal explains why.

England's Euro 2005 attendances

England 3-2 Finland:

29,092 (City of Manchester Stadium)

England 1-2 Denmark:

14, 695 (Ewood Park)

England 0-1 Sweden:

25,694 (Ewood Park)

Combined total: 69,481

Average attendance: 23,160

It comes as little surprise that football has now replaced netball as the most popular female sport in England. When The FA took over the running of the women's and girls' game in 1993, there were just 11,200 registered players. Today that figure stands well over 100,000. Yet despite this rise, it still lags behind countries such as the United States where there are 7.8 million players. For a country which claims the beautiful game as its heritage, why is it that the US women are more revered than our own?

Sceptics or converts?

Under representation of women in sport, and football, is by no means an uncommon thing, you only have to look at the back pages of any newspaper to realise that, but after the success of Euro 2005, the times may be changing. Record attendances, impressive form, good TV ratings and an array of talent, all proved to propel the women's game into the limelight for a short time.

Alex Scott and Heidi Ahonen

But now the competition is well and truly over, the new season has begun and any publicity gained has slowly fettered away. Only the dramatic plight of Birmingham City Ladies caught the public eye, after they were saved from imminent collapse and financial ruin in the 11th hour, proving miracles don't just happen in Instanbul!

Women's footy - good or bad?

However the effects are being felt, as Birmingham Ladies could no longer afford to hold onto most of their top acquisitions, players like Rachel Yankey and Alex Scott, which had previously made them responsible for a quarter of England's Euro 2005 squad. But all is not doom and gloom. Having managed to keep starlets Karen Carney and recruit England keeper Jo Fletcher, the Blues are aiming to stay in the National Premier Division and build again.

Steve Shipway, Birmingham City Ladies FC's chairman since 2000, has seen the game grow rapidly since he first became involved with the club. "The women's game internationally has increased its profile with a lot more media coverage, a prime example being the Euros this year. But I've seen a much greater transformation at Blues. When I first started here there were only two teams, and now we have a centre of excellence and four full teams from under 10's and upwards, with the senior side competing in the highest women's football league."

Although the quality and quantity of players are undoubtedly rising, the spectators are unfortunately not. Steve commented, "Football has become the biggest female sport, ahead of netball, hockey etc, and the game will continue to grow. However where it isn't developing is as a spectator game. Even though we (BCLFC) play in the highest division we're still only getting an average attendance of 60-70 people every match. The lack of media coverage doesn't help."

Rachel Yankey

Jenny Wilkes, Chairwoman of Wolverhampton Wanderers WFC, agreed. "The media coverage is a problem. It's a bit "chicken and egg" - we need to get big gates to get the interest from the media, but we won't attract the crowds if the media don't cover the games. Wolves Women's average crowd is about 100-150 - mainly friends and families of the players. It doesn't help that satellite TV is showing games all Sunday afternoon and the local newspaper doesn't publicise the games."

The progression of the women's game did see one team, Fulham, go professional for a season whilst under the financial wing of its male counterparts. But as soon as that financial backing was taken away, they slipped into oblivion.

This summer nearly saw the same with BCLFC, who were expecting financial help from the men's side, but astonishingly BCLFC's male counterparts couldn't afford £75,000 (an average players three month wages) to support the entire ladies team, because they believed it wasn't 'commercially viable.' Well neither is Emile Heskey, yet £6.25 million was still spent on him.

"I believe that one of the major problems in the game is the lack of support from the men's clubs. The most successful women's clubs, eg: Arsenal, Charlton, Everton have that support," said Jenny. "Many other clubs are really struggling to survive. Many of the men's clubs are only interested in profits and don't want to give anything back. I think the FA should MAKE the men's clubs take their female teams on board. They have made them run the girls' Centres of Excellence (for girls aged Under 10 to Under 16) but there are no requirements to help the senior teams."

If this is the case than by the time the World Cup comes around in 2007 how much progression will be made? "If the FA doesn't do something soon, it will be in exactly the same position as it is now - with many teams struggling to survive. The FA puts a lot of money and effort into the national side, but not into supporting the teams which provide the players for the squad. We don't want to see a repeat of England's poor performance at Euro 2005."

Rachel Yankey and Rachel Unitt

Jenny Wilkes' last comment rings very true, because although Euro 2005 gained lots of publicity for the women's game, it would have garnered a hell of a lot more if the England team had progressed into the latter stages of the tournament. It was their chance to spark national pride and euphoria, but instead they crumbled as is too often seen with the men's team. But with a fantastic grass roots development in place, hopefully England’s ladies won't be too far off from reaching better heights next time round.

Looking more closely at the local side of things, here's a mini-breakdown of the leagues in which our local teams play. As stated, the Blues are in the top division, the FA Nationwide Women's Premier National Division. Then there is the Premier Northern and Southern Divisions. In the Northern Division are our very own Aston Villa LFC and Wolverhampton Wanderers WFC.

Then there follows a number of regional leagues that run across the country, including the Regional West Midlands Premier Division, which has West Bromwich Albion WFC present, the Regional West Midlands Division 1 North and Division 1 South leagues. There are also the County Birmingham F.A. Division's 1 and 2.

Priced out!

Not as simple as the men's nationwide leagues, but without even a fraction of their salaries, (in fact most women pay to play), the women's game is prospering. The dedication and passion of these women have lead to football coming leaps and bounds over the past decade, and let's hope it continues to do so.

last updated: 20/10/05

Have Your Say

What do you think of Women's Football? Can it be as big as the Men's game? Let us know what you think.

Reilly
I love football! I practice every day outside. So i think iff WE try hard enough it will be as big or bigger then mens game

bex
okay before i get started i just want to say that i love football. however, i dont think it will ever be as big as the mens game. although it has improved, we are still along way away from the mens standard as far as sponsership and leauges are concerned. look at how many mens teams there are, look at how many leauges they have. 1 day womans football may be as big, but i believe not in my generation and i am 18!

Becci
I remember back to when i was 7 or 8 and the only way for me to play football was to join a boys team. i was never picked as i am a girl and was told that i would never be as good. It is amazing to see how much the game has developed however still dissapointing that we are still not at the standard the womans game should be at.

kl
womens football was very big! ages ago but December 1921: The Football Association banned women from playing in the women's League 2002: The Football Association announces that football has become the top sport for girls and women in the country

Matt
I beleive that womens football should have more media covereage because if this contry beleives in equality why shouldnt women have the same oppertunity to play football and have put on tv and not just the odd match. I also feel that some women play better than the men and there is also less violence on ahd off of the pitch.

kim
i think football for women is just as important as the men because we love it just as much as they do and have a right to be viewed on and off the screen to encourage all to get involved in sport. if we make womens football big it will make a big impact on everyone!!!!!!

carly
hey i have been playing football since i was 4 and am still playing i think womens football should be as big as the mens game and should be on tv a lot more cos most of the womens teams play better than the men

Merban Murphy
Maybe not as big but defenetly needs promoting more. I would not no if theres a game on or where to go needs more media attention. and a few stars which the media could create from the best players.

Dot
Hi, I play for a mens footy team and generally i'm the only female on the pitch. Girl's are too scared because they worry about what people will think of them. I used to. Men can be sexist and look down on you but you have got to prove them wrong. Apparently i am better than some of the guys i play with. Hence girls can be better than guys! Sorry about the rant.

edna neillis
played in italy for 16 years even there we did not get great crowds but had good sponsors which allowed me to be proffessional dont think it will ever reach that stage here back in the uk.

Kirsty
I think it can be as big as mens football but we need more football clubs in the blackcountry for girls under 16

tammy sabel
ye woman football is reli good i play it and i love it so all girls could have the chance 2 play football

anon
womens football might not be as big as the mens game but its a hell of a lot cheaper! £2 for adults to go and watch Wolves Women play at Bilston Town on a sunday afternoon, unlike £28 ticket at molineux, go down and support the girls the footballs a lot better too!!!

Jenner aka fanny lol
Hey am 15 and started football wen i was 4...so bin playin a gd 11 years! i tink its harsh that womens footbal is NEVER on the tele!!! i mean, they only ever screen it if theres a final coming up but how are people meant to find out the results and how their team have been performing if u cant actually watch them!! cor lol! getting all worked up now!!

Mauro Pereira
How can women embrace a sport that discriminates against them and where there is no equal pay or pay at all?

lizzy
hey iv been playing football for 7/8 years now and im 14. i love the game but hate boys and men thinking we ant as good as den! we are and should be glad to be playing football and not caring wat others around us think!

fozia
womens football it great....ive always wanted to join a football team bt ders none in my area..n i feel gutted...

sam l
who's ur best player mine is jane ludlow and kelly smith

Danielle
Iv been playing football for about 10 yrs now and im 16. I love the game and it gets me mad when people are sexist about women playing football. People are starting to warm to the fact women play football now and hopefully in acouple of years it will be as big as mens football. My dream is to play along side players like players rachel yankey and Sue smith (just a couple of names). Womens football should b shown on bbc1 more, more people will watch it.

sam L
i agree wid keziah cuz i live in wales but i dont think il ever get the chance to play 4 arsenal like i wood luv 2 !

mello, a.k.a cracker(name given when playing the b
im 13 and i been playin footy for as long as i can remember, but the view on womens footy is so sexist some people may feel im being to critical but i'd like to share my opinion anyway. Firstly, i'd like to say why is it that so far i'ts only in Clarks that i've been able to find boots mainly made for ladies-well girls and they come in pink why are we restricted to one colour, the one colour that is usually referred to femininity, secondly shin pads available in- boys, men and extra large, but no girls, ladies and extra large. The last issue i would like to comment on is about an article i've read recently about a female ref who got slammed severely by a manager for making a mistake that male refs would simply have been making through footballing history, considering this was the first female ref in the 'male'game with a mens team, i was extremely shocked especially as men are allowed to commentate on womens football and i am yet to hear of a woman commentate on mens football. Give women a chance.

sam L
hi peps i think womens footie should be on tv. i play 4 my local side nd county i realy realy want to be a footballer aswell kiran! i support manu mens nd arsenal womens i reckon jayne ludlow iz the best cause she's welsh. go wales

Keziah Holton
I play for my local uni team and the standard of players is amazing. It goes to show, though, that there is a major female interest in football with loads of skilled players around, but not really that many places they can go. Mens teams like Man U are global giants but the women's team is barely known. Maybe if clubs started adequately financing their womens teams, and not just the mens, then widespread professional womens football might actually become a reality in the Uk. Showing more matches on terrestrial tv too would definitely help publicise the game. It's a shame that we hardly ever see coverage of games on general tv. After all, with players like Rachel Yankey and Kelly Smith to watch, there's a lot we're missing out on.

Gab
i play for my local side and used to play 4 albion. my dream is 2 become a proffessional playa...my inspiration is Rachel Yankey..i have seen her play a couple of times and she was on my plane twice...we had a little chat and she was really nice!! the more girls playin the better xx

charlotte
i think we should have womens football on the TV cos why should men get it and not us DO THEY THINK THAT WE CAN@T PLAY cos most women players are better than men :~/

laura
am only 15 an av played footie for all mi life, all the men in my family manily mi uncle always say 'football is not for girls' well that shows how much they respect us. I now play for two teams and have to find a way every year to buy all my own stuff for football. I pay abart £300 a year to play for my two football teams(saturday + sunday). The point im tryin to make is dat we should not av 2 go 2 america to be respected but be respected in our own country as equals of men!

kiran
hiya well i play for my local team. and i relli relli wana be a professional womens footie player when im older.. i agree with those who think womens footie should be on t.v it's not fair why is it that the boys get more attension?? to all the footie chicks out there you rock!! come on england women. (i would love to watch a friendly with enlgand women vs england men)lol...keep up the footie gals!! xx

sinny
I think that money should spent on womens football as it has grown in popularity and if it is going to move up the ranks money needs to be spent on it...

jasmine rushworth
i think it's an absolute disgrace that some women have to pay to play football as a matter of a fact most women are much better than some men and therefore should get a reasonable amount of money.

sarah
to me football os everything i've been to most the ladies fooball and the men i was there at the last highbury game football is a gr8t sport and ladies should carry on playing it.

Beth
women's football should be on tele more as I only seem to ever see cup games and the more it is on tele the more it influences girls and women to play the game... women's football won't be as popular as men's unless it's on tele as much as the mens!

Natale Miles
i think womans football will be soon be as big as mens football. i play for my local team and i also play for the norht of sctoland so i think we will be better then the men.

gongoman abenuga
i think womens football is great although it needs 2 be supported more by F.A and needs more media coverage ..thankyou very much

Sam Lewtas
Hi im 12 nd i really want 2 b a profesinol women footballer I luv arsenal , but i live in wales so i think welsh women should b on tv more-ludlow iz da best 'cuz shez welsh!!!!!!!!!!

emma
i think womens football should be put on tv more i love watching it just as much as the mens maybe a little bit more wish it was more popular a few years ago i would of defently wanted to play more good luck ladies in every game

ruqaya galal
yes i think it can,i mean i love football soo much that i want to be in the womans football.

Yasmin
I think it will take a long time for women to get the recognition they deserve. I hope women’s football makes it as big as the Men's game because I am very passionate about football and hope to see more women playing the beautiful game.

tabbyh
im 10 and im doing a school prodject on women footy and i used to play for the midhurst and easebourne when im older i want to be a perfesinal women footy player

pidge
i fink womens football will go up. b'cuz people r getin mur aware of it. i fink it shud be as popular as mens n da men shudnt be paid so much wen women dont WHY?? dey play jst as gd football maybe even beta. i fink womens footie shud be mur in the spot lyt den sexist pigs wudnt say women cnt play footie bcuz dey wud c dat we can.

dani
i think it can, as i play for wolves women myself i know how much womens footy is goin up and up and i think it will eventually be as good as the mens footy, only with funding supporting them.

Faye Cobley
I think women have as much potential as men to be where they are today. But i think that there will be lack of support, stopping womens football from becoming huge. How can progression to mens standards and popularity happen if there are so many barriers, for example pay, coverage in media, support.

laura smith
womens football is going to be bigger than mens soon cause women are getting better

Mauro Pereira
Yes the sportis growing! But when are women going to receive equal pay as any male football player, or even get paid at all!

xena @ Mersey Vets WFC
We need more Womens footy websites! Get working on that. Everton Ladies will win the league next season, 3rd now 2nd next season 1st watch out Arsenal!!

nicole house aka coley (my footballing name)
personally i think that womens football is going to be as big as mens in the not too far future!! i am in a team and enjoy football alot and more and more girls are seeing that its not just a mans sport and are joining in!! a few years ago i couldnt find a girls team in my area and now theres one in most football clubs now!! :-) c'on england! i saw the england hungry match thursday night live ( i was in the stadium) and it was a great match and our girls did well! well done girls keep it up!

stuart creed
just like to say me sis has been scouted for arsenal ladies and i am relly proud of her !!!

Daniel Munetsi (Cambridge Utd)
As a guy i realise that there is definately more emphasis in womens football. hopefully the national team will bring us success in the world cup. C'mon England

Sarah
Even though womens football is becoming a big sport within england and many other cdountries i don't think it can become as big as the mens as the mens footballers are superstars David Beckham Wayne Rooney an many others even though england women have many great players and up coming players

Jade Brammall
Definatly....womens football is the fastest growing sport in the world! and could even be bigger than mens football!...mens football is alot faster but womens is more exciting..you see more goals and better goals... i mean look at rachel yankeys goal in the fa cup against leeds!! Class A! can i say aswell think kelly smith and lianne sanderson are legends and they all deserve to be in the lime light alot more!!

rhian abraham
keep on goin womans football is awsum i really wont 2 play at a high level but i am not good enough

Jo B
Girlz footie rulez, d women play much bettr dan d men n dey rnt as violent!! Dey set a gd example 2 young players! Dey dont go off swearin at d ref!

james woodward
Its time that the FA started to focus money and press coverage towards the women's game. it needs to be elevated to a spectator sport. The National team needs to have a lot of quality players in it. Many of the men are paid excessive salaries for the amount of skill and effort that they put into the game.

nuwfc
shout outs to the nuwfc u21s!!! womens football IS the biggest female sport in the world.

Kiki Bustos
I think girls footy is great . I hope boys will stop making sexist comments about girls football and soon realise that girls can plaY football!

Sam 15
I think its definately getting very popular and cant see it just going away. Im not sure if it can be as big as the mens game but that would be good and a great boost for players