Women’s football is a growing national phenomenon with record breaking interest. All over the world, girls are lacing up their boots and pulling up their socks. But it doesn’t have the exposure, the glamour or the money of the men’s game – so why should we care about women’s football?
It’s hard to believe that there was a time where professional women’s football was banned. It wasn’t until 1971, when women could play competitively. The men’s game was treated entirely differently. We would never consider a world where competitive mens football would ever be questioned, never mind banned. However this was the reality for many women wanting to play their beloved sport. The women’s game had a 50 year head start to catch up on.
Men’s football is extremely popular and has a massive audience. It is estimated that over 5 billion people interacted with the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup. Men, biologically, are faster, stronger and taller than the women. This creates a more competitive and elite sport to engage in, with the best of the very best competing. The men’s game also has extensive sponsorship from some of the biggest brands in the world and their owners are amongst the richest people on earth. There is just no competing with this untouchable global Goliath of a game.
The female game is a dot on the massive football landscape. People don’t have a women’s club to cheer for or join. Women, biologically, are slower, shorter and lighter and women’s teams do not have the same media coverage, global sponsorship or same ‘cult’ following fan base as the men.
Male and female football are entirely different and always will be – and that might actually be the best news any young girl could hear.
Women’s football offers a completely different and quite wonderful experience for everyone.
The financial globalisation of the current day male sport, has meant that it has lost its working class roots. Football is supposed to be accessible for all, no matter your background. Nowadays, securing a ticket top-flight men’s football can be notoriously difficult and ridiculously expensive. If you strike it lucky and manage to be anywhere near the front of the season ticket queue for Liverpool F.C, you won’t see much change from £700.
However for the women’s team, an adult and companion child season ticket will cost you £75 to see the same club – the only difference being gender. You may think that you’re not getting the same ‘quality’ of sport, but nothing beats supporting YOUR team, up close within touching distance of a corner kick taker -for an affordable price.
Women’s teams care and value their fans. They make an effort to thank and welcome them. Players at the end of the game will often stop for selfies, chat and make their fans feel appreciated. You will always leave a women’s game having interacted with at least one player and get so close to the action that you feel apart of it.
Would this ever happen in the male top flight sport? Are their egos and paycheques too are too big to care about their fans?
It’s safe at a women’s football match. Extreme or offensive chants are not used in women’s stadiums. Fans are eager to create a safe space and for everyone to feel welcome to attend. Women and members of minority groups feel safe to attend and safe to support their club.
Trophies? Championships? Many of the British women’s teams are far more successful than the men. The “Lionesses” changed the way the UK viewed women’s sport. In front of a sold out home crowd – they won the 2022 Euros. They brought football ‘home’, for English fans. The last time the men won an international trophy was in 1966. Despite making the final in the two most recent EUROs, EURO 2024 and EURO 2020, they were unsuccessful in claiming the trophy on both occasions.
The Scotland women’s team qualified for the 2017 EUROs and the 2019 World cup. The men’s team cannot get anywhere near this record given that the last time they qualified for the World Cup was in 1998. This means that Scottish football fans under the age of 25 won’t have ever watched their team make it to the greatest international stage.
So next time anyone says ‘the women’s team is rubbish anyway’, kindly remind them they are much more successful than the men – with much, much less funding.
The Scotland women’s team have an incredible chance of qualifying for next year’s EUROs. Scotland take on Hungary in the semi-final play-off on Tuesday 29th October, at Easter Road, Edinburgh. Tickets for the match are only £10, so go and show some support for our girls, view the action up close and leave with new memories and even more selfies.
Interesting read