As the year draws to a close and we reflect on the events, and what a year it has been for women. Sporting achievements have surpassed expectations, from the Vitality Netball World Cup and its success and ability to raise awareness for the sport, to more individual and iconic moments such as Dina Asher-Smith's emphatic gold medal victory in Doha, Qatar.
It is a year of victories and celebrations as we continually change the landscape for women and sport through breaking barriers. One glass ceiling which appears to be shattering is the barrier that has prevented women’s football from getting the respect it deserves. Football has been loved and supported by so many across the country, and the world, yet women’s football is always an unheard topic of discussion… Until 2019 comes steamrolling in, breaking down social norms.
To start, we have to look at individual moments. Of course, you have to mention the Women’s World Cup in France, which, although I felt at the time was a disappointment (From a local marketing perspective), it set the tone perfectly for what is achievable through sport and to change the women’s game. It generated a buzz surrounding the game through TV appearances, social media activity, and, more importantly, it allowed for discussion on areas yet to be addressed due to a lack of exposure.
The one key individual I feel that it would be profound not to mention in association with the World Cup is the United States of America captain, Megan Rapinoe. The position she found herself in on a global stage, she dealt with charisma, passion, and a revolutionary mentality that aimed to talk about the sensitive and controversial topics that not only surpassed the norm within the women’s game but was unlike anything seen across the footballing industry and sports alike. It exposed the gender pay gap issues surrounding women’s football, LGBT issues became at the forefront of media discussions, and the bias towards the reporting of the women’s game was apparent (Alex Morgan's celebration against England springs to mind). Everything Rapinoe represented at the World Cup, whether you agree with it or not, is going to be a fundamental step in raising the profile and recognition that the women stars undoubtedly deserve.
Not only Rapinoe but closer to home, Lucy Bronze. In an era where there is a lack of male internationals capable of setting an example, and stars are awarded knighthoods despite a lack of trophies to support those recognitions, Lucy Bronze is a hidden gem on the English scene (that is coming from a passionate Welsh fan, so it is painful to admit). To fully understand, here is a brief list of some of her achievements to date as a 28-year-old full-back;
Two Champions League titles (Olympique Lyonnais)
Two Division 1 Feminine titles (Olympique Lyonnais)
Three Women’s Super League titles (Liverpool (2) and Manchester City(1))
Two PFA Women’s Player of the Year
2019 Women’s World Cup Silver ball
There is more…but I think you get the point. There is still a long way to go for female footballers to gain the appreciation they deserve. Also, it is evident that the gap between women and men’s football is so much deeper than just the pay-gap issues; it also includes respect, support, and so much more.
Now that I have moaned a little, its time to end in celebration. We are finishing a phenomenal year of women’s football, with the success of The Women’s Super League. What a transformative platform it has proved, from the release of the FA Player app, where every FA WSL match is available free of charge, to derby weekend and sell out grounds across the country. The FA has proved successful in keeping the momentum going moving forward into 2020 after such a successful year in spreading the word.
The Super League is providing a platform for young girls to have new heroes. It is a platform where women can excel without the fear of football not being a worthwhile career. It is a platform where the Bronze's of this world can flourish, and the Rapinoe's of tomorrow can continually challenge systems in place. The continual partnerships and TV deals set in place the future for women's football, not just domestically, but internationally (five oversea broadcast deals), and the excitement surrounding new deals speaks volumes to the business geniuses behind the scenes, but also, the players who through determination and hard work, have set the tone and precedence for women's football.
The message is clear. Women, football, and its future is here to stay for the foreseeable future.
