29 February 2024
A series of historic moves this year look set to supercharge opportunities for women and girls across England, while UFA sees numbers double with our partner clubs after continued surge in girls’ participation.
In a striking new rebrand announced this month, London Overground is to honour the England Women’s football team by renaming its Euston to Watford service the ‘Lioness Line’.
Passing through the heart of the iconic Wembley area on a network that hosts over 3 million users a week, this is the latest in a growing list of cultural changes illustrating how football is reshaping the landscape of female sport in England.
Between October 2021 and October 2023 – during which the Lionesses won the Euros and just a year later reached the World Cup Final – girls’ participation soared with the number of affiliated female youth teams up by 39%. And there is no sign of this impetus stalling.
Partnering with the FA, this year the government is backing female football from top to bottom of the football pyramid. At local level, a stunning £30m allocation will fund new pitches and facilities across the country, earmarked for women and girls’ priority access. While at elite level, the FA is to relinquish running of the Women’s Super League – England’s top teir – to new owners. ‘NewCo’ will take over from August, with ambition ‘to make our leagues the most distinctive, competitive and entertaining women’s club competitions in the world.’
“I see a world where women’s sport and women’s football in particular changes the world. I believe in the power of sport, and I have seen what it has done in my life for me personally.” Nikki Doucet – former investment banker, Chief Executive of NewCo.
Alongside structural changes, we are also seeing sustainable pathways for individuals. And progress is not limited to players. In May, English manager Emma Hayes will become the highest paid female coach in history when she joins the US Women’s National Team from Chelsea, taking home a salary of £1.3 million.
Throughout the pyramid, football is encouraging girls to thrive whatever their motivation, and at UFA we are seeing the impact of this out on the pitch. This season alone UFA have assisted Oxshott Royals FC to create three new teams across two additional age groups, with our girls’ team training night buzzing with football activity from ages 6 to 12!
We are thrilled to see national governing bodies acting decisively in support of women’s and girls’ football. And with the promise of unprecedented investment on the horizon, let the momentum continue… All aboard!
