Women in football

For the last two decades, women’s football has been the fastest growing sport in England.

The introduction of The Football Association (FA) Women’s Super League (WSL) in April 2011 and the impressive performance of Great Britain during the London Olympics 2012 have seen the sport thrive even more in recent years.

Football is now the most popular team sport in the country amongst women and this increased interest shows no sign of relenting with over a million women and girls playing the game.

There is also a large focus on representation off the pitch with Kick It Out playing a vital role in trying to address the lack of female presence in the football industry. Several leading women from across football provide vital support to the campaign and are helping to shape its future work in this area.

Every year, Kick It Out hosts a Women’s Raise Your Game conference, which gives women hoping to work in football a chance to hear from industry professionals and receive one-to-one mentoring, as well as workshop training.

Women also play an important role on both Kick It Out’s Professional Game Guidance Group and Grassroots Guidance Group, with key figures including Siobhan Atkinson, the Acting Director of Leicester City Community Trust, Ruth Hopkins, Head of Access and Development at Level Playing Field, Sue O’Brien, Chief Executive of the National League Trust and Juliet Chard, Campaigns Officer at Stonewall.

In addition, England stars Toni Duggan and Jordan Nobbs are key ambassadors for Kick It Out’s ‘Next 20’ initiative and help the campaign promote messages of equality and inclusion to their local communities.

Kick It Out has also built up strong links with Women in Football (WiF), the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF), the MWSF and the WSL, and continues to seek additional partner organisations.

Here is some further information on the key organisations Kick It Out works with in this area.

  • Muslim Women's Sport Foundation (MWSF)

    Muslim Women’s Sport Foundation
    38a Station Road
    Harrow
    Middlesex
    HA2 7SE
    Tel: 020 8427 0873
    Fax: 020 8863 9370

    Email: info@mwsf.org.uk
    Web: www.mwsf.org.uk

    The MWSF is a volunteer-led charity with the overarching aim to provide opportunities for women from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities to participate in a variety of sports without compromising their religious or cultural values.

  • Women in Football (WiF)

    Women in Football (WiF)
    Email: info@womeninfootball.co.uk
    Web: www.womeninfootball.co.uk

    WiF is a network of professional women working in and around the football industry who support and champion their peers.

    WiF aims to improve women’s representation at all levels of the game by celebrating women’s achievement, challenging discrimination and lobbying for change, sharing professional contacts, advice and expertise, and offering mentoring opportunities to the next generation.

  • Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF)

    Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF)
    50 Featherstone Street
    London
    EC1Y 8RT
    Tel: 020 7608 5299

    Email: info@wsff.org.uk
    Web: www.wsff.org.uk

    The WSFF aims to make being active more attractive to women. The organisation uses its experience, research and lobbying power to help break down the barriers that are putting women off. It aims to persuade and inspire women to take part in physical activity by offering support to sport deliverers and giving women the advice they need.
"The message of Kick It Out is very important and there is no better place to start than with young children."
Nathaniel Chalobah, 'Next 20' Ambassador
"Just because you are female doesn't mean you know less than anyone else."
Hope Powell, former England Women's manager
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"We have a responsibility as players to give something back and I’m really thankful to be part of this organisation because we can do a lot of good."
Jack Butland, 'Next 20' Ambassador
“A big part of my involvement with Kick It Out stems from my strong admiration for the organisation’s commitment to fairness and equality.”
Clive Tyldesley, football commentator
“It was Kick It Out that convinced the people in football that change was possible.”
Greg Dyke, former FA chairman
“I wanted to thank the campaigners at Kick It Out for their work. I know first-hand how Kick It Out can help.”
Yaya Toure, Manchester City midfielder
“It is important for me in my role as a Kick It Out ‘Next 20’ ambassador to teach young people how to handle discrimination and treat people with respect.”
Romelu Lukaku, 'Next 20' Ambassador
“It is a massive honour for me to be an ambassador for such a great organisation. I think they do great work on and off the field.”
Toni Duggan, 'Next 20' Ambassador
"It really helped me to see that other professional sports people were acknowledging their sexuality. I read about John Amaechi, Gareth Thomas and Tom Daley. They weren't footballers but the fact that they went public gave me the feeling that I was not alone."
Thomas Hitzlsperger, former Aston Villa midfielder
"There was no conflict between religion and the fact that I wanted to play football. I was brought up correctly and in the right way and my parents are very proud of the fact that I am a professional footballer."
Sadio Mané, Liverpool winger
“I think it’s important to share success stories and realise that there are women operating in the game. If it’s something you want to do, you can do it.”
Ffion Eade, Hampshire FA referee
"I've had loads of negative comments from men, especially growing up. It's just boring and old. Times have changed, and they continue to change. Women play football, and they're good at it, and have been for a number of years.”
Kelly Smith, England Women's record goalscorer
"Despite the progress, stereotypes still exist in football and until that is broken down it will be extremely difficult for a woman to manage a top level men's team."
Rachel Yankey, former Arsenal Ladies forward
"There’s no hiding that there is sexism in sport. We have a lack of women right across all levels of management, playing and coaching. It shows the closed nature of sport in general and this includes the media. It’s an indictment of sport as a whole."
Rimla Akhtar, Kick It Out trustee and Chair of the Muslim Women’s Sports Foundation
“I’m proud to be a supporter of Kick It Out and particularly the work they are doing to combat antisemitism within football.”
Joe Jacobson, Wycombe Wanderers midfielder
"With Kick It Out leading the way football is standing up and fighting against those who preach hatred and intolerance and we at Chelsea are proud to support their work."
Bruce Buck, Chelsea Football Club Chairman