James Milin-Ashmore can’t take seriously….the die-hards who can’t take women’s football seriously.
They still turn up: the old codgers who never miss a game with their club’s name on it. But when it’s a game in the women’s Football League, they continue to think it doesn’t count.
Reporting on a League encounter a few months ago, I had a few of these chaps sitting behind me in the stands – a father, his best friend and his young son. The men laughed at the child’s naivety, for he sat attentively throughout the encounter, soaking it in. ‘Bless him,’ said the father. ‘He thinks it’s a real game.’
Cackling as their team conceded twice in quick succession, they used the moment to teach the ignorant little boy an important lesson about football.
‘They’re not real players. Women can never be as good as men.’
After an hour, they left: it didn’t matter either way.
Such dismissive attitudes continue to hamper the women’s game, as it struggles to gain even a tiny share of the financial support enjoyed by its male counterpart.
Despite repeated attempts to drum up interest, including ticket prices at a fraction of the men’s equivalent, the disparity is clear. While football becomes ever more business orientated, the ladies’ game is being threatened by its big brother; stifled, rather than nurtured.
In England even the Champions League is not glamorous enough, when it’s the ladies’ competition. I was in the crowd for the 2011-12 final at Craven Cottage, which was half-empty despite the £2.50 entry fee. It was the quietest football game I had ever been too, eerily silent as Lyon fought to win the first of their back-to-back titles.
In Europe, thankfully, they already know better. In the 2012 final, Lyon overcame FFC Frankfurt in front of a crowd of over 50,000 fans, more than double the crowd at Fulham.
In 2013 England disappointed once again, with Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge the venue for a game attended by 19,000, less than half the capacity of the ground.
Women’s football will never get a chance to flourish unless perceptions of the game change in this country. Despite the interest generated by the success of England Ladies during London 2012, women’s football is being left by the wayside as the male juggernaut continues to gather steam.
Clubs are tapping every revenue stream imaginable, from sponsored training kits to re-branding classic stadia, but little or no attention is given to one of the last ‘untapped’ resources – their women’s teams.
An enhanced media spotlight and more club promotion through social media channels, are two ways which could help to increase attendances. But until women’s football is truly taken seriously by the footballing fraternity, fans will continue to vote with their feet and stay at home.