I’m joined by Niamh O’Mahony from Football Supporters Europe (FSE) and JulieAnn Thomas from Fulham Lillies. We look at fan cultures within women’s football and the challenges in attracting fans. We also look at women fans within the men’s game. What can be done to attract more women to the men’s game and more men to women’s football?
In this podcast, we cover:
Fan cultures: We discuss the unique identity and fan culture within women’s football, which Niamh believes needs to be respected rather than simply copying the men’s game model.
Inclusive environments: We look at inclusivity in women’s football, with many fan groups supporting LGBT+ and family-friendly environments, creating safer spaces compared to men’s football.
Scheduling: We discuss a major challenge in the inconsistent scheduling and locations of women’s matches, which complicates efforts to build a regular, sustainable fan base.
Listening to fans: We explore how important it is for clubs to engage more meaningfully with their fans by actively listening and understanding their preferences, instead of merely aiming to increase numbers.
Matchday experience: We discuss how active fan sections should be encouraged and properly allocated, as they are essential to creating a vibrant match-day atmosphere.
Making football accessible: We look at how to make women’s football more accessible, from clearer transportation options to providing detailed fan guides, especially when matches are held outside central locations.
Group psychology: We learn about the group psychology of crowds, where the presence of women and children at matches can reduce tensions and create more welcoming and less violent environments.
Initiatives: We look at initiatives like Fulham Lilies, which create supportive communities around both men’s and women’s football teams, helping women feel more connected to the game.
Future potential: We see great potential in the growth of women’s football, but real progress will require greater investment from sponsors, clubs, and governing bodies. We talk about new ownership models like Mercury 13, which focus on investing in women’s clubs, though we remain cautious about the long-term sustainability of such initiatives without systemic changes.
The three reports that we cite in this podcast come from She’s A Baller, Visa, and Football Supporters Europe.
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