People that know me well will understand my love and passion for women’s football. Even Though I am a diehard Chelsea fan in men’s football and have been since the age of six years of age, I have been watching women’s football since the early ’90s.
When I moved to Sweden some years ago, I tried my hardest to find a men’s team to follow and attended a few games here and there but just never felt the same as going to watch Chelsea play. It felt like I was cheating on a loved one. However, of course, back then I did not realise about the fantastic group of Chelsea fans that exist here and that some of them have become very close friends indeed.
So rewind some years ago, and I began attending Linköping FC games. Linköping was a 30-minute train ride from the city I was living in at the time, and they were a decent team in the top division, and I caught the tail end of one season. Now seven years on, I have been fortunate to see them rise, fall and rise again. Compete in the Champions League, win the national league twice and have been lucky enough to make some good friends, and one best friend, within the team.
In the forty years that I have been watching men’s football and the thirty or so, I have been watching women’s football the game, the gaps have always been immense between the two.
Back in the early days, there was a stigma that women should not be playing football. It was a “mans” game and that women were having a bit of fun. Fortunately, the professional game has moved on a great deal since those days and even though there are still some with a prehistoric attitude it is terrific to see that the game is classed in the singular term.
However, there is still so much to be done for equality to exist.
I remember watching the 2007 women’s world cup as my first real major event. The stadiums were half full; there were those supporters who were loyal; there were those who would religiously follow their country as a patriotic supporter. However, there were still small stadiums that were empty. Now watching the 2018 world cup it is better, stadiums are fuller, but there are still tickets that have not been sold.
Various countries around the world have fought hard for better equality. Movements within the USA, Sweden, Australia, Denmark, Norway, Canada, England and France have gained momentum and potential, and things are improving. There is always going to be that vast gap in money.
I read somewhere a few years ago that Zlatan Ibrahimovich here in Sweden earned more in 1 week than the top 50 women’s players did in a year combined. I am not sure of the validity of that fact, but it would not be far off the truth.
The way I see things is that we have one game, one sport, one-word ‘football’ (or soccer to some!)
The game is becoming far more professional worldwide. It is growing in stature, status and acceptability within for women players. Crowds are growing, investment is increasing, and the attitudes of those I know who thought women should not be playing football has changed. I hope that one day we can see equality, for club and country. I hope that those who have graced a pitch in any capacity would have the ability to retire with both health and wealth.
The past year I have been part of the FIFA Fan Movement which brings the most dedicated of football fans from around the world and unite us in a group, that as supporters, can raise awareness and combine together to become a collective voice that we can add to making the game of football where it should be.
It’s not just a game or a sport, and football is a way of life that combines us with passion, pride and love.
Let’s now take it to the very next level!
