ABSA is committed to Equality at the grounds and recognises the important part grassroots sports plays in providing opportunities for girls and women
Sport can transform lives building courage, resilience and life skills. However, 22% fewer girls than boys play team sport, so giving women and girls opportunities in sport matters.
More than any other sport, women’s football is a sport that suffered the most vicious of bans, rising from the ashes with immense joy and grace fuelled by the heroics of our Lionesses. But, for a girl wanting to play team sport in this country the opportunities are still limited. We cannot ignore the sexism and misogyny that remains in large parts of the game.
The July 2023 report "Raising the Bar – Reframing the Opportunity in Women’s Football" by former England International Karen Carney MBE, is broadly seen as a positive step. The Government has accepted all of the report recommendations.
The aim was to raise minimum standards across the entire game. For too long women and girls have been relegated to the side-lines, and treated as second-class citizens in their own footballing world. They have been conditioned to accept, and be grateful for the meagre crumbs from a table that they should rightfully sit at. It’s time that changed.
Our national sport of football is a game in which women and girls belong. It’s not just a matter of rectifying injustice; it’s essential for the value it brings to their lives.
The vision is for England to globally set the gold standard for all women’s professional sport. The report prioritises 10 key recommendations for raising the bar and kickstarting the initiative. ABSA is committed to do its utmost in helping women in sport, particularly by implementing recommendation 8:
Recommendation 8: everyone involved in funding grassroots facilities must come together to increase investment in order to accommodate meaningful access for women and girls.
If girls can access PE - and football specifically - at school, improving the provision of women and girls’ football outside of school is contingent on access to suitable facilities. Providing greater access to facilities that are truly fit for women and girls will create environments where they are more likely to succeed.
The quality and quantity of available grassroots facilities was repeatedly mentioned in response to the call for evidence. With 96% of local areas reporting the lack of facilities to meet demand, the FA highlighted the need for “1,500 more 3G pitches and 20,000 grass pitches to meet the total demand of grassroots football. Two in three pitches are rated as ‘poor’ or ‘basic’ quality, and these factors risk stifling the growth and development of the women and girls game.”
Further evidence is provided from grassroots players with one participant saying, “It is so evident how limited the options are for good quality, accessible and affordable pitches …the competition between groups for prime spots means that many miss out.”
The Government, FA, Premier League, local authorities, schools and clubs, as well as other private companies and local partners currently invest in facilities across the UK. Despite this investment in England, the current levels are not enough to meet the national need, especially as demand grows from women and girls.
How is ABSA helping?
ABSA is working hard to provide “Meaningful access” which is central to improving the situation and we are working towards the following:
● Dedicated peak time slots
● Women and girls only evenings
● Priority for female teams
● Access to appropriate toilet and changing room facilities (which is an issue for women and girls in community sport settings). This may not be possible until we have the new Changing Rooms as part of the new Community Clubhouse
With the addition of the new All Weather Multi-Use Court, ABSA is dedicated to providing a fully accessible space for women and girls to play netball, football and other sports.
The FA approved Senior Football Pitch at the ABSA grounds is fully available to the Women’s Football Team.
Other people and clubs are also helping. Sporting PB are successfully growing the Abbots Bromley Women’s Football team. Abbots Bromley Senior Football Club loan kit for games, and Abbots Bromley Cricket Club has applied for a grant to create dedicated women’s changing rooms.
Together we can eradicate sexism in sport and positively impact the mental and physical lives of women and girls in our wider community.
Attached is ABSA's Equality Policy which all Clubs playing at the grounds will need to subscribe to.
If you have any thoughts on this or would like to be involved please get in touch with ABSA on info@absasport.co.uk
SOURCES:
This article draws on resources from Women in Sport, Gov.uk and Squires Patton Boggs
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