The transformation in women’s and girls’ football has been massive since the start of the 2020s – from the England women’s national football team, the Lionesses, winning the Euros 2022 for the first time in history to the record average attendances in the Barclays Women’s Championships, this decade has been the most successful of all time.
Yet despite this progress, girls still face challenges at grassroots level – especially in areas where there aren’t enough players to form all-girls teams. This raises the question: can girls play in boys football teams? In many cases, they have to, simply to get the opportunity to play.
So, why is this success so important for the future of girls in football? Without these victories, women’s football wouldn’t be as visible as it is – and without such visibility, the Lionesses’ petition for progress, opportunity, and inclusion wouldn’t be possible!
This blog will explore the inspiring journeys of individuals, from professional success to grassroots passion. Stories like Beth Mead’s rise in football to Sports Tours’ very own Stacey’s return to the sport show how these experiences are paving the way for future female footballers.
Read on for more…
Success everywhere!
First off – let’s look at the fantastic growth shown throughout all aspects of women’s and girls’ football.
Since England defeated Germany 2-1 in the UEFA EURO 2022 final and lifted their trophy of triumph, awareness of the Lionesses has increased by 32% across girls aged 5-16 in England, and interest in women’s football is up 12% amongst girls aged 5-16 in England compared to before the tournament. Thanks to the Lionesses’ success, many girls are now lacing up their boots and hitting the pitch – and Stacey is a perfect example of this resurgence!
Stacey, a colleague at Sports Tours, began her football journey at a young age but took a break after school. Around four years ago, she made a strong comeback, playing for teams like Mickleover FC in the Derbyshire Girls and Ladies League and Sherwood FC in the East Midlands Regional League, where she currently plays. Despite challenges like relegation and her Sandiacre team folding, Stacey’s resilience has been inspiring!
Her passion for sport has even sparked her daughter’s interest; she began playing at 3 years old and now enjoys training with OTB Coaching. Her daughter also receives football training from Soccer Stars at her nursery, which introduces children as young as 18 months to the game.
The future of girls and women in football looks incredibly promising, and Stacey’s story (and her daughter’s) is a shining example of that!
The stats don't lie...
Furthermore, since October 2021, there’s been a 30% increase in female registered football teams, and a 15% increase in female youth teams (made up of girls aged between 5-18 years old). Both grassroots and elite female football teams have experienced an amazing growth – we’ve seen this success too, with the number of girls’ teams entering our tournaments rising year by year. The more female teams, the more opportunities girls have to participate in fantastic tournaments like these.
A Lioness’ grassroots story to victory
Speaking of triumphs – top scorer Lioness Beth Mead has experienced a lifetime of success!
In her interview with England Football in 2022, Mead shared her inspiring journey of being the only girl playing football in her local village sessions. She had to travel 45 minutes to Middlesbrough to be able to play in a girls’ team, showing her passion for the sport! This difficulty in accessing local girls’ teams highlights the challenges girls face with sports opportunities. This is also one of the reasons why there is still a 22% gender gap in sports participation in 2024.
Despite these obstacles, Mead persevered and kickstarted a movement for the girls in her school! She made history as the first girl to join her primary school team and later became its captain. Her story serves as an inspiration for women and girls everywhere, showing that with determination they can overcome challenges – as Mead puts it, ‘the possibilities are endless’ for future female footballers!
A new generation
The future for girls in football looks bright! Seeing the rise of female footballers in the media, the success of female football teams such as the Lionesses, and the increase of girls participating in the sport have all been fantastic changes.
Whilst there continues to be hurdles for girls to go toe-to-toe with, like unequal resources and opportunities, the new generation of girls are sure to experience football at its best. What’s stopping you from taking part today?
Kickstart your girls’ football tour!
Has this inspired you to go on your own tour and compete with other female footballers? We have an assortment of tournaments to choose from… from UK football tournaments to international football tournaments, girls’ teams are spoilt for choice!
