The significance of women’s football cannot be overstated. It transcends the boundaries of competition, bringing about social change and empowerment.
Women’s football has come a long way since I was younger. I would have never dreamt of playing football as there wasn’t the opportunity to do so. Now, we see a packed Wembley Stadium when the Lionesses are in action.
The surge in popularity of women’s football is driving a change in attitude towards women’s sport as a whole and creating a platform for women to thrive.
The extraordinary feat of the Lionesses at the Euros and the World Cup will go down in history.
Their legacy reaches beyond the pitch. Following their win at the Euros, they launched a campaign calling for investment in girls’ football in schools.
A few months ago, I attended an event in Parliament where we were heard from some of the Lionesses about what the shift in the attitude towards the women’s game means to them and the changes that have taken place in the sport.
The legacy of the Lionesses can be seen around Chester. This season, for the first time, Chester FC Women are playing their home games at the Deva Stadium. This is a significant milestone that is providing more opportunities to raise the profile of women’s football in Chester, engage new fans and inspire a new generation of players.
I am a proud owner of a season ticket and have thoroughly enjoyed supporting Chester FC Women from the stands. I look forward to many more victories to come.
When I was still a councillor in Chester, one of things I was most proud of was being able to move for approval the planning application for the King George V’s Sports Hub which now provides a fantastic facility for women and girls from across our communities to play football.
We still have a long way to go to increase women and girl’s involvement in sport. In Cheshire West and Chester, four out of ten women are not active enough to get the full health benefits. I was pleased to see that earlier this week, Cheshire West and Chester Council held a workshop with a focus to supporting women and girls to be more active.
As we continue to support and celebrate women’s sport, we move one step closer to a more equal and inclusive society. And you never know, the journey of the next generation of Lionesses might start right here in Chester.