‘The Time is Now,’ says Football Pundit Karen Carney: A Look at how Women’s Football at University is Kicking Higher than Ever.
‘The Time is Now,’ says Football Pundit Karen Carney: A Look at how Women’s Football at University is Kicking Higher than Ever.
We explore the youthful magic of the women’s game at University, the pressures, the shots…of vodka and the hopeful future of the game.
The Current Landscape
When the Lionesses raised the European Championship trophy on the 31st of July 2022, a spotlight was cast upon the women’s football scene across the nation. The spotlight remains just as bright today. England Captain, Leah Williamson, not only led the Lionesses to victory that day, she led an exciting movement in the development of women’s football.
Published in July 2023, an independent review outlined a series of recommendations designed to capitalise on the success of the Lionesses and build a sustainable future for women’s football in the UK. In response to the review, the Government expressed their commitment to the growth of women’s football and have since invested in development projects across the country. UK Universities have become spaces in which the progress of the women’s game is promising and in full swing. Several development projects are currently in operation across UK universities with funding from British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCs) organisation and the FA.
The University of Gloucestershire has renewed its partnership with the FA to continue their programme that aims to promote female player development and increase the popularity of women’s football. In an article released from the University, Matthew Tansley, Director of Sport and Physical Wellbeing at the University, said, ‘We’re pleased that the programme is creating many excellent opportunities.’ These development projects are exciting in their ability to encourage young women to score goals on the pitch and in their career prospects and personal growth.
In conversation with the Women's Football Club President, Yssie Pearson, and student athlete, Erin Nicholson, Dazed explores the women’s football scene today at Oxford Brookes University.
A Community
Yssie Pearson, Club President of the Women’s Football Club at Oxford Brookes University, spoke to Dazed and reflected on her time at university. She recalled, ‘When I came to university, I didn’t know anyone from home so I had no connections with anyone…football gave me that place to make new friends and start a new life.’ It is clear that football has played an integral part in Yssie’s university experience, not only her experience as a football player but as a member of the social community too. She continued, ‘Everyone is very close knit… everyone is there to play football, have a good time and be friends with each other, not just teammates.’
She gets it down in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…
University football goes beyond the 90 minutes played on the pitch and extends into more than a few late nights. When asked about the social scene, Pearson set out a clear routine for every Wednesday night: ‘You go to a social, you get drunk, you play drinking games, then you go to a club, get more drinks, get even more drunk.’ A survey released in July 2023 stated that 81% of students believe that drinking is part of university culture; it seems that the women’s football club does not shy away from this statistic.
Student-athlete, Erin Nicholson, described her experience with getting the balance right between student- athlete life and social life: ‘It’s difficult when your teammates are cheering you on to finish your pint but knowing the next day you’ve got to show up to the gym or to football training and meet the expectations of the coaches.’ Club President, Pearson, is not an exception to these pressures too as she says, ‘there are definitely social pressures… you are seen as boring if you don’t go out.’
While the spirited club culture is fuelled by friendships and the frequent alcoholic beverage, in her role as Club President, Pearson importantly notes other difficulties she faces as Club President. When asked if she, as Club President, has experienced any negative attitudes towards women’s football, she recalls moments where the gap between men’s football and women’s football has been felt: ‘In a few meetings I have been a part of… there's been little comments about pitch availability, transport, kit availability and accessibility. They don’t realise they are making the comments but they are putting men’s football before women’s.’ Pearson expressed how this can be disheartening but that the love she has for the game continues to drive her to push for better visibility of the women’s football club.
A Look to The Future
This dedication was rewarded in the recent varsity game that took place in late February of this year. Pearson explained that the event draws in profit for both men’s and women’s university football clubs. ‘For years,’ Pearson explained, ‘the profit has been split 60% or 70% to the men’s club and 40% or 30% to the women’s club.’ She continued, ‘this year, however, we received an even split of the profit, 50/50, the confirmation of this felt great, like I was being heard and women’s football was being seen how it should be seen.’
When asked where she sees the future of women’s football going, Pearson said, with a smile, ‘Just in the three years I’ve been here, you can already see the increase in participation and in accessibility.’ She continues, ‘it will just get better because the popularity is going up.’ Student athlete, Erin Nicholson added, ‘the progress is promising and it's exciting for the next generation.’
It is clear that, as the Lionesses brought that trophy home in the summer of 2022, with it, they brought a sense of empowerment for young women all across the nation. With backing from the government, the beauty of the women’s game is being realised at universities across the UK. As participation and visibility increases, more young women will reap the rewards of being a part of the women’s game at University.