Column: The Lionesses have done their bit, now it's over to the government
On International Women's Day, it has been announced the government has pledged to ensure all girls can play football in school, but now we need to see it happen.
The UK Government has announced that all girls will now get equal access to football in schools, as part of an all-sports pledge, and the announcement meets one of The FA’s key strategic objectives.
Off the back of England's historic Euro 2022 success, the squad immediately set about ensuring the future generations had equal opportunities and wrote a letter to then Prime Minister Liz Truss, a request which has now been heard and acted upon by the government, with the announcement coming on International Women's Day.
To me, as someone who played football at school in a mixed team which welcomed several girls, the thought of girls not having those opportunities didn't even register, even though I was blissfully unaware of the world of women's football back then.
It still feels incredible going into 2023 that currently only 67% of all schools and 41% of secondary schools offer football equally to girls in PE lessons and only 46% of schools provide the same extracurricular opportunities as boys.
That will now change, but in my opinion should have changed long ago, and full credit to all the England players and The FA for their campaigning, because they have brought about genuine, meaningful change.
The letter sent to Liz Truss just days after Euro 2022 final, according to the press release, sparked constructive dialogue between the players, The FA and Government – leading to today’s historic commitment.
There is always a lot of talk about that key word, legacy, whether it be before, during or after a major tournament, but it does mean something, and I genuinely believe no matter what the Lionesses go on to achieve or whatever else comes off the back of their success last July, they won't be able to leave behind a bigger legacy than this.
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This pledge now gives opportunities to millions and millions of girls around the country and access to opportunities and facilities so many never had, including many of England's European champions.
The transformational change is backed by a multi-million-pound investment in school sport and afterschool activities – including over £600 million in funding over the next two academic years for the PE and Sport Premium and £22 million for the School Games Organisers network.
This multi-year funding package provides schools across the country with the security and stability to make long-term plans for PE and school sport, including girls’ football.
The news coincides with more than 200,000 girls joining The FA and Barclays’ Let Girls Play ‘Biggest Ever Football Session’ events in schools up and down the country.
The Let Girls Play campaign was launched in October 2021 to support The FA’s strategic ambition to provide girls with equal access to football. With their record-breaking investment into women's and girls’ football, Barclays’ role within the Girls' Football School Partnerships has been integral to support The FA’s ambition.
The funny thing is, when I played at school the best player on our team was a girl and nobody batted an eyelid, she helped us win, and we liked winning. I certainly did, I'm a terrible loser!
Little did I know I would come across that girl again covering women's football, because she actually went on to represent Huddersfield Town in the FA Women's National League for several years, and she had nowhere near the opportunities that the girls of the future will get, and they won't have to deal with my poor passes or lack of tracking back either.
So full credit to Lotte Wubben-Moy and Leah Williamson who led the charge, but to every player who instead of just merely basking in the glory of their success, decided to appeal for immediate change and to use their new-found status and respect to help the future generations, just days after their own individual greatest success stories.
As they came back on the 'party bus' from Trafalgar Square the day after the Euro 2022 final, Wubben-Moy and Williamson first struck up the conversation with Baroness Sue Campbell and two days later the letter went to the government and to the public, and now six months later here we are.
The challenge now is to not stand still and ensure the government follow through on their promises, because let's be honest, they haven't in the past and won't do in the future, and trust between the public and the government is at an all-time low.
There has already been fair scepticism from some, including PE teachers themselves, as to whether this will ring true, with some concerns over whether it is sustainable with teachers already under so much pressure, an already hectic daily schedule, and it will definitely take some time to implement these changes in terms of staffing and implementing all the changes necessary to ensure all girls can play football every week.
There is use of caveats in the statement and words such as 'recommendations', rather than something set in stone, and it's now on the government to ensure they stay true to the promises they've made.
We have a habit in women's football of saying thank you for the bare minimum, of being grateful things aren't as bad as they used to be. Quite frankly, we should always be asking for more, and even this announcement shouldn't be the end of it, there are always ways to give girls more opportunities, but the Lionesses have shown never to stand still and think you've succeeded.
They stood up at a time when they would have been forgiven for simply enjoying themselves for a week, but their battle isn't over until we see what has been pledged come true, but they've brought about meaningful change and an impact we will see for decades to come in the women's game.
Agree that this new commitment is very welcome and needed - but I do have doubts as to how practical this will be to actually deliver - my daughter's school couldn't support the big Let Girls Play event due to lack of cover and teachers for example. This is the first part of the journey and is to be welcomed - the next is to build up and enhance the pathway and academy systems for girls too.
The recent changes announced by the FA - creating ETC's across the country is a great help for grassroots and wider access, but looks like it is actually reducing and diluting the offer for talented players already in RTC's to continue with the new academy (PGAs) system - it is interesting - and worrying - to see how little info or detail has been provided by many clubs about what they will do and offer next season in this space except for the largest and best funded clubs. Several RTC's are either finishing or converting to ETC's moving forward - which will mean that there is a group of players (current U12/U14) that will lose or have much less access and opportunity to play at a high level then they do currently.