Multimedia package

The Rise of Women’s Football

Two South Yorkshire clubs are set to host the Women’s European Championships in 2021 putting the region firmly on the sporting map.

Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane and Rotherham United’s New York Stadium will host some of the 16 teams in the prestigious tournament.

The region has six professional women’s teams – Sheffield FC, Sheffield United Sheffield Wednesday Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster Belles Regional Talent Club.

The popularity of women’s football is growing worldwide. The FA has announced that “commitment to women’s football has never been greater”.

The FA also feels that the recent rise in popularity is down to their “record investment”.

UEFA has also announced a new sponsorship deal with Visa which will run until 2025. They have promised to match the amount of money that they put into mens sport which is a substantial figure.

UEFA has announced a new strategy for women’s football which will see competitions such as the Women’s EURO’s and the Women’s Champions league value double.

Chantelle Haigh (34) has been playing football since school and is now the manager of Doncaster Rovers Belles.

She said: “I love the fact that women’s football is finally growing and a lot more people take an interest in the sport.

“However, when I started playing it was always a bit of a joke about women playing and I was always one to defend the sport.

“Now we have more coaches, players, medical staff and other roles within the game as females, but we still are, in my eyes, a long way from the men’s game.

“I believe the biggest issue is the money involved with the men’s game having huge amounts of money put in for sponsorship, advertising and broadcasting.”

20190503_095711

Chantelle played football throughout school and college and it was at college that she completed her level 1 coaching badge.

She then got a job coaching at Barnsley FC girls’ Centre of Excellence and Redfern’s JFC  before work commitments halted her footballing journey.

Later she started coaching again with two boys’ teams – under 13s and under 7s.

Chantelle said: “Being a female manager in football can have its challenges more so in grassroots football. However at the elite level is it more welcoming and everyone is in it for the right reasons.

“Within grassroots it is more male-dominated and some, not all, of the males involved are old school and don’t think women don’t have a place in football. ”

She added that the thing she enjoyed most was always learning and developing herself and seeing the players improve through enjoyment of the game.

“Anyone who is thinking of getting involved in football -whether men’s or women’s – do it give it your all as the opportunities are endless and truly rewarding.”

Rotherham United’s Lucy Ridley talks about life as a professional footballer and the growth in women’s football