As the England Lionesses edge closer to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup with two confident wins against Greece in round one of the play-off stages, the spotlight once again shines on the ability of women’s football to inspire the next generation. Their recent success is another reminder of how far the women’s game has come, but also of the work still being done at every level to ensure more girls and women have the chance to play, watch, work in and enjoy football.
At Active Essex, that ambition aligns closely with our Women and Girls Like Us campaign and our work as part of the Barclays Girls’ Football School Partnership, helping to create more opportunities and equal access for girls across Essex to get active and discover a love for football.
For this month’s Team Reflections, we spoke to members of the team who have experienced women’s football from different perspectives. From social sessions and semi-professional football to media coverage and grassroots development, their stories demonstrate that football is about much more than what happens on the pitch.
For Sian, Relationship Development Officer for Mid Essex, football began through an Essex FA ‘Just Play’ session; an all-female, small-sided environment where ability didn’t matter and everyone was encouraged to get involved.
While many people assume football is only for those who have played since childhood, Sian’s experience highlights the value of creating spaces where women can simply give it a go.
“This was an opportunity to explore and try a new sport with no pressure to be ‘really good’ or ‘skilled,’ but instead be welcomed to give it a go. Even though there were players there that played for clubs and excelled at the sport, all were approachable and made it easy to join in. This atmosphere made it comfortable and kept be going back each week to improve my game.”
Sian believes opportunities like these can be transformational.
“These opportunities create a low-pressure environment where women and girls can be encouraged and supported and develop positive attitudes to exercise.”
Her message to anyone considering trying football later in life is simple.
“Take the leap and push yourself out of your comfort zone. You will be surprised at the people you meet, their age, their skill level and you will open yourself up to positive opportunities just by giving it a go.”
Mia, one of our Interns, has witnessed women’s football from multiple angles, as a player, coach, referee and journalist. Through her media work, she has gained a deeper appreciation for the people and systems that make football possible.
“The biggest perspective shift I’ve had is realising how many people it takes to make football actually happen.”
Her experiences have also exposed her to some of the inequalities that continue to exist within the women’s game.
For Mia, storytelling has a crucial role to play.
“The stories you hear from women’s football have something that men’s football lacks – relatability. Working in women’s football as a journalist opened my eyes massively to the inequalities many professional women’s teams face. Poor facilities, people not taking them seriously enough, and just being considered subpar to men’s football. As media, your involvement is to boost visibility of the players and the sport, build a narrative that makes people invested in watching. I feel very lucky to have been on both sides of the sidelines and to have grown my knowledge about the game. “
She points to the journeys many women’s players have taken, often travelling long distances for opportunities, playing in boys’ teams due to a lack of girls’ provision and pursuing football before a professional career pathway truly existed.
While media coverage of the Lionesses and Women’s Super League continues to grow, Mia believes it’s equally important to highlight stories from lower levels of the game.
“When fans come through the doors of our stadiums, so does the income that can change players’ lives.”
Her perspective serves as an important reminder that every level of football matters, and that visibility can be a powerful tool for change.
Summer’s football journey has taken her from the youth systems at Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United to university football, and now to representing Luton Town Ladies in Teir 4 of the English women’s football pyramid. An Evaluation Researcher in the team, Summer describes what a semi-professional footballers’ journey can look like.
“It has been a journey full of lots of travelling, change and adaptation, but a worthwhile one.”
While growing interest in women’s football is creating new opportunities, Summer is keen to highlight the sacrifices many players still make behind the scenes.
“I think there is an expectation that playing semi-professionally, or even professionally, as a female footballer, is a lucrative thing. I can unfortunately speak for most of the semi-professional and professional pyramid and say that if definitely isn’t. In fact, a lot of clubs don’t provide expenses of any sort. That often means players have to work full time jobs and then spend most of their evenings and weekends travelling to and from training and matches, for little reward in the way of money.”
Balancing work, football and personal commitments remains a reality for many players throughout the women’s football pyramid. Despite these challenges, Summer is passionate about the importance of role models for young girls entering the game.
“For me, growing up there weren’t many players in the women’s game that looked like me, or came from a similar background as me, and I know that can definitely create the feeling in young girls that maybe the game isn’t for them. By having visible role models that represent something that resonates with them, we’re able to build the capacity for young girls to really be able to envision a future for themselves at all levels of the game. Many girls drop out of sports quite early on, but I really think having more people for them to look up to will help to continue to keep the flame burning and the desire to persevere in the game that they love!”
The success of the Lionesses has undoubtedly inspired more girls to pick up a football, but participation doesn’t happen by chance. It relies on schools, clubs, volunteers, coaches, media outlets and community organisations creating opportunities and positive exposure that are welcoming, accessible and inclusive to all.
That’s why programmes such as the Barclays Girls’ Football School Partnerships, which we’re proud to help deliver are so important. By supporting schools to provide more opportunities for girls to play, we’re helping to ensure that the inspiration created by the Lionesses can translate into real participation in communities across Essex.
Similarly, our Women and Girls Like Us campaign continues to celebrate relatable role models and stories from women across Essex, demonstrating that physical activity can look different for everyone.
Whether it’s joining a social kickabout for the first time, covering the game as a journalist, or competing at a semi-professional level, every story shared in this reflection points to the same message:
As the Lionesses continue their World Cup qualification campaign, we wish them the very best. More importantly, we celebrate the thousands of women and girls across Essex who are playing their own part in the game’s continued growth, on pitches, in schools, behind the scenes and in communities across the county.
Because when girls can see opportunities, role models and pathways that reflect them, they’re far more likely to believe that football is a game for them too.
