We are a network of professionals working in and around the football industry who support and champion their peers. Whilst we know there has been significant progress in women’s participation in football and great strides made, we know there is more to do.
WiF champions female talent in a bid to bring about a change in attitudes to women working in the industry. Whether we are celebrating some of football’s earliest female pioneers such as Manchester City’s 1880 founding member Anna Connell, or professional football’s first female physio, Judith Lo, or nominating female employees for Queen’s Honours or industry awards, WiF is dedicated to celebrating the many contributions by women to our national game.
WiF aims to improve women’s representation at all levels of the game by challenging discrimination and lobbying for change. Both the 2014 and 2016 WiF Surveys highlighted that there is much work still to do in key areas such as widening the talent pool of diverse women across the game, achieving gender balance on boards and committees and instilling confidence in reporting discriminatory behaviour and abuse. In 2015 we launched our first ever end of season report on sexist incidents in the national game. We also work in partnership with Prospect - the trade union representing officials, coaches, grounds staff and administrators. Prospect has expertise in dealing with a wide range of employment issues including pay, contracts, respect and equalities. We hope that by monitoring the industry in this way – and providing pro bono legal advice and support to women affected by sexism and discrimination – we can bring about change.
Women still remain significantly under-represented in executive and board positions in the football industry. It is our mission to change this, whether through career enhancing mentoring schemes – such as our partnership with 30% Club and Women Ahead – or seminars and workshops at our events put on by the likes of Women on Boards UK. By bringing together inspirational women from across the industry at regular networking events held throughout the UK, we hope to chip away at some of the barriers holding women back in their careers.
The WiF board members are a group of professional women working in and around the football industry who are passionate about supporting our peers in the sector.
Managing Director at Career Path Training & Consultancy Ltd, Board member of Brentford FC
women who had witnessed sexism in the workplace have reported it
wanted a Women in Football mentoring scheme
have witnessed women being barred from certain areas in the workplace
*The WiF survey was carried out via Survey Monkey between 18 - 27 February 2014. 60% of those who received the survey responded, which included 661 female coaches, match officials, administrators representing clubs in all four professional divisions in England, Scotland and Wales; players; doctors, physios; football media, football PR and sponsorship, members of the FA, County FAs; Premier League, Football League, non-league and not-for-profit organisations. We also collected data and comments from some of the most senior women working internationally in football.
If you would like further information please contact us at info@womeninfootball.co.uk