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Southport FC have teamed up with Women at The Game and designated their home match against Nuneaton Town on Saturday 7 April a “Women and Girls at the Game” event.

The club are looking to connect with women, women’s groups and girls in the Southport area, wish to actively increase their appeal to that demographic and ensure that the Merseyrail Community Stadium is a safe, friendly, welcoming and enjoyable environment for all.

Southport CEO Natalie Atkinson said: "I'm delighted that we are dedicating our game on Saturday to women and girls.

"It is really important that we change perceptions that football can still be seen by some as male sport. 

"I have been working in football a long time and have found nothing but respect from people within the game, I want to inspire as many women and girls to get involved either through playing, volunteering, coaching and spectating. Our club could not be more welcoming, so come and watch!” 

Women at the Game is the brainchild of Supporters Direct employee, Jacqui Forster, and is a group who aims to help give women their first taste of live football in a supportive environment.

Jacqui, an Altrincham fan, was diagnosed with terminal cancer in February 2015 and decided to use money that friends raised for her to get this project up and running.

“I simply want to enable more women to feel happy going to watch sport, particularly men’s football,” she said.

“I think that meeting other women before the game in a non-threatening venue, like a café, entering the ground together and wherever possible spending the match with their new-found friends and even travelling home together will make more women of all backgrounds, ethnicity and religion more likely to give “going to the footie” a go. This is really about making friends with other women who support the same club.”

Saturday’s game will feature all-female mascots and exciting details about the launch of Southport's new women’s team.

Women are encouraged to meet and mingle in the Grandstand Bar from 1pm before the game, which has a 3pm kick-off.

There will be a number of the club's female staff and volunteers on hand to welcome newcomers to Southport, offer any assistance and make everyone feel at home.

Tickets are priced as follows and it's cash only at the turnstiles:

Adults
Main Stand : £15
Terracing : £13.50

Concessions
Main Stand: £11
Terracing: £10

12-18 Years Old
All Areas: £5

Under 11s
All Areas: FREE (with paying adult)

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