Women’s Football - It’s More Than Just a Game

Since starting to play football at a young age, I have been able to watch the growth of women’s football and how it has been able to change lots of people’s lives, including mine. My time at school was often hard because I wasn’t your typical girl who was interested in handbags and makeup. I found it difficult to find a place where I belonged as I was ‘different’ to other girls of my age because I was more interested in football. Being in this situation meant that I found it hard to find and make friends with girls who shared the same interests as me. This resulted in me losing a lot of my social confidence as I grew into my teenage years.

At the time, women’s football was not that popular, with games rarely being broadcast on television. I found it hard as a girl who loved football because all of the people who played football at my school were boys. Without any footballing role models who were female I had no one to relate to or to look up to. But this has now all changed with the rise of women’s football bringing hope and inspiration to young girls like me. In a sporting world which used to be dominated by men, girls now have female role models to look up to. The saying ‘If you can see it, you can be it’ certainly resonates with me. The increased visibility and spotlight for female footballers has encouraged girls to follow their dreams, breaking down the historical barriers that girls often faced in sport. Having lots of high-profile professional female footballers is also changing the perception of what women are truly capable of by helping to break down traditional gender stereotypes. I can see this happening first hand at Durham Women games in the WSL Championship as there are lots of male fans who have the utmost respect for what the women are achieving, both personally and professionally.

Back in October 2021, I got the opportunity to watch Durham Women play for the first time. My dad took me to my first game, and that game has lit a passion inside me for women’s football and especially for my beloved Durham. I still attend every game with my dad, making it a special time for me and him. Since going to that match, I have been able to make many friends and interact with many people I wouldn’t have been able to meet if it wasn’t for our shared passion for football. I have met a diverse group of people on match days, from fellow teenagers to supporters who are in their 60s and 70s. I greatly admire some of the older fans who have been watching Durham since the clubs’ first ever match. Their dedication to the club has inspired me to reflect this in my own commitment to Durham.

The relationships I have been able to form with other supporters has shown me the true meaning of human connection through our shared passion for football. I’ve learned that watching Durham isn’t just about what happenson the pitch, but it’s about the community and connection that has been built up with the fans and the players. The sense of belonging that I have felt whilst supporting Durham is something truly special, with it extending far beyond the final whistle. Because of this and the many people I have met through the community of supporters that Durham has created, I have been able to gain back my social confidence and self-esteem. Some of these people are now not only my match day friends, but friends I’ll have for life.

Having followed Durham for nearly 4 years now, I have become a season ticket holder, and I always look forward to going to the next game. Whether it’s a home game at Maiden Castle, or an away day road trip to somewhere at the other end of the country, it excites me all the same. However, it isn’t just about looking forward to watching the 90 minutes of football, it’s also about everything that comes with it. Being able to meet up with fellow fans, see how they are and check in on them is just as important, as we can sometimes go quite a few weeks between games. This is what a strong community of people do for each other.

The impact that Durham Women has had on me has certainlygiven me a renewed sense of purpose. The connections that I have made through the community of likeminded fans has brought back my confidence and put a happy smile on my face. I will always feel a part of Durham, and Durham now feels a part of me.