The former Lioness has spoken passionately about supporting local girls’ clubs
BY ELLA GAUCI, BY RAPH_PH, CC BY 4.0 <HTTPS://CREATIVECOMMONS.ORG/LICENSES/BY/4.0>, VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
The World Cup has officially come to a close, with Spain lifting the trophy high last night (19 July). With a predicted 1.8 billion viewers worldwide, it was a passionate reminder of the globe’s love for the beautiful game.
However, as the men’s game continues to reach new heights, former Lionesses like Jill Scott are drawing attention to the funding challenges that desperately need to be tackled to build the women’s game. A new campaign, The Kick On initiative, backed by Starling Bank, aims to encourage local businesses to sponsor grassroots clubs and help provide more opportunities for young female players.
Despite the Lionesses’ two Euro wins, many young girls are still struggling to access opportunities on the pitch. For some, there just aren’t any girls’ clubs open in their local area or enough coaches to meet the demand.
New research by Starling Bank found that one in five grassroots clubs had been forced to turn players away because of a lack of resources. 76% of players said they would consider giving up football if their club could not secure more funding.
As reported by the BBC, Jill Scott spoke about the impact of this on women’s football. “You’re not just closing a club, you’re closing all these girls’ dreams of becoming a Lioness or playing at a higher level,” she said. “It’s a really big issue. We’re trying to get more girls into the game, but clubs need the resources to provide a safe space, provide kit and provide equipment.”
She continued: “Grassroots football means everything to me. Everyone watching the men’s World Cup now, everyone who watched the Lionesses win the Euros – everyone of those players relied on grassroots football and relied on volunteers. Without my grassroots club, I would never have gone on to play for England.”
Jill’s own coffee shop in Manchester is backing a girls’ side this season, and she wants to encourage other businesses to sponsor grassroots teams. The former Lioness said it costs around £850 to sponsor a local team. “That is still a lot of money for a small business, but if businesses can help, they are giving back to the community they love,” she added.
You can find out more about The Kick On here.
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