The review of support for women’s soccer has been significant – let’s now strive for an impact | Karen Carney.

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What an eventful week it has been for women’s soccer, with the government’s support of the review I led and the approval of NewCo to oversee the Super League and Championship. While this is a great beginning, there is still much to be accomplished.

I am honored to have my name on the women’s football review. It was a result of the dedication and talent of an amazing team who are passionate about advancing the sport. I am grateful to them for their efforts.

I was immensely relieved upon hearing that the government was backing all of the recommendations. The time between the release of the review in the summer and its endorsement was quite stressful, as it involved a significant amount of effort from numerous individuals.

Upon the release of the report, I felt slightly disappointed and uncertain about the outcome. It was my first experience conducting a government review. However, in the following four weeks, I had constructive discussions. I had the opportunity to meet with government officials who informed me that they had approved the report. This came as a pleasant surprise to me.

The meeting was brief and I playfully considered if I should have requested more during the review. However, it didn’t truly sink in until it was made public on Monday and I became quite emotional thinking about the hard work of the team, the individuals who shared their experiences, the countless hours and data, and all the stories that were told. I hope it was all worth it when they found out it was approved. We will keep pushing for the sport to reach its full potential.

My desire is for this evaluation to not be ignored like previous evaluations. I have consistently pushed the team to make it as significant as possible because we owe it to the past players, present players, future players, staff, and fans.

We interviewed top experts in the field. It was a lengthy process to develop. I began discussing with government officials after the 2022 Women’s European Championship and it took a while to gather information and receive verbal testimony to support our suggestions. Our goal is to elevate the sport and set an example not only for football, but for women’s sports as a whole. We also hope that other sports can use our ideas as a model.

The approval of NewCo by clubs is a thrilling progress and was included in my suggestions. NewCo will oversee the top two levels of women’s sports, under the leadership of Nikki Doucet, an exceptional woman who will excel in her role. I am excited to witness how Doucet and her team will make their mark on the organization to enhance the strength of the game. Doucet has taken on a challenging role and it is crucial that we champion and assist her to the best of our abilities. I have high hopes for her success, which will ultimately benefit the sport.

One topic that generated buzz was the proposal to lift the 3pm blackout for women’s games on Saturdays. This past week has been eventful with discussions about Premier League rights and the number of televised matches. As part of the review, it was recommended that a designated time slot be allocated for women’s football, considering the extensive coverage of the men’s game. Achieving this would require collaboration and dialogue among stakeholders.

Repeatedly, it has been observed that effectively promoting matches results in increased attendance when people are aware of the time and location. Finding a distinctive platform for broadcasting has been a challenge. It is crucial to prioritize the fans and improve the television aspect of the industry. This suggestion has the potential to steer the sport towards success.

Taking charge of the review has contributed to my personal growth and learning. My prediction that women’s football would become a billion-dollar industry was met with ridicule and harsh criticism. However, recent developments have put us in a strong position to make this prediction a reality. It has been a team effort and required a great deal of dedication, but the journey is not over yet.

The report has received a positive reception, but it is necessary for both us and the industry to continue pushing forward. Football is a community and there is a shared desire for it to expand. Those who have read and comprehended the challenges of traveling to training or having access to proper facilities must continue to advocate for the implementation of the recommendations, regardless of the political party in power in the future. It will require a collective effort to bring about change and the women’s football community is well-equipped for this task – we must not let this opportunity go to waste. Let us continue moving forward, but let’s do it together as one unified team.

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Source: theguardian.com