SLO_BFC
Well-known member
Wasn’t that a great way to end July! Blackpool back again in early Championship action at Bloomfield Road on Saturday, with a classy new kit, a new (OK, returning) manager and three useful points in the bag. And then on Sunday, England’s women winning this country’s first major football trophy since 1966, a joyous occasion without any of the ugly overtones that sometimes take the shine off England games. Well done, Lionesses.
Earlier in the month, as part of a national tour to coincide with the UEFA Women’s Euros, acclaimed young playwright and actress Hannah Kumari brought her one-woman play ‘ENG-ER-LAND’ to Blackpool Football Club. Hannah’s father is Scottish (he used to take her to watch Rangers) and her mother is Indian. She fell in love with football as a teenager, then did a degree in Theatre and now as a playwright and performer, with ‘ENG-ER-LAND’ she has brought both of those passions together.
After seeing supposed football fans acting in a very aggressive and anti-social way at Wembley couple of years ago, Hannah felt sad and angry that we are still in this position in the 2020s, and was compelled to reflect on her own experiences at football matches both as a mixed-raced teenager growing up in the 90s, and now as a woman. Written during lockdown, the play didn’t shy away from tackling themes of racism, identity politics, the idea of Englishness, sexism in the stands – but for those Blackpool fans who went to see it, ‘ENG-ER-LAND’ was also great entertainment, celebrating the joy of the beautiful game whilst confronting some big issues.
It’s a pity more people didn’t get to see it as it was a great conversation starter at a time when what had been a “man’s game” for so long is starting to seriously address girls’ and women’s chances to play football; and clubs are looking to be more inclusive when it comes to female supporters and the match day experience, including welcoming women fan groups
I’d like to think that, as a family club, our fan base rates inclusivity and respect highly among its core values and that we have no significant issues here. I’m not aware of sexism or discrimination against female supporters but I’m not complacent either. If you’re a woman and you feel there are things the club could be doing, or doing better to improve the quality of the match day experience for female supporters, please get in touch (see below for contact details).
In the wake of the Lionesses’ success and the upsurge in interest in girls playing football, it’s brilliant that Blackpool FC Community Trust has been awarded an FA Girls’ Emerging Talent Centre Licence for the next three seasons, offering talented Blackpool and Fylde girl footballers aged eight to sixteen access to high quality training and coaching right here in the town (when previously they would have gone to Liverpool or Manchester).
If you wish to contact me for any reason to do with supporter issues or have queries or suggestions, feel free to do so by email: slo@blackpoolfc.co.uk or message me: @BFCSLO on Facebook or Twitter – it’s what I’m here for. UTMP!
Steve Rowland, SLO
Earlier in the month, as part of a national tour to coincide with the UEFA Women’s Euros, acclaimed young playwright and actress Hannah Kumari brought her one-woman play ‘ENG-ER-LAND’ to Blackpool Football Club. Hannah’s father is Scottish (he used to take her to watch Rangers) and her mother is Indian. She fell in love with football as a teenager, then did a degree in Theatre and now as a playwright and performer, with ‘ENG-ER-LAND’ she has brought both of those passions together.
After seeing supposed football fans acting in a very aggressive and anti-social way at Wembley couple of years ago, Hannah felt sad and angry that we are still in this position in the 2020s, and was compelled to reflect on her own experiences at football matches both as a mixed-raced teenager growing up in the 90s, and now as a woman. Written during lockdown, the play didn’t shy away from tackling themes of racism, identity politics, the idea of Englishness, sexism in the stands – but for those Blackpool fans who went to see it, ‘ENG-ER-LAND’ was also great entertainment, celebrating the joy of the beautiful game whilst confronting some big issues.
It’s a pity more people didn’t get to see it as it was a great conversation starter at a time when what had been a “man’s game” for so long is starting to seriously address girls’ and women’s chances to play football; and clubs are looking to be more inclusive when it comes to female supporters and the match day experience, including welcoming women fan groups
I’d like to think that, as a family club, our fan base rates inclusivity and respect highly among its core values and that we have no significant issues here. I’m not aware of sexism or discrimination against female supporters but I’m not complacent either. If you’re a woman and you feel there are things the club could be doing, or doing better to improve the quality of the match day experience for female supporters, please get in touch (see below for contact details).
In the wake of the Lionesses’ success and the upsurge in interest in girls playing football, it’s brilliant that Blackpool FC Community Trust has been awarded an FA Girls’ Emerging Talent Centre Licence for the next three seasons, offering talented Blackpool and Fylde girl footballers aged eight to sixteen access to high quality training and coaching right here in the town (when previously they would have gone to Liverpool or Manchester).
If you wish to contact me for any reason to do with supporter issues or have queries or suggestions, feel free to do so by email: slo@blackpoolfc.co.uk or message me: @BFCSLO on Facebook or Twitter – it’s what I’m here for. UTMP!
Steve Rowland, SLO