October SLO column in the Gazette: Female fans making the football experience better for women...

SLO_BFC

SLO_BFC

Well-known member
Women supporters groups have been formed in the last couple of years at a number of football league clubs. Just to be clear, I’m talking about supporters of the men’s team, not a club’s women’s team (where that exists).

It’s an interesting phenomenon and I touched on it in this column a couple of months ago. Since then, I’ve done a bit of investigating and networking. The drive behind it seems to come from two directions, from female fans and from the clubs.

I was told by those involved that some groups started because women supporters didn’t feel safe going to games, particularly but not exclusively away matches, or didn’t feel valued as female fans where much of the focus is on male-oriented offers and merchandise, or just wanted to “find their tribe” and meet other women fans with whom they could attend games and socialise.

The clubs who have formally recognised women supporters’ groups are on a mission to be as inclusive and welcoming of all parts of their communities as they can be. They want the match day experience to be as accessible and appropriate as possible to all, and to be enjoyed equally by everyone. That should be obvious, but it’s sadly not always the case.

As SLO I have received complaints about sexism on the terraces, occasionally of personal abuse directed at women fans or female officials, more often about one or two chants (we all know which ones) which don’t go down well with the ladies. I also know of women who no longer attend games because they had abusive partners who still go to Bloomfield Road, and of mothers with daughters who are intimidated by some of the crowd behaviour inside and outside stadiums.

These are some of the positive developments where women supporters groups have been formed: they have found female buddies who are into football, they have negotiated block bookings at games (so they can be guaranteed to sit together), they have influenced clubs to make better provision for female fans in the concourses and toilets, they are helping to select more feminine merchandise for the club shop, they are actively supporting female fans with domestic violence or mental health issues, they are working with their community trust to help spread a message of respect for women in schools and youth groups, they are women fans actively engaged in making football better for women – who are half the adult population after all, making it more inviting for women fans to attend games.

Could Blackpool’s female supporters benefit from such a group? Blackpool FC intends to host a meeting in the coming weeks, open to all female fans over 14, to see if there is an appetite for forming a women supporters’ group to give a more prominent voice to a significant section of the fan base, to maybe realise some of those positives other such groups have achieved. If you’d be interested in attending, contact me by email: slo@blackpoolfc.co.uk

Steve Rowland, SLO
 
As someone who has been taking their daughters regularly to football matches for 18 years I would never dream of complaining about any chants or language. It’s football and it’s the place where people, men and woman (some of the females nowadays are worse than blokes) let off steam👍🏻 Football grounds are safe places for everyone. A bit of chanting or over exuberance doesn’t hurt anybody
 
If such a group can make BR a more welcoming and enjoyable place for women and girls and help grow the fanbase then that’s excellent. If such a group can also help the club improve off the field too - then even better. Hopefully any efforts can have a knock on effect to support and involvement for the Womens and Girls team too.

And I completely agree certain chants are absolutely cringeworthy and a bit sad quite frankly. Grown men chanting about fanny and tits and that somehow making Lancashire unique and special… imagine being sat there with your daughter, wife, girlfriend or even your son and thinking that’s ok. Weird.
 
LA1 Seasider said:
If such a group can make BR a more welcoming and enjoyable place for women and girls and help grow the fanbase then that’s excellent. If such a group can also help the club improve off the field too - then even better. Hopefully any efforts can have a knock on effect to support and involvement for the Womens and Girls team too.

And I completely agree certain chants are absolutely cringeworthy and a bit sad quite frankly. Grown men chanting about fanny and tits and that somehow making Lancashire unique and special… imagine being sat there with your daughter, wife, girlfriend or even your son and thinking that’s ok. Weird.
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That can all be achieved by groups like BST seeking to ensure proper representation and diversity within the committee.

By forming into these separate and individually focused groups, rather than creating understanding it generates a sense of competition, where different groups compete for their own ‘group’ interests.

The chants about ‘tits and fannies’ are pathetic, but we don’t need a dedicated ‘women’s’ group to tell us that do we?

I mean ffs… Do we really want a situation where (as described in the O/P) that various groups are arranging for group bookings etc.. to separate themselves from others?

It’s like some kind of weird football themed apartheid!!
 
LA1 Seasider said:
If such a group can make BR a more welcoming and enjoyable place for women and girls and help grow the fanbase then that’s excellent. If such a group can also help the club improve off the field too - then even better. Hopefully any efforts can have a knock on effect to support and involvement for the Womens and Girls team too.

And I completely agree certain chants are absolutely cringeworthy and a bit sad quite frankly. Grown men chanting about fanny and tits and that somehow making Lancashire unique and special… imagine being sat there with your daughter, wife, girlfriend or even your son and thinking that’s ok. Weird.
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I have been many times, they laugh👍🏻
 
If the female supporters want one then why not? If they don’t then there’s obvs no need. Could BST etc do a push on attracting female members as an alternative?
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
That can all be achieved by groups like BST seeking to ensure proper representation and diversity within the committee.

By forming into these separate and individually focused groups, rather than creating understanding it generates a sense of competition, where different groups compete for their own ‘group’ interests.

The chants about ‘tits and fannies’ are pathetic, but we don’t need a dedicated ‘women’s’ group to tell us that do we?

I mean ffs… Do we really want a situation where (as described in the O/P) that various groups are arranging for group bookings etc.. to separate themselves from others?

It’s like some kind of weird football themed apartheid!!
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I think the point is it will make women feel more comfortable and may attract women who otherwise wouldn’t attend. If you’re a single person you’re more than likely not going to attend something on your own unless you can likely meet new people with similar interests and values. Now I imagine if you’re a female going to the football alone or even with young children. That would be pretty intimidating- but being able to do that alongside people in a similar situation and get the chance to meet people like yourself probably appeals a whole lot more.

There’s a lot of sense in the group booking thing. Don’t get irate without giving it a bit more thought.

Also yes existing groups could and should do more for women but the reality is and remains that 90%+ of supporters inside BR are male. Yet the local community is 50%+ female. Obviously existing systems aren’t working so something new needs to happen.

It’s madness to ignore what is clearly a glaringly obvious problem.
 
LA1 Seasider said:
I think the point is it will make women feel more comfortable and may attract women who otherwise wouldn’t attend. If you’re a single person you’re more than likely not going to attend something on your own unless you can likely meet new people with similar interests and values. Now I imagine if you’re a female going to the football alone or even with young children. That would be pretty intimidating- but being able to do that alongside people in a similar situation and get the chance to meet people like yourself probably appeals a whole lot more.

There’s a lot of sense in the group booking thing. Don’t get irate without giving it a bit more thought.

Also yes existing groups could and should do more for women but the reality is and remains that 90%+ of supporters inside BR are male. Yet the local community is 50%+ female. Obviously existing systems aren’t working so something new needs to happen.

It’s madness to ignore what is clearly a glaringly obvious problem.
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Do you fancy doing something to get more men into netball ?
 
Dr Hfuhruhurr said:
If the female supporters want one then why not? If they don’t then there’s obvs no need. Could BST etc do a push on attracting female members as an alternative?
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I’ve raised the issue of diversity with BST previously. They seem to prefer to stick with the white middle / old aged bloke demographic that they’re comfortable with.

Other club’s supporter groups seem to make a much bigger effort to be representative.

LA1 Seasider said:
I think the point is it will make women feel more comfortable and may attract women who otherwise wouldn’t attend. If you’re a single person you’re more than likely not going to attend something on your own unless you can likely meet new people with similar interests and values. Now I imagine if you’re a female going to the football alone or even with young children. That would be pretty intimidating- but being able to do that alongside people in a similar situation and get the chance to meet people like yourself probably appeals a whole lot more.

There’s a lot of sense in the group booking thing. Don’t get irate without giving it a bit more thought.

Also yes existing groups could and should do more for women but the reality is and remains that 90%+ of supporters inside BR are male. Yet the local community is 50%+ female. Obviously existing systems aren’t working so something new needs to happen.

It’s madness to ignore what is clearly a glaringly obvious problem.
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The point to what is that it would make women feel more comfortable?

The fact that something might achieve a specific objective, doesn’t necessarily mean that it is the right thing to do or the right way to go about achieving the objective.

There’s also a huge difference between individuals forming friendship groups, than for our Clubs / Societies to be formally and actively encouraging separatism.

You say imagine you’re a woman with children etc..

Well imagine if you’re a single father with children… Imagine if you’re a gay Afro Caribbean, imagine if you’re disabled, if you have learning difficulties, if you struggle with Anxiety / Depression, if you’re recently bereaved… if you’re a child with abusive parents, if you’re an Asian Muslim or a Jehovah’s Witness…

We can split ourselves down the middle, then split ourselves again and again and again…

Ultimately we’re all individuals and we’re all Blackpool Supporters 👍
 
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BFC_BFC_BFC said:
I’ve raised the issue of diversity with BST previously. They seem to prefer to stick with the white middle / old aged bloke demographic that they’re comfortable with.

Other club’s supporter groups seem to make a much bigger effort to be representative.



The point to what is that it would make women feel more comfortable?

The fact that something might achieve a specific objective, doesn’t necessarily mean that it is the right thing to do or the right way to go about achieving the objective.

There’s also a huge difference between individuals forming friendship groups, than for our Clubs / Societies to be formally and actively encouraging separatism.

You say imagine you’re a woman with children etc..

Well imagine if you’re a single father with children… Imagine if you’re a gay Afro Caribbean, imagine if you’re disabled, if you have learning difficulties, if you struggle with Anxiety / Depression, if you’re recently bereaved… if you’re a child with abusive parents, if you’re an Asian Muslim or a Jehovah’s Witness…

We can split ourselves down the middle, then split ourselves again and again and again…

Ultimately we’re all individuals and we’re all Blackpool Supporters 👍
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The club has to be as inclusive as possible. I think an initiative aimed at 50% of the population is a decent place to start.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
I’ve raised the issue of diversity with BST previously. They seem to prefer to stick with the white middle / old aged bloke demographic that they’re comfortable with.

Other club’s supporter groups seem to make a much bigger effort to be representative.



The point to what is that it would make women feel more comfortable?

The fact that something might achieve a specific objective, doesn’t necessarily mean that it is the right thing to do or the right way to go about achieving the objective.

There’s also a huge difference between individuals forming friendship groups, than for our Clubs / Societies to be formally and actively encouraging separatism.

You say imagine you’re a woman with children etc..

Well imagine if you’re a single father with children… Imagine if you’re a gay Afro Caribbean, imagine if you’re disabled, if you have learning difficulties, if you struggle with Anxiety / Depression, if you’re recently bereaved… if you’re a child with abusive parents, if you’re an Asian Muslim or a Jehovah’s Witness…

We can split ourselves down the middle, then split ourselves again and again and again…

Ultimately we’re all individuals and we’re all Blackpool Supporters 👍
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Sock and sandal hippies need a voice too beyond just yours
 
LA1 Seasider said:
The club has to be as inclusive as possible. I think an initiative aimed at 50% of the population is a decent place to start.
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‘Inclusive’…. How on earth is this ‘inclusive’ ?

It’s precisely the opposite!

Inclusivity would be the incorporation of all groups (no least women) into our existing set up, as opposed to treating them as sone kind of separate / special case.

We should be aiming for everyone to feel safe in the environment and promoting understanding about what football is about and why venting off of steam and a bit of colourful language isn’t a reason to feel uncomfortable or unsafe (whilst recognising that some things can’t be tolerated)..

We certainly shouldn’t be encouraging ideas that ‘safety’ is achieved through separation and the formation of specific groups to be determined along so called ‘political identity’ lines … It’s a slippery slope.
 
To be fair we don’t have enough supports groups. 🙄

Another one to add to the SDM, I’m sure they’d ask really pertinent questions as well.

Thumbs up from me.

In all honesty what happened to just being a Blackpool fan.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
‘Inclusive’…. How on earth is this ‘inclusive’ ?

It’s precisely the opposite!

Inclusivity would be the incorporation of all groups (no least women) into our existing set up, as opposed to treating them as sone kind of separate / special case.

We should be aiming for everyone to feel safe in the environment and promoting understanding about what football is about and why venting off of steam and a bit of colourful language isn’t a reason to feel uncomfortable or unsafe (whilst recognising that some things can’t be tolerated)..

We certainly shouldn’t be encouraging ideas that ‘safety’ is achieved through separation and the formation of specific groups to be determined along so called ‘political identity’ lines … It’s a slippery slope.
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I agree to an extent but the system you’re advocating is supposedly the existing system… and it hasn’t exactly worked out well. Changing that is a damn site harder and likely a lot less effective than what the club is looking to do. Fans have always gathered together and created groups, whether it’s geographically based or based on the pub they drink in or whatever. If a group feels safer and happier sitting together then what’s really the harm ? Surely a group of women being happy and feeling safe is something that should be encouraged ?
 
LA1 Seasider said:
I agree to an extent but the system you’re advocating is supposedly the existing system… and it hasn’t exactly worked out well. Changing that is a damn site harder and likely a lot less effective than what the club is looking to do. Fans have always gathered together and created groups, whether it’s geographically based or based on the pub they drink in or whatever. If a group feels safer and happier sitting together then what’s really the harm ? Surely a group of women being happy and feeling safe is something that should be encouraged ?
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I think ensuring the Club is a safe environment for everyone is concerned Is important. I also think that preserving a sense of freedom, tribal rivalry and banter between rival fans and maintaining a sense of the games ‘working class’ routes is also important.

I don’t see the need for the Club (or in this case the SLO) to be seeking to ‘arrange’ or organise groups along pre-prescribed lines. I think it’s potentially divisive and would prefer to see diversity and inclusivity throughout (A start might be to engage a female SLO and a Female Board member.. perhaps a few female sports scientists) and lead by example, rather than dictat !!

The Supporters groups that we do have, have come about naturally and are typically draw along ‘regional’ lines (for travel purposes / camaraderie) and are not defined along gender / racial lines…. This move by the Club seeks to introduce a completely different (and as I say potentially divisive) dynamic into our idea of supporter groups.
 
"As SLO I have received complaints about sexism on the terraces, occasionally of personal abuse directed at women fans or female officials, more often about one or two chants (we all know which ones) which don’t go down well with the ladies."
Would be filed under sexist language by up-to-date interpretations.

Having thousands of young men in a small space is always going to be intimidating to some people, nothing we can do about that.

The Nobbers were happily singing their misogynistic and homophobic chant last Saturday; what's being done about that?

I do think that anything which gets more money through the door is a good thing; if there's money to be made by branding products aimed at those who "identify as women" then crack on.

Looking forward to the prosecco bar coming soon.
 
Let the female supporters decide, I think the SLO provides some insight that I wouldn’t have previously considered as barriers to women attending football, and if such groups help to alleviate that then that’s great news all round. If there is no need for it then it won’t take off, simple no harm done.

I think the next five years will really push football clubs to be a lot more inclusive places, and not just for women. Interesting to see the work Blackburn are doing around making Ewood more inclusive to the local Muslim population, only see it as being as positive thing.
 
As a female supporter I have been going B.field rd for over 30yrs often on my own. Not once have I ever felt intimidated, quite the opposite when things have got rowdy I’ve often been helped by the male fans around me. As for merchandise I support the boys in tangerine not bloody pink (now that is sexist) but it would be nice to have replica shirts in woman's sizes.
UTMP
 
I agree with some above comments about this being the opposite of inclusive. I also find it disappointing if current supporters groups are not inclusive so that they represent everybody. Maybe sorting and having a supporters group truly for all would be the way to go rather than a seperate group.
 
Look, it’s all well and good being PC this and WAKE that, but everyone knows that women don’t even play football, let alone watch it. There’s no need for a separate group, just as there’s no need to kneel down or do whatever it is that the players think will stop racialism.

And before anyone accuses me of being sexist. Let me point out that some of my closest relatives are women.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
That can all be achieved by groups like BST seeking to ensure proper representation and diversity within the committee.

By forming into these separate and individually focused groups, rather than creating understanding it generates a sense of competition, where different groups compete for their own ‘group’ interests.

The chants about ‘tits and fannies’ are pathetic, but we don’t need a dedicated ‘women’s’ group to tell us that do we?

I mean ffs… Do we really want a situation where (as described in the O/P) that various groups are arranging for group bookings etc.. to separate themselves from others?

It’s like some kind of weird football themed apartheid!!
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The new group can counter chant with “Pecs, Willies and Prosecco, oh Lancashire is wonderful!!

If it helps having a new group dedicated then let it happen?
 
20togo said:
No problem with the article but we've just beaten the nobbers and no mention of it? No mention of the support given to the players? Merely an observation but seems odd to me.
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20s: I only get 500 words for the monthly column and by agreement with the Club this one was to be used to focus on women supporters and related issues. Lots has been written elsewhere about what a fantastic day our 4-2 thumping of PNE was.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
‘Inclusive’…. How on earth is this ‘inclusive’ ?

It’s precisely the opposite!

Inclusivity would be the incorporation of all groups (no least women) into our existing set up, as opposed to treating them as sone kind of separate / special case.

We should be aiming for everyone to feel safe in the environment and promoting understanding about what football is about and why venting off of steam and a bit of colourful language isn’t a reason to feel uncomfortable or unsafe (whilst recognising that some things can’t be tolerated)..

We certainly shouldn’t be encouraging ideas that ‘safety’ is achieved through separation and the formation of specific groups to be determined along so called ‘political identity’ lines … It’s a slippery slope.
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I pray Football doesn't become the next WOKE victim, it' one of the last remaining things that has some tradition about it.

Like the post above, surely We want everyone to feel inclusive as "ONE", not individual groups with their own opinions and agendas.

For me, with any experience in life, most things you know what you are getting yourself in to. With Football, you know the environment you are going into, if you don't like it, don't go.
 
Murphy9 said:
I pray Football doesn't become the next WOKE victim, it' one of the last remaining things that has some tradition about it.

Like the post above, surely We want everyone to feel inclusive as "ONE", not individual groups with their own opinions and agendas.

For me, with any experience in life, most things you know what you are getting yourself in to. With Football, you know the environment you are going into, if you don't like it, don't go.
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I think ‘woke’ maybe gets a bit overused at times. There’s no doubt that there are things that need to change still and sone chants should probably be consigned to history.

But that doesn’t mean we need to start boxing our fanbase into separate ‘competing’ groups, based on assumed shared interests.

We continually talk about the need for inclusivity and changing attitudes towards racism, sexism & homophobia and yet the first thought of those seeking to influence positive change is to divide us all up along lines of race, gender & sexuality …. By contrast, human beings tend to form our associations around our shared interests, similar personality traits etc…
 
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