Her Game Too: The campaign to tackle sexism within football

When Bristol Rovers fans Lucy Ford and Caz May began speaking to other female football fans, they quickly realised the abuse they had experienced both online and in person, for simply being women who like football, was a much more widespread issue.

It is why the duo, along with 10 other female football supporters, decided to launch the #HerGameToo campaign earlier this year to combat sexism within the sport.

The message they are promoting is a simple one: to foster a positive, inclusive environment in football, while raising awareness and educating others about the abuse women who follow football regularly face.

Now, a little over three months after launching their first video, the Her Game Too message is being backed by clubs such as Swansea City, Exeter City, Tranmere Rovers, Newport County, Yeovil Town and Grimsby Town, as well as May and Ford's own team Bristol Rovers.

Already they have seen their slogan plastered over advertising boarding at grounds on match day, inside programmes, and on the front of Bristol Rovers women's new away kit.

The Her Game Too survey of almost 400 female fans this August returned some shocking stories. Many reported incidents of having their knowledge of football and reasons for watching the sport questioned, while many others told of being harassed and intimidated.

Ford says the fact the Her Game Too message has gained momentum so quickly highlights the fact that the sexism they talk about is such a widespread issue across the whole country.

Ultimately, though, the message is a positive one. Their first ambition was to get one club to partner with them, and with that aim very much achieved, they now just want to keep spreading it as far as they can.

"That's really what it's about, it's about inspiring the next generation of female football fans, female footballers," Ford said. "And just saying that, you know, you should be allowed to be a female football fan, a female footballer, without being told that you shouldn't because you're a female."

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58360698

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