Alex Scott: The Future of Women's Football

Alex Scott, a former England player, looks at the future of women's football in a new film.

Alex Scott spoke to players, managers, journalists and representatives from the Football Association about the opportunities that have come with television rights and bigger attendances in Alex Scott: The Future of Women's Football.

She asked tough questions about diversity and support for young mothers.

Four things have been said here.

There is still room for growth

The latest TV rights deal for the Women's Super League was struck in 2021.

According to the Women's Sport Trust, viewing hours increased by fourfold.

There have been record breaking attendances around Europe this season.

In April of this year, more than 91,000 fans packed the Nou Camp to watch Barcelona play in the Women's European Championship. The fourth tier of English women's football was played at St James' Park a week later and more than 20,000 people attended.

One of the sport's biggest stars says the women's game can learn from the men's game.

She says that men's football has had a high level of funding for at least 25 years.

We have sold our sport so cheaply. I think we need to rethink that model.

Players still have to deal with negative perceptions

Those involved in the game still face patronising attitudes.

"It's always 'who cares?' or 'no-one wants to see, no-one wants to know'," says Manchester United and England'sKatie Zelem.

It's important the younger girls who are aspiring to follow in our footsteps don't get put off because there are always people who care.

Simone Magill shared a deflating incident when she scored an incredible volley against the Blues.

She says that she scored one of the best goals she's ever done.

Everyone commented on the quality of keepers in the women's game, not giving credit to the technique of the goal.

When people say women's football is too prominent, it gets to her.

She says that if you're a football fan and not a rugby fan, you just think that football is better.

We need to remove it if it is women. I don't like fencing, but I don't say I don't on social media.

Does women's football have a problem with diversity?

The number of black and mixed-race players in the England squad for a major tournament has gone down in the past few years.

"You need to feel like you can see yourself in someone in order for them to be a role model," says a person in the film.

Kelly Simmons is the FA's women's football director.

She says that until recently women's football didn't have a lot of money, so it used to run the centers of excellence at the men's training grounds. Everyone had access to that.

Fern is an equality, diversity and inclusion executive for the Professional Footballers' Association.

She says she had to struggle to get to training when she was a member of a white team. I had to get a bus.

We need to make the training accessible, that's what we can learn from that.

Kay Cossington, head of women's technical at the FA, told She Kicks magazine in 2020 that closing down centers of excellence had an impact.

She says that there were 52 centers of excellence. It was too much for the talent at the time. The centers were reduced to focus on talent. We created another problem by reducing the number of centers.

The English Football League (EFL) is working with the FA to address that and other issues through a Talent Inclusion Programme.

Are young mothers getting enough support in football?

There is a question of whether there is enough support for players who want to have children.

Scott says that many players put off having a family because there wasn't enough time off from their clubs to have children.

If you started a family, you would lose your career.

Female professional football players in England were able to get maternity and long-term sickness cover for the first time due to contract changes.

It was left to individual clubs.

The film has people questioning why the change wasn't done earlier.

The WSL is still in its early stages.

She says that the game has only been professional in the last year. There's a lot of money to be made. We wanted to make sure we consulted with the clubs.

Emma Mitchell, who recently became a mother, says there are still things that can be done to make life simpler.

There should be things in place that I don't have to ask for. I cannot sit in a car on the coach. There isn't anything in the policy that says that.

The game is still learning and should not be taboo.

She says that a woman has a right to have a baby if she chooses to do so while she is a manager or a player.

Pelvic floor specialists in women's teams, menstrual cycle experts, and gynaecologists are some of the things that need to be discussed.

You can watch Alex Scott: The Future of Women's Football on the internet. On Saturday, July 2, at 10:20pm, there is a programme on the British Broadcasting Corporation.