THE RISE of women’s football stems from a change in attitude – not least from men.
They are the ones who traditionally not only played but also ran the game at every level, right down to grassroots.
Riverdale FC in Northern Ireland is a classic example.
Founded in 1992, it grew over three decades from one team to a club that spans all age groups. But its numbers have been swollen to 300 members since 2018 by the inclusion of girls.
“There were coaches like me, who had daughters and wanted to give them the chance to play instead of them having to watch from the sidelines,” says club secretary Keith Lavery.
“Our attitude here is built around inclusivity – so why shouldn’t they play?”
The club began with one squad of a dozen in 2015, which has now blossomed into three league teams and 50 girls.
However, the path to participation wasn’t completely straightforward. Girls who were training well were then dropping out on match days.
The reason, the club’s female liaison officer discovered, was that players had to change into their tops pitchside because of the lack of facilities. Fine for boys, not for young women. Furthermore, the club kit of white shorts was not popular.
The answer was to give numbered shirts to each squad member, so they could arrive ready to play. The traditional colours were also switched around, the navy top becoming navy shorts.
“We had a male mindset and realised it was a barrier, so we had to address it,” says Lavery, who has two daughters at the club, aged 14 and 16. “Ever since we made the decision, we’ve had near 100 per cent attendance.”
There was one other issue, though: funding the new kit.
Riverdale is based in a rural village just south of Dungannon in Co Tyrone. Money is tight for families and, consequently, for local sports clubs too.
Lavery estimates it costs more than £35,000 a year to run the club.
“We offer football for all, but football does not come cheap,” he says. “Our club fees have to cover pitch hire, league affiliation fees and referees – and because we’re rural, we have to travel everywhere to train and play.
“We are open to all but I’m aware there are certain sections of the community who don’t play the sport because they can’t afford to.”
A solution was found through a grant via the Tesco Stronger Starts scheme last year.
The supermarket chain is an active supporter of good causes, distributing more than £100million around the UK since 2015.
Last summer, it launched Stronger Starts, an initiative delivered through local Tesco shops that aims to support thousands of schools, community projects and good causes.
Priority is given to those that provide food and support to young people, including sports clubs.
“There is a demand in many areas of the country for resources to help kids stay active,” says Christine Heffernan, Tesco’s director of group communications.
“Our stores have always been at the heart of every community we serve.
“We’re proud that together, we can help make a difference in our customers’ communities and to their friends and family.”
One feature of that contribution is Tesco’s participation in The Sun’s Footie For All campaign, which champions grassroots football clubs.
The newspaper has been shining a light on these clubs’ value to communities and the pressure they are under because of the cost of living crisis.
“We felt it was important to team up with The Sun to extend the reach of our Stronger Starts funding to grants that ensure any child can play football if they wish, taking away the worry about paying for subs or kit,” adds Heffernan.
Funding meant the girls’ teams all received strips with the new colours, also rolled out to the boys’ teams to avoid the girls being seen as different or a special case.
“The grant really helped us keep the costs down,” says Lavery. “It meant we didn’t have to go to parents and say, ‘We need another £30 for a new shirt on top of your monthly subs,’ because that was not going to happen.
“Maybe half of our members would have said, ‘We don’t want one.’ And the point here is everyone’s equal.”
Riverdale FC’s inclusive attitude is the chief reason it was a regional winner of the Junior Club of the Year category at last year’s Irish FA Grassroots Football Awards.
“That was a big achievement for us,” says Lavery. “We were nominated because we give everyone a chance to play regardless of disability, colour or creed.
“That’s important in a country where there has historically been division. We don’t have that.
“This is a club for everyone and it’s stamped into our constitution. ‘Isms’ are not allowed. We are a mutual place for everyone.”
Stronger Starts is open to any school, local club or charitable scheme. To find out more, head to tescoplc.com/strongerstarts