The 2025 Women’s Football Awards launched in Parliament yesterday, attended by some of the biggest names in women’s sport.
The Women’s Football Awards, set to be held on 1 May, brings together the biggest personalities from the women’s game for a major celebration of the sport and all of those contributing to its success. The ceremony recognises grassroots greatness as well as national and international superstars.
Award categories include Player of the Year, International Football Player of the Year, Club of the Year, Grassroots Initiative of the Year, Lifetime Achievement as well as accolades for people and brands working behind the scenes to expand the reach of women’s football.
Former Lioness Eni Aluko and Manchester United forward Celin Bizet reflected on the progress made in support for women’s football, whether in the Women’s Super League (WSL) or grassroots teams, recalling times not so long ago when they had to wash their own kits and wouldn’t even be fed at the training ground.
But while great strides have been made in the women’s game, not only are some clubs still failing to fund the women’s teams sufficiently, but others are even pulling funding, Eni Aluko said at the event.
There’s still a long way to go,’ Eni Aluko told Metro. ‘Some clubs are making great progress – Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton. But other clubs just aren’t making the effort – and some have even gone backwards.
Premier League’s Anna Deignan spoke of the need for more funding for women’s and girls’ football and shone a light on work being done to stamp out sexism and misogyny, both surrounding the women’s game and that levelled at women attending men’s games.
‘With women now making up 30% of the crowd at men’s games, it’s unacceptable for women not to feel safe,’ she told Metro.
‘We are making it easier for incidents to be reported live, during the game, so they can be dealt with there and then,’ she said, adding that support staff will be recruited to challenge sexist behaviour during matches that might make women feel threatened or uncomfortable. ‘It’s part of making football more enjoyable and accessible to all,’ she said.
Previewing the awards night, Metro editor-in-chief Deborah Arthurs said: ‘As media partner of the Women’s Football Awards for the third year in a row, Metro is proud to be part of this important celebration.
‘We have a history of covering the women’s game that dates back more than a decade and it’s something we will continue to champion every day.’
Hosting the launch event in Parliament was Labour MP Sarah Smith who added: ‘The Women’s Football Awards have become such an important event in the UK sporting calendar and is crucial in helping to promote opportunities for everybody.’
Aluko added: ‘What I love about it is it brings so many different stakeholders together who want to grow the sport.
‘These awards are unique in that sense and being able to host it and allow people to connect and support women in sport is amazing.’
The Women’s Football Awards are supported by the Premier League. The annual event is backed by headline sponsor Shein, VISA and Scottish Power.