Michelle Owen has presented The Athletic Women’s Football Podcast during the Women’s World Cup and below are Michelle’s feelings on how important this tournament has been for women’s football. You can listen to the final episode here.
I couldn’t sleep last night before this final and I’ve put together some thoughts. I’m talking about the Lionesses here, but I think it applies to so many teams at the World Cup.
A lot of these girls have had to go to football with a boys’ team. I know Lucy Bronze did, being the only girl there picked on for liking football. I was bullied for playing. It wasn’t normal. It wasn’t what girls did at my school.
We weren’t allowed to play football in PE. I remember I got sent to the corner for doing keepy-uppies with the netball. Personally, for me, after being so worn down, I just stopped playing for a couple of years. I wanted to fit in but I couldn’t stay away.
That’s why I admire this England group even more because, Lucy Bronze, Beth England, Jordan Nobbs, all a similar age to me. They had nowhere to play. I played for an academy. We didn’t even have a league because there were so few academies. And this is the same story for so many women.
But now you’re starting to feel that this story is not going to be repeated…
