The female teams and WSL viewing figures are on the increase, but falling attendances are a cause for concern
One year ago the Football Association gathered the media at Wembley with little detail on what would be discussed beyond “women’s football”. There, the new head of women’s football Sue Campbell, chief executive Martin Glenn and head of participation Kelly Simmons outlined their Gameplan for Growth – a bold plan to transform participation, support and success on an international stage. It was hard not to absorb the enthusiasm.
One year on a lot has changed. For a sport that has struggled for media presence, the distasteful handling of off-field events has dominated headlines. Yet while the FA’s actions in those cases has been damaging, the seeds of the Gameplan for Growth have been planted in the shadows of the controversy. And those seeds are sprouting in nearly every area.
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