Investing in women’s sports bears fruit as mindset changes
Just as last week proved to be very important for the FAI and the national teams for the Republic of Ireland, the upcoming international window shows for the most part that the women’s game in this country is evolving.
Admission to the grand tournament did not depend on the outcome of Stephen Kenny’s accusations, but a six-point refund for Vera Pauw’s team feels necessary when Slovakia arrives in Tallaght next Thursday before Georgia arrives at the stadium on Tuesday, which Katie McCabe’s team is considering. be their home.
So far, though.
One day, not too far into the future, McCabe will lead Aviva Stadium in Ireland. It is an investment that makes a profit.
The women’s team has a real chance of reaching the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Despite a narrow but potentially decisive 1-0 loss to the group’s favorite Sweden last month, Helsinki’s 2-1 win makes everything possible.
Home wins would strengthen the performance against Finland and leave Girls in Green in a great position after four games. The way they jelly by working for each other has been so impressive in recent matches.
And just like in the sold-out men’s match against Portugal, we can expect almost full capacity at Tallaght Stadium in these November international matches.
When I worked at Chelsea, post-match socializing with fans was a ritual in the Women’s Super League that affected me the most, as players took as much time as necessary to pose for photos, share autographs and connect with a generation that will be inspired by such short interactions.
The same tradition now exists at Tallaght Stadium after international players, young supporters, boys and girls, line the field’s fences, eagerly awaiting a moment with the players.
It costs nothing to do, but its value is infinite.
The hugely successful “Can’t See, Can’t Be” 20×20 initiative has been defiantly renamed “Can See, Can Be” as the women’s game globally has finally evolved into a powerful entity that is only continuing to grow.
Last weekend, the final series of the Women’s National League captured an unprecedented audience as TG4 aired dramatic events at Greenogue and Tolka Park.
The title favorite, Peamount United, dramatically conceded to the Galway team, which announced it would be a force to be taken next season, while a strange plot emerged in Tolka Park when Shelbourne faced Wexford Youth as the forerunner of Sunday’s FAI Cup final.
However, the most descriptive was the commitment to social media events, as Twitter in particular was alive with messages related to both games. There were, as always, traditional supporters of women’s football, but there were many new voices, or more precisely, established voices that have chosen to be interested.
Well-known journalists and footballers, as well as members of the general public, were very engaged when clips of goals, results and permutations were shared and discussed.
It also proves that providing coverage and visibility before meeting demand can create appetite.
Again, it is an investment that generates a profit.
Comments about Shels ’championship success and Peamount’s unfortunate collapse spread even to RTÉ’s news of the victory of men under the age of 21 in Sweden on Tuesday night, when I thought Áine O’Gormon had shown mercy and professionalism.
The FAI Cup final will be televised live on RTÉ 2 this Sunday, and it is important to recognize the visibility that women’s football is now gaining.
In a year when women’s sports have moved from the “women’s section” to leading the headlines and from then on dominating the front pages, for all the right reasons, I must add, is finally coming of age where women’s sports are at the top. bipedal and holds its own in the sports debate on merit.
Women’s sports are no longer expected to be grateful for the crumbs it has fed in the past. Now support is given to the few who fought for basic recognition as the new generation of parents demanded better for their daughters while being aware of their own previous prejudices.
In addition, they begin to question this prejudice in others.
Irish league clubs have begun to recognize the potential of a properly resourced women’s team – at the commercial level – as opposed to their burden.
The lens through which the game is viewed here is changing and the women’s national team is the flag bearer of this new era.
Yet, apart from all these reasons and the wider debate, Pauw’s accusations can go under this double headline because they know they have what it takes to win. In Helsinki, their common faith spread through Denise O’Sullivan, Heather Payne, Courtney Brosnan and, as always, every contribution from McCabe.
After several losses against tough teams, Ireland has shown that they have the ability to turn stern teachings into performances that produce results.
A good example was a 3-2 victory in the friendly match from Australia, but more a victory from a higher Finland.
Now Ireland has to show that they can win games as a favorite. They were weaker against Sweden and the Finns, but this team has higher hopes. And this is mainly because they see what they want to be.